Findlay Napier's Outsider Project

by Findlay Napier in Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire Council, United Kingdom

We did it
On 21st April 2023 we successfully raised £12,615 with 148 supporters in 32 days

"Outsider" is a multi-media extravaganza of new album from Findlay Napier exploring outsiders in love and outsiders in life.

by Findlay Napier in Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire Council, United Kingdom

 New stretch target

BIG PLANS. Vinyl? Professional videos? More studio time? Everything you contribute beyond the goal helps us make the project better quality for you. Check out the rewards! 


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Who am I?

I am a singer songwriter based on the Isle of Arran. I tour and record as a solo artist. You might have seen me supporting Eddi Reader. I'm one of the singers and guitar slingers in The Magpie Arc with Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr Tom A Wright and Alex Hunter and occasionally I don a long white coat and become a Story Song Scientist with Megan Henwood

I run online songwriting workshops called Bird on a Wire with Boo Hewerdine and sometimes I do them face to face with Glasgow Songwriting Festival, Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre, Vox Liminis, Feis Rois and many more.

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What is "Outsider" all about?

A few months ago I had an overwhelming number of unrecorded songs and no idea how to shape them into an album. Jen Anderson (of The Bothy Society) recommended I take each song, listen to the demo, read the lyric and group them into similar themes. Using this method I found 20 songs with one strong theme "Outsider" and that theme could be divided into two clear camps: "Outsider in Love" and "Outsider in Life". I've got a great cast of characters for you for this project including an envious actor past his prime, a cigar smoking dictator, a burnt out commis chef, a vengeful single mum, a hapless ink-fingered high school cartoonist, a bench warming footballer and someone who's always in second place. From the first time you got picked last at gym to the last time the CIA tried to assassinate you with an exploding cigar, everyone can relate to the outsider, the over looked and the under dog.

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Why am I crowdfunding?

I am running this crowdfunding campaign with help from my record company The Bothy Society.

The main reason we are crowdfunding is due to the unique way we will release this album. We're focusing on releasing "Outsider" as a 150 page coffee table book packed with pictures, stories, lyrics and everything you need to know about the project. Scan pictures in the book with your phone or tablet using an app developed by The Bothy Society and with augmented reality you will have access to content that we will continually update even after the album's release.

The album itself will be released in three parts "Outsider in Love"digital EP, "Outsider in Life" digital EP and finally as "Outsider" a 12 track CD and digital download. 

My "VIP: Very Interesting Persons" and "Glasgow"albums were both crowdfunded. I think it's a great way to raise money for a recording project as you can chose to treat the crowd funder simply as a way to pre-order the album or you can become part of the whole creative process through updates, behind the scenes footage and exclusive content.

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How I’ll spend the money raised

I will use the money I raise to fund the pre-production, recording, mixing and mastering of the album. Recording is an expensive and time consuming endeavour.  A reasonable rule of thumb is to record three songs a day at £350/day studio hire not including session musicians. Mixing costs the same. Mastering ranges from £50-£100/track. There'll be twelve tracks on this album plus a minimum of four bonus songs for the coffee table book and EPs. I'll let you do the maths and that doesn't cover the cost of design work that goes into creating the coffee table book. I'd like to pay everyone I work with fairly. Who knows, if we make the crowdfunding goal, we might have enough in the budget for some really fancy biscuits!

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Photos by Elly Lucas

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£30 or more

Coffee Table Book w/ Augmented Reality (Download)

A 150 page coffee table book packed with pictures, stories, lyrics and everything you need to know about the three EPs. Scan the photographs using an app on your phone or tablet for more behind the scenes content. The augmented reality content will continue to update after the EPs have been released. It's the future for folk who like reading the sleeve notes but don't like buying the plastic. Postage included.

£8 or more

"Outsider" Album High Quality Download

A High Quality Download of the "Outsider" album.

£13 or more

"Outsider" Tea Towel

The most popular merch table item of 2022 is back. The official "Outsider" tea towel. Dry your dishes with Findlay's face while you listen to "VIP". Mop up small spills with Findlay's face while listening to "It Is What It Is". Lift something hot out of the with Findlay's face while listening to "Glasgow". Price includes postage.

£15 or more

"Outsider" Album on CD

The "Outsider" project on one CD. Featuring the "Outsider in Love, "Outsider in Life" and "The Outsider" EPs. Cost includes postage.

£15 or more

The Outsider Hat

A good quality red hillwalking hat. Perfect for you or the outsider in your life. If like Findlay you are short on follicles on the top part of your head this hat is your year round solution to a cold head. Price includes postage.

£18 or more

Signed Copy of the "Outsider" Album on CD

The "Outsider" project on one CD signed with personalised note to you (or someone you love, like or detest). Featuring the "Outsider in Love, "Outsider in Life" and "The Outsider" EPs. Cost includes postage.

£20 or more

Outsider in Love T-Shirt

Outsider in Love T-shirt designed by Elly Lucas. Price includes postage.

£20 or more

Outsider in Life T-Shirt

The "Outsider in Life" T-Shirt. All sizes available. Postage included.

£25 or more

Embroidered "Outsider" T-Shirt

A T-Shirt with the embroidered "Outsider" logo.

£30 or more

Thank You In The Sleeve Notes, CD & Download

Your name in the CD sleeve notes of the "Outsider" album.

£40 or more

Coffee Table Book w/ Augmented Reality & CDs

A 150 page coffee table book packed with pictures, stories, lyrics and everything you need to know about the three EPs. Scan the photographs using an app on your phone or tablet for more behind the scenes content. The AR content will continue to update after the EPs are released. It's the future for folk who like reading the sleeve notes but wish there was more. You will receive the three EPs as CDs and as downloads. Postage included.

£50 or more

8 of 10 claimed

One to One Songwriting Session

One-to-one Zoom songwriting session with Findlay. We can talk about your existing songs, write something new or just hang out and talk about songwriting.

£250 or more

4 of 12 claimed

Sponsor a Track

Sponsor the recording, mixing and mastering of one track. As well as your name appearing beside the song in the sleeve notes we'll keep you updated with early mixes and masters. This reward included the 150 page coffee table book, the hat and the tea towel.

£400 or more

3 of 4 claimed

The Studio Hang & Play On The Album

Hang out in the studio for a morning or afternoon while Findlay records the songs for the Outsider project. We don't just want you to hang out, listen and drink loads of coffee while consuming your bodyweight in biscuits. We want you to play on the album. We'll find a part to suit you.

£800 or more

0 of 4 claimed

Personal Tour of Arran

I will meet you off the ferry in Brodick and take you and a partner on a culinary and musical tour of Arran. I'll take you to a few of my favourite places, put you up in a good hotel and drive you round the island. Distillery tours, beautiful scenery and, if we're lucky, maybe even a golden eagle or two. Price for two guests sharing a room includes meals and transport on the island.

£1,000 or more

0 of 3 claimed

Executive Producer

You're on the team! Your name on the back of the CD next to the producer's. We'll send you the hat, the tea towel, the CD and the beautiful 150 page coffee table book with AR. We'll sort you out with guest tickets to live shows.

£500 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Findlay's Red Partscaster w/ Custom Scratch Plate

This is the candy apple red Tele style partscaster that Findlay used on "It Is What It Is", "Quantum Lyrics", Elaine Lennon's debut album and loads of other projects. We'll fashion a custom Outsider scratch plate, send you footage of it being used in the studio and as soon as we're done recording we'll post it out to you.

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