Some of you care! I had no idea. Well, here’s the deal:
I spent the first half of this year writing a 90 minute rock opera meant to be played by an actual 6 piece band (drums, bass, guitar, keys, accordion and fiddle. Ethnic instruments can also be added) and sung by 4 singers. A couple people i know here in the Balkans thought they might be able to snag some financing so i let them give it a try.
After completing the initial composition and full demo i took a pause and put it down even thought i knew there were some rough patches. It was a good time to take a break on it and see how the financing went. I turned my attention to the weird west cabaret which is currently my consuming obsession, but which is likely to be finished in a month as soon as the singers complete their work.
The financing went nowhere. That isnt going to happen. A little bit ago i stuck the thing in my car stereo and gave it a listen. I discovered that 2/3 of it is totally awesome and 1/3 of it blows. Not bad, i know how to fix it.
To hire the musicians and singers i need to record it i would need 6,000 euros. 8,000 is ideal but it can be done for 6k. I cannot finance it myself since… i’m a musician. Everything that comes in is used to keep my family alive and happy and i have no savings whatsoever. Thus the only way it’s going to happen is through a Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign.
To be bluntly honest, i don’t believe that i can raise 6,000 euros in a kickstarter campaign. Just speaking practically i dont actually think i can do it. Left without options however i have no choice but to attempt it. I have never personally run a kickstarter. I would be wise to find someone who has succesfully run a few and take their advice. You know anyone?
After i release the Cabaret which is all i am consumed with at the moment, i swear to you i am going to make this a freaking great album or die trying, i will turn my attention back to the rock opera. It will likely be titled Hajduk and Janissary. I will start a campaign and see how far i can get. I will fix the sucky 1/3. I will hire 6 musicians… you must understand balkan musicians make less than any other musicina on earth. It’s horrifying. I’ve seen 30 something year old seasoned professionals making 5 bucks a gig. I am going to use that kickstarter money to pay them what they’re worth.
Anyway, if i can raise enough i will hite the musicians and singers, rehearse them for a couple weeks then send them into a studio to record the songs. We will record live. In other words, instead of everyone laying down their tracks separately, they will enter the studio well rehearsed and play the songs all together. Then i’ll bring in the singers. It is theoretically possible to do the entire recording in a week, but we will plan on a bit more. No more than 2 weeks though. While i will oversee the entire process i will not play or perform on the album.
And then we will have a 90 minute rock opera. Hopefully. In theory. We shall see.
