The Isolation Sessions

Doncaster, England, United Kingdom

£3,305

raised so far

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This project successfully funded on 4th December 2020, you can still support them with a donation.

First target reached!

There's going to be a CD! Thank you all so much! Now let's make the album of my drea...

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Aim

Over three afternoons during lockdown, I recorded three mini-albums of unaccompanied traditional songs and now it's time to make a CD


The lockdown has been hard on all of us. I was building a business as an artisan baker when the virus hit and my wife and I had to go into self isolation because of our (oh so delightfully named) 'comorbidities'. Unable to bake, I turned to the art that has sustained me all my life:, unaccompanied song. In happier times, I love to sing with others, but in isolation I started to record the songs that don't always fit in a singaround.

There's consolation in these Old Songs: a sense of empathy with people long gone and of shared humanity alongside weird and shocking differences. The sound of a lone voice singing with no accompaniment has always thrilled and excited me – it's why I was inspired to make these recordings. I hope that I'm not alone in that feeling. 

I released the recordings via bandcamp.com and people were excited enough by them to ask if there were plans for a physical release. At the time, there weren’t, but it persuaded me to start this project.

Why £750?

With £750, I can:

  • Replicate 300 CDs in jewel cases with a small sleeve note booklet
  • Cover postage and packaging to all backers

I can't include everything from the Bandcamp version because I recorded slightly too much music to fit on a single CD. Backers will also receive a download code for all the digital tracks.

If we exceed the initial target, as well as making more CDs, I'd like to improve the product in the following ways:

  • Professional mastering of the tracks
  • Replace the jewel cased package with an eco friendly all cardboard digisleeve designed by someone who knows what they're doing

Testimonials

Obviously, I think I've recorded a thrilling and essential album of unaccompanied singing. You don't have to take my word for it though:

Fascinating, moving and thrilling. … one of the country’s finest unaccompanied singers along to your venue – essentially a vocal gymnast performing without a safety net. — Jon Wilks

One singer. One voice. Carrying you away from wherever you are to distant places nestled away in the heart of Deep England … Piers’ voice contains a multitude of emotions and energies, adjusting his rhythm, volume and tone of voice in order to bring the story to life and maintain the listener’s attention. Piers changes lanes regularly enough to call the hairs on the back of your neck to stand to attention.Folk London

I'm sure many of us look forward to Piers' contribution on #TradSongTues — @TradSongTues


Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made


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