In 2015 my grandfather passed away and left me a small but very much appreciated inheritance. I decide the best way to honour him was to use the money to do something that I had dreamed of for years - releasing my own album. I wrote and recorded the songs in a small back bedroom, make-shift studio and having no idea about what I was doing just ordered a few boxes of CD's and sold them to friends and family and at my gigs. But the album did well, sold over 1000 copies and was reviewed by Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph, and my publishers were all of a sudden interested in me taking this further and they funded a trip to Nashville to make this brand new record. It features some incredible talents and I have a wonderful team around me but as I have no record label - I also have no funding whatsoever, except for what myself and my incredibly supportive wife put in from our own wages.
We now have the completed record and a PR campaign ready to go but I need around £8000 to give this any chance at all, or I will seriously have to reevaluate my career and this is a huge moment in my personal and professional life. I am at a very significant crossroads and that is not a dramatic statement - it's very true. Time is just starting to work against me and I have to be realistic, but equally I know that I have created a wonderful album, and if it is heard by people they will love these songs for their warmth and love. It is an emotional and accessible collection of songs and I believe that you don't have to work very hard at all to instantly connect worth the messages within.
We have the means to put in £3000 of the capital needed from our own personal funds. So we need to raise the additional £5000 which will cover the PR campaigns which includes TV, radio and press across the UK, Europe and North America, it will also allow us to retain the rights to the album's hard copies by paying for them to be printed ourselves on both CD and LP - which sell well at shows and festivals and to my fan base of around 7000 people and growing.
The plan here is to make "Rob Wheeler" a household name by means of a measured and thorough media campaign and releasing 4 singles before the album between September 2024 and March 2025. This will also include a charity single to mark the 110 year anniversary of WW1, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army who are backing the song.
A media campaign via a major label such as Sony could be millions of pounds/dollars, more and more depending on the artist, so I'm very lucky that I have made deals with very highly regarded media teams who believe in the project and are willing to do the campaign work at a much much lower rate, to help me achieve my target. I also have a publishing deal with Bucks Music Group who funded the recording phase and a deal with Absolute who are acting as the record label in a distribution capacity for a very small return and no rights shares, getting the music into stores and online DSP's such as Spotify and VEVO. It is a very good situation to be in if we can raise the funding.
I am personally managed by Kerry Harvey-Piper; Kerry is the manager and daughter-in-law of the great folk singer-songwriters Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger; Kerry is helping to guide my career and is also working on this project out of pure belief in the music.
My original plan was to sign with a label in Nashville, who offered me a bespoke deal, but this meant signing away the rights to the music and then serendipitously, my beloved grandmother became seriously ill and I helped to care for her through her final days at home with my mum. This gave me time to reflect on this last opportunity for me to try and make this a success on my terms. We decided to try to go it alone and with your help we can achieve this great ambition - the album will be dedicated to the memory of my gran, Dorothy.
Due to my age (I am now the wrong side of 40) the common sources of funding such as arts councils, deem me to be too old - whereas in reality I am younger than all of my contemporaries such as John Mayer, Damien Rice, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, James Blunt, James Morrison, Jason Mraz, Ryan Adams and Chris Martin of Coldplay - all outstanding writers and artists. Country music is ageless and in some cases the true life experiences of someone who has seen bit more of life tends to deliver a better and more relatable story.
The funding would cover the PR campaigns with ALL ABOUT PROMO UK and MEASURE PR; both of these teams are run by very very respectable and kind people who believe in music and are highly regarded by industry greats such as Bob Harris OBE and Jools Holland OBE. They have previously worked with talents such as Paul Carrack, Don McLean, Beth Nelson Chapman, Judie Tzuke, Fairground Attraction, Seth Lakeman and many more.
All About Promo is run by Amanda Beel who is a huge part of the London country, folk and Americana scene and is personal friends with her clients, bringing a personal family feel to her stable of artists and the clients she takes them to, such as BBC radio 2 and Absolute radio. Both AAP & Measure will not work with a client unless they believe in the music - so under no circumstances would they take on a project for purely financial reasons - reputations can not be bought and sold in this industry. The hope is that with a successful media campaign, comes the success of the album, and a long term artist and PR relationship which lasts years rather than months, and spans many albums and singles.
My album features a host of Nashville talent too - Steve Dorff, member of the songwriter hall of fame co wrote and co produced the second single Something About Your Eyes which he guest features on along with John Mayer's guitar player Robbie McIntosh.
Drums are by Fred Eltringham - ACM drummer of the year and long time member of Sheryl Crow's band, also playing for Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
The famous Carnival Music publishing house on Music Row, owned by the legend Frank Liddell, features heavily with three of the songs on the album co-wrote and featuring Mando Saenz and Marla Cannon-Goodman.
Jeff Trott who was BMI songwriter of the year in 2008 and wrote If It Makes You Happy for Sheryl Crow co-wrote and co-produced the track "<y Nashville Song" and also guest features.
The list of guest features is again a real seal of approval from these genuine Nashville stars - they are putting their name to my album - they too believe in me. Behind the scenes we have Warren David mixing the record who mixed for Kieth Urban and the mastering was done for a nominal fee by the great Pete Maher who worked with U2 and did the mastering for Peaky Blinders.
The album is all about bravery and conquering fears, journeying and the adventures of love and life. Moving away and maybe even coming back home again. Falling in love and finding yourself. It is a positive and happy record, road trips and flights to distant lands, making the move, changing your scenery, leaving tomorrow...
You can hear the whole album and read more on the personnel here at the full EPK
Link - www.RobWheelerSongs.com/LeaveTomorrow
Password - NASHVILLE
All contributions are extremely and gratefully welcomed - and every person who contributes will be thanked by name and added to the liner notes of the CD & LP versions of the album.
•People who fund £200+ will also be sent a signed 1st edition LP & tee shirt
•People who fund over £500+ will be given a gift box set loaded with merch and which includes the official album press edition CD (only 50 made)
+Your name will be included in the album credits as one of the Fuj Records Associates
++4 Free tickets to the next show of your choice (tour coming in 2025)
+++Rob Wheeler hoodie
•People who contribute £1000+ will receive all of the above plus you will receive a free live show at your home or place of choice (UK only sorry due to travel costs) - I am happy to travel to Europe or America etc but travel costs would have to be covered - the show would still be free of course. To be arranged for 2025 at a suitable date and time for both parties.