New Album - pre-order fundraising campaign

New album pre-order campaign
 
$0 $25,000

The Minnesota Child

The Minnesota Child

Pre-order download: Your price

The Minnesota Child

Album download (pre-order)

Please choose a price: $ USD ($9.99 or more)

Please pay at least $9.99

Out of stock

Pre-order The Minnesota Child's forthcoming full length album. The record is now fully produced, mixed and mastered. Singles will start being released in the coming months, with the full LP release date to be announced.

Expected release: September 1, 2023

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Donation
  • Donation

Donation

Your price

Donation

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Please choose a price:

Out of stock
$0.00

Contribute to The Minnesota Child's first full length record.

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$250+ Private live stream performance
  • $250+ Private live stream performance
Your price

$250+ Private live stream performance

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Please pay at least $250.00

Out of stock
$250.00

I will perform an intimate live stream concert for you and your family and friends! High quality audio and video streaming from my living room to yours.

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$500+ Commissioned song
  • $500+ Commissioned song
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$500+ Commissioned song

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Please pay at least $500.00

Out of stock
$500.00

Want to give the unique gift of a personalized song? I will write, record, and perform a completely original song for you. This offering includes a thirty minute private zoom call, where we'll talk through the theme you'd like me to write about, whether about a person, memory, feeling, - really anything at all. Based on our interview and any other guidance from you, I will write and record a personalized song in my home studio. You will also have the option for a follow up zoom call, where I'll play you your new song live.

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Will you dive in with me?

I’m inviting you - my dearest friends, family, and fans - to pre-order and invest in The Minnesota Child’s first full-length record. This album, a labor of love that represents the fulfillment of nearly a two-decade dream, is by far the most personal, vulnerable, introspective, and exploratory story I know how to tell. About what it means to be alive in the tumultuous times we’re living in. About my own struggles with my physical and mental health. About living and loving as big as I can. And about acceptance of things I cannot do and change. 

It is my belief and my hope that these songs can have an impact. Most of you know that for the past decade, I’ve worked full-time supporting communities fighting the fossil fuel industry, deep in struggle against environmental racism and corporate greed. This work can be incredibly meaningful, and also exhausting. The music I write has always been the antidote to my own burnout. I don’t believe these are songs you’d play at a protest. But hopefully they are the songs you’d listen to, that will offer solace and inspiration, reflection and hope, on your way home. 

I am beyond honored that I worked with producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Justin Glasco to bring these songs to life. Justin’s career has included work with artists ranging from Andrew Bird, Matt Berninger (The National), Blake Mills, and Wild Rivers to Meiko, Anderson East, Jukebox the Ghost, and Avril Lavigne. Justin also toured internationally as a contributing member of the indie folk band The Lone Bellow. From our first introduction last year, I immediately felt that our creative synergy and shared values would make for a powerful partnership. I’m so grateful and excited that my brother, drummer Matthew Buckner, is also collaborating with me on this project. Matthew and I have been making music in some way, shape or form together practically our entire lives. And so every time we have the opportunity to work together, it feels like magic. 

I’m giving this all I’ve got. That’s where you come in.

Making music at the level that feels ambitious, authentic, and impactful, takes a lot of resources. Recording costs, including studio time, engineering, session musicians, and production, cost upwards of $17,000. Mixing and mastering added an additional $4,000. I believe that everyone involved in this process deserves to be compensated well for their labor. Lastly, to give this record the opportunity to reach a broader audience, I am budgeting an additional $7,000-$10,000 for content creation (art, videos, photography, and merch), distribution, and PR. In total, this project will cost between $25,000 - $35,000. 

Thus far, between my own savings and generous initial contributions, I have about $15,000 raised so far. Through this pre-order fundraising campaign, I am asking you to help meet our goal of $10,000 to bring this record to life, with a stretch goal of $15,000. 

Below, I've listed a variety of offerings, ranging from album pre-orders to private concerts, in exchange for your generous support for independent music. 

I am always looking to connect with friends, family, and supporters, if you're brand new to this music or we've known each other all our lives. Don't hesitate to reach out - I had the time of my life making this record and I'd be so excited to talk to you about it.

Many thanks for your encouragement and support. It means the world to me.

With love and gratitude-

Ethan

 

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FAQ

How will I know if you've reached your goal?

I will post regular updates to this page to keep you posted on our progress! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.