Canadian Idol Finalist - Jenn Kee Crowdfunds First Solo Album
February 24, 2012
Jenn Kee is stepping into the spotlight and producing her first solo album. She has galvanized support from across Canada and the world by crowdfunding her record on RocketHub. I caught up with Jenn to learn about her journey and approach. This project is the result of a lot of things. About a year ago I started making plans for the next stage of my life which included leaving the city I have been living in for the past 6 years. I’ve made some amazing friends many of whom are incredible musicians and I wanted to record an album with them sort of as a documentation of my time here. The original plan was to record covers of songs written by Canadian musicians (Joni, Neil, The Band, etc) but life got in the way and this project never got off the ground. I have been singing in bands for over ten years but I was never a creative force in any of these bands meaning I never wrote a song or even a lyric but something in me snapped a few months ago and I couldn’t stop writing. The music was just coming out of me in a way that had never happened before. I would spend Saturday nights at home with my guitar and a bottle of red wine (hereafter known as Song Juice). The music itself comes from life experience, things I’ve always wanted to say and the hope that it might resonate somewhere within the heart of the listener. I write about universal issues; love, heart ache, feeling lost and helpless. Who out there can say they’ve never felt that before?
I’m recording this album for a couple of reasons. Most importantly though it’s simply something I WANT to do. I want to take the songs I have written and create something amazing with the incredible group of people I’ve chosen to work with on this project. It’s not to feed my ego or to make money or (for lack of a better term) to “make it”. I hope that people will want to listen to this album and share it with their friends but as much as I’m looking forward to the finished product, it’s the process of making this music that I’m looking forward to the most. What has your experience been as a crowdfunding pioneer in the world of rock and folk in Toronto - how are your supporters responding?
I have received a huge amount of support! People from high school are even coming out of the woodwork to toss in a few bucks! Most people had never heard of crowdfunding and the reaction is a really positive one. I don’t think I would be able to do this again for a while…there’s only so much you can ask of your supporters….but seeing as this is my first solo album of music I have written, my close friends and family are eager to lend a hand in fueling the project.
Great to see! Any advice for others looking to crowdfund a similar project? Play up your uniqueness and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Promote your project as much as you can to the point of obnoxious!
Summary
Canadian idol finalist Jenn Kee talks about crowdfunding experience and approach.
Description
Canadian idol finalist Jenn Kee is stepping into the spotlight and producing her first solo album. She has galvanized support from across Canada and the world by crowdfunding her record on RocketHub.
She received a huge amount of support! People from high school are even coming out of the woodwork to toss in a few bucks! Most people had never heard of crowdfunding and the reaction is a really positive one.