Hello, I'm Fraser Morgan! Some of you may know this already, however for those who don't, I'm an independent, self-funded artist who does folk-punk/singer-songwriter songs about mental health and getting better who has recently played their 1068th show!
I've genuinely been very close, multiple times, to not doing this. Even now I've stopped and started writing this sentence so many times, fighting off the urge to just close the tab and carry on with my life and find some other way. I really dislike money, but not as much as I dislike asking people for their support with it. I don't do music because I want money. Sure, living off doing music one day would be really nice (and even then, just enough to pay my rent and keep my van on the round and I'd be absolutely buzzing!), but the main reason I do it is because I adore connecting with people. Although my songs are about me, one of the main reasons I do music isn't. Yes, I love being on the road. Yes, screaming into people's faces with a bit of wood in my hand (not that kind of wood) is extremely cathartic. However a big part of why I do music is because of the small chance I might make someone in that room/field smile.
I mean it with every atom and molecule in this hair-smothered freckly body of mine when I say that nothing gets me through seeing the sun rise and fall every day easier than the thought of when I might be able to sing a song or two and shove a little silliness into someone's life next. I'm fully aware of how much of a lie that may sound, and trust me if I read that sentence I'd probably doubt the person who wrote it too, but I really do mean it. This self-imposed purpose of going around and making a fool outta myself in hopes of making a stranger feel good inside is the biggest thing that keeps me going.
I've just realised that those last 2 paragraphs of what probably looks like anxious over-sharing never answered the question. Maybe I'll delete them. Long story short, I'm doing a Crowdfunder because I really like the idea of being able to release some more music, maybe make some new merch, and judt get out on the road. Money yucky, people happy, but if I wanna keep releasing music as an independent artist and have a shot at potentially living off making a fool outta myself for a little smile here and there, without putting myself into crippling debt, then this feels like my only option.
I'm looking to release a new single with a professionally filmed and edited music video followed by an EP which will go onto a CD, all of which I'm hoping to get out before the summer starts. I'm hoping the single will come out around the start of May, and the EP in June. The money raised will help pay for all of the mixing, mastering and any additional musicians needed to help capture the sound.
The target that I've set doesn't cover all my costs for this EP. The full cost is going to be just over £2,500, however I can't bring myself to ask for that sort of money. If we somehow manage to hit the target of £1,000, anything raised over it will first go towards helping me pay any creatives who help me with the visual aspects of the releases (the artwork and music video) as well as an extensive PR and marketing campaign. (It's always felt weird paying for PR and marketing, however I've come to realise that their roles in the success of an EP and people hearing it can be just as important as a good-sounding EP itself.) Then anything after that will help me fund the creation and production of new merchandise such as t-shirts, stickers and badges so that I can sell these at shows which in turn will help me subsidise any losses I may make whilst on the road, because the lord knows driving around and gigging can be costly, and Sharon (my van) loves drinking diesel. Almost as much as my insurance loves to shaft me with their premium.
(Meet Sharon below: the biggest pain in my butt yet simultaneously the love of my life. Just don't tell my partner.)
I'll start with the less-weird ones first:
There's an option where you can essentially donate and pre-order a CD (of whcih I'll sign), and another option to get your name mentioned in the EP booklet. If you don't fancy a CD, but wanted to donate the price of a coffee/Guinness, then you're welcome to do that too.
Obviously I love gigging. So I'm WELL up for playing some house shows. I've always wanted to do a house tour. I'll play anywhere; house, garden, boat, Boeing 747. You name it, I'll play it. Ideally I'd like to book a house tour between March and April, maybe May too, however from May onwards festival season starts to creep in and everyone wants to be in a field. If that's something that sounds like you'd wanna do drop me a message via my email or any of my social medias, let's make it happen! Big or small, no matter the place or space, they're really fun. You don't have to provide food or drink or even a PA, and on top of that, you can decide who comes!
"What's the other way you're looking to raise money through Fraser?"
A Facebook livestream gig and wax, that's what.
Yep. Do I want to do this? Not particularly. However I know my lack of wanting to do it is far outweighed by the amount of people who want to see me scream like a little girl live on the internet whilst I try and sing "Fell In Love Again". (For those of you who don't know, that's one of my songs. Some people really like it for some reason.)
The livestream will take place on Sunday 30th of March at 6pm on my Facebook. The link for donations will be in the video, and for every certain amount of money donated, I'll have a wax stripped gently applied, and then painfully removed, most likely mid-song too. If Kate Nash can sell pictures of their butt to fund their tour, I can be gradually transformed into a pre-pubescent boy to fund my EP.
Anyway, I think I've covered everything. I feel bad asking for help, but not as much as I love to create and be a silly goose in hopes of making someone smile. Thank you for your time, and if you decide to donate, I cannot thank you enough. Especially after everything you've just read. You must be just as mad as me.
Love ya loads,
Fraser x
