The Redneck Fundraiser: We did it!!

Hello again, hillbillies & heathens of the Free World. I’m writing to you here because, for better or worse, I find myself with my hands extended once again asking, “Do you want me to do another one?” I’ve got a stack of 20 fresh pieces of art from my buddy Troy Dunn and an itch in my soul. 

Two years ago, I was very hesitant to raise funds for an album during a time that was (& is) such an existential and financial burden on so many people. However, I had written a collection of songs that I believed were important &, in a lot of ways, I still do. I assembled a group of absolutely incredible musicians to bring these songs to life and with the help of Kyle Crownover and Robbie Artress, we were able to birth White Trash Revelry. 

To offset the feeling that I was unfairly asking for too much money, I set my sights on the Redneck Fundraiser: what if I asked 15,000 people for only $1? That would give me enough to bring the vision to life and promote it. It also didn’t feel like much of an ask. So, I started doing that and accepting donations via Venmo, CashApp, & PayPal.

It took us a year to get the album out & available to everyone and within a month of release, we wound up on best of lists from Billboard, Stereogum, NPR, Folk Alley, Holler, Alternative Press, & others while getting recognition from Spectrum Pulse & Anthony Fantano. Brandi Carlisle called me one of the best writers in Roots Music. John Darnielle took me on tour. Ray Wylie Hubbard told me he was proud of me. It. Was. A. Fucking. Year. Dude. 

But now I’ve got a fresh batch of tunes and I want to release them out in the wild again. It’s a collection that builds on the foundation of White Trash Revelry as far as it’s exploration of my journey through the human experience but moves into heavier existential ground, much like I did when my family relocated to Syracuse, NY in 2003. 

All the weirdness of falling in love, causing & working to repair harm, financial instability, marrying an INFJ, entering parenthood, watching one community of which I am Part & Parcel antagonize & criminalize another of which I am Part & Parcel, country bops for the Queer Experience, confronting the history of racial violence that I was born into, orbiting the trauma that perpetuates war; it’s a big series of snapshots that I’m proud of. 

Like last time, I’ve assembled an all-star band of people that I was dying to work with, a dear producer friend of mine who is gonna blow your minds, & I think we’re gonna do a better job to beat that ONE YEAR turnaround time that really had me itching my knees for too many months. Wait, that’s not a saying at all.

Anyways, we’re asking for $20,000 this time which is… LOL… just an insane amount of money to spend on a record, I know. For the first several years of mine and Hannie’s marriage, we didn’t make that much in a year between the two of us. It’s not lost on me how big this ask is but that’s why we’re doing it this way again… 

And rather than asking for 6 Quarters from 15,000 people, we’re going to extend the reach and ask 20,000 people to donate 4 quarters. Partly because the $1 ask feels so important to gauging what level of interest we even have for putting out a record and partly because I started a Record Label called Four Quarters Records and I want to honor that conceptually. 

Please, never consider making yourself uncomfortable financially to support what I do. I never, ever want that. If you’re able to contribute $1, then please shoot it our way either via Venmo, Cashapp, PayPal, for even by mail. If you want to give more because there’s a bigger amount that feels like giving $1 does to most of my friends, then hell yes be my guest. 

After you’ve donated, please fill out the form below so we make sure to get you in the accompanying printed materials to say thank you!

Update

The album is now fully funded and I have a budget for releasing the album once it's finished being mastered. We're currently fleshing out our strategy and getting ready to do some touring in the fall. I am hoping to use the subscription model to sustain myself until we get to that point. That said, if you still want to contribute to this old chunk of coal, please consider throwing in on my Patreon page so I can afford to exist and keep making quality music. 

PayPal:

FAQ

What's your Venmo handled?

It's @AdeemTheArtist


What's your CashApp handle?

That one is $AdeemTheArtist - though at this point I'd really appreciate if you'd consider contributing via Patreon instead!


Can you accept my $1 through PayPal?

I can! You can send it through the link above but at this point, I'd really appreciate if you'd consider contributing via Patreon instead!


Can I send you more than $1?

Yeah, for sure- if that feels comfortable! I'm intending to send a copy of the record to everyone who contributes $50 or more because I have to find some way to say thank you to the handful of folks who have given real big. I don't want to put anybody out but if you believe in it and you have more disposable income, I won't say no to you.


Is there another way I can send you cash or a check?

Hey, surprisingly enough... there is. You can make checks payable to Kyle Bingham (government name, baby!) & you can mail either to

Adeem Maria | PO Box 27724 | Knoxville, TN 37927