Target reached!
A professional animated film of the story, projected live on the Phantastes tour - w...
Phantastes
Marlborough, England, United Kingdom
Aim
A project to support my new album 'Phantastes'
Hi Folks!
Right now I should be at the Edinburgh Fringe. I should have been previewing my new album 'Phantastes' and then touring it across the UK this Autumn. Alas 2020 had other plans for us all and every show of mine in 2020 has been cancelled! BUT the silver lining is that this crowdfunder is a really personal way of telling the story and a great way for you to be involved. I am excited to be offering some special stuff that resonates with the songs and the album, above and beyond the usual merch stall at the gigs.
'Phantastes' is partly inspired by a book of the same name. It was written by Aberdeenshire literary giant, George MacDonald. First published in 1858, 'Phantastes' is the Grand-daddy of all modern fantasy, inspiring Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien (and me!) amongst others. I bought a paperback version of this faerie romance for adults when I was 17, from The White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough in 1982. I would read this book in bed in the mornings in a little house on the edge of Savernake Forest. At the time I was trying to shake the shadow of loneliness as I pursued a local beauty at school, whilst in the book, the main character was plagued by a shadow as he pursued a Marble Lady in a mythical forest. The pages within hold some of my favourite passages of prose. In the real world the boy got the girl and he still lives with her today.
Here is a pic of my treasured and well-thumbed copy that has been in (and out of) my bookcase all these years. I always pass on a book if I enjoy it, so .. it is time to offer it to you now as a special reward for supporting this project. Inside, you will find a personal note that explains why it means so much to me and to wish you well on your own journey.
So the album is a journey through the ethereal world of a young dreamer, (who, it turns out, has a knack of making dreams come true). To evoke this feeling I wanted something more other-worldly than my usual low-slung acoustics. I turned to IGOR. IGOR is an Airline Map Baritone electric by Eastwood Guitars in Seafoam Green, with a few unique customisations by yours truly. Like any guitar IGOR is a Interactive Global Oscillatory Reactor. He has been my faithful six-string assistant throughout the recording and conjured up the magical dreamworld I was trying to re-inhabit perfectly. I wouldn't have been able to do it without him.
Somewhat reluctantly IGOR is now offered as the very top tier reward for supporting this project. I will be happy if he ventures from Harperspace and finds a new home, but if not, I'll be just as happy to keep him in my employ.
Many of the rewards come with a free ticket to a livestream gig. This will be the 'Phantastes' show that I would have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and beyond. The date will be set after the CDs and LPs have been delivered. We will endeavour to make the time of the show a world-friendly one so you can interact with Nick live, but you will still be able to access the show after the live broadcast.
The story of the album is in essence, the history of a kiss. The story of one big thing in my life I got right. So it sure is one from the heart. I hope the songs resonate with you as much as they have with me as I wrote them and help you escape the real world just for a moment or two. We all need that every once in a while and maybe even more so in these strange days.
There are lots of ways you can get involved. You can pledge as little as a quid and become part of a select group, who will receive an honorary mention in the pantheon of backers on my Facebook page if you so wish.
You can have the music delivered as a digital download, a CD or a 12" Vinyl LP. Or any combination of the three.
I am also offering hand written lyrics. I will get out my (mum's) best fountain pen and write on my best paper in my best handwriting the lyrics to your choice of any one of my songs.
The 'Everything Bundle' includes a discount on all the music rewards, with a handwritten lyric and A Big Thank You. BUT, if the specific combination of rewards that you would like is not in that bundle - fear not - you can back the project more than once and get the combo you need for your collection!
As well as the top-tier rewards already mentioned there are 3 vinyl white labels and I also have a unique one-off reward of a handmade writing book, inside which, I will write all the lyrics to 'Phantastes'.
Delivery is included for all rewards sent to the UK. We are asking a small additional donation for international postage.
*We think we will be able to deliver the rewards on time, but completion dates may slip a little due to the extraordinary circumstances around the world affecting production and delivery times at the moment.
Thank you for reading this .. Most musicians make their living from live shows these days and most musicians have had their live shows cancelled this year. For the first time in at least 25 years I will not be gigging for a calendar year.
If the response to this crowdfunder goes crazy - I do have dreams of making an animated movie of the story. I have already storyboarded some songs/scenes in my head! Realistically any funds raised will go towards the production costs of making Phantastes and hopefully giving me the breathing space for writing and recording my next project ..
I believe the arts are not a luxury, but a necessity. We need them for our mental wellbeing, the life-affirming world of shared experiences and for how they enhance our lives in innumerable, immeasurable ways. So: a huge thank you for supporting your favourite arts projects, including this crowdfunder! Love, Nick.
Nick at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019. Photo: Simon Foster
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Here's to the companies whose great products Nick has used in the making of 'Phantastes'. Nick is not 'endorsed' by these companies, but buys their products because he thinks they're good.
This project successfully funded on 13th September 2020