Waves of Harmony

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(Links on top! - https://gofund.me/3a4e819b)

Dear friends, music lovers, and cultural explorers! As you may know, I've been dedicated to shamisen for the past 20 years (among a bevvy of other instruments), and I'm thrilled to present to you an incredible and unique musical odyssey that I've poured my heart and soul into: Waves of Harmony - a groundbreaking 40-track shamisen fusion project that transcends the boundaries of genre, culture, and time. "Waves of Harmony" unites the unparalleled talents of dozens of virtuoso musicians, creating a symphony of breathtaking melodies and harmonious collaborations. I invite you to join us in bringing these albums to life while not only sharing our passion for the beautiful art of shamisen, but celebrating the incredible collaborative magic that only comes from the connection of generous, down-to-earth souls!

The stellar lineup includes legendary shamisen players, internationally-acclaimed vocalists, and renowned instrumentalists from every corner of the globe. With their collective genius, they've woven together an exquisite tapestry of sound, blending traditional Japanese shamisen style with world folk music, as well as some Pop and Metal covers. (All their names are below!)

The Quest to Recover Production Costs

As a life-long musician with a deep passion for world music, I am fortunate to have connected with so many talented and professional musicians to make this dream a reality. The 40 songs are mostly complete and almost half are ready to be shared with the world, but there is just one more hurdle we need to overcome: covering the production expenses that exceed $30,000. This is where we need YOUR support! - https://gofund.me/3a4e819b

To be clear, the production expenses exclusively consist of fair artist honorariums and mixing/mastering fees. My goal is to not profit from crowdfunding (because the experience of working with these incredible artists was compensation enough!) but simply recover the costs of producing the works. In this digital age, it is essential for independent artists like us to receive the support of our communities in order to thrive and continue creating. By contributing to our GoFundMe campaign, you'll not only be helping us recover our production costs but also become a part of a movement that bridges cultural gaps and unites people through the power of music. Your generous donations will enable these brilliant musicians to receive the recognition they deserve and share their exceptional artistry with the world.

Every Donation Counts!

No matter how big or small, every contribution will bring us closer to our goal and make a difference. As a token of our gratitude, our backers will receive exclusive rewards and experiences that will immerse them in the beauty and magic of "Waves of Harmony." Your support today will ensure the legacy of this extraordinary shamisen fusion album and help celebrate the masterful musicians who have made it a reality.

Expressing Our Gratitude with Exclusive Rewards!

We are incredibly grateful for the support you provide in helping us recover our production costs. (https://gofund.me/3a4e819b) To show our appreciation, we've curated a range of unique and heartfelt rewards that we hope you will treasure. When you donate, you'll be part of a community that believes in the power of music and the talents of our amazing musicians.

1. Donor Mention on Kyle Abbott's website: $10 - Your name proudly displayed on our donor list, acknowledging your valuable support.

2. Personal Shoutouts: $30 - Receive special shoutouts on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook (public or private).

3. Bachido Button & Patch: $50 - Wear your passion with a free Bachido button and patch.

4. Thank You Card: $100 - A special thank you card featuring a collage of all the talented artists on the album.

5. Two Posters/Thank You Cards: $200 - Limited edition 2016 ShamiCamp and Monsters of Shamisen Stellar album posters.

6. Signed Physical Album Set: $200 - A collection of previous albums, personally signed by the artists.

7. Album Set & 2 Posters/Thank You Cards: $300 - Get both the signed physical album set and limited edition posters.

8. Zoom Lesson: $400 - Hone your skills with a personalized Zoom lesson from album artist of your choice. (Subject to artist availability)

9. Two Song Notations: $500 - Receive notations for two songs of your choice.

Personalized Short Shamisen Performance Video: $1,000 - Played by Kyle Abbott and Mike Penny!

10. Zoom Meeting with Album Artist: $2,000 - A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with an album artist of your choice via Zoom. (Subject to artist availability)

By donating to our campaign, you'll be rewarded with these exclusive and heartfelt tokens of appreciation that reflect the passion and dedication behind "Waves of Harmony." Your support will make a lasting impact on the continuation of collaboration with these exceptional musicians and help bring their artistry to a global audience. Let's make this dream a reality!

Meet the 34 Expert Musicians Featured in the Album

"Waves of Harmony" has been graced with the incredible artistry of 34 expert musicians who have poured their hearts and souls into this project:

Aaron Seeman (Accordion)

Adam Stacey (Accordion)

Annie Staninec (Fiddle)

Billy Pitrone (Vocals)

Carl Abbott (Vocals)

Charlie Cawood (Saz, Oud, Dulcimer, Bass)

Daisuke Kiba (Kokyu)

Darcy Noonan (Violin)

Douglas Lee (Glass Harp)

Edwin Itoh (Guitar, Harmonium, Co-Producer)

Elizabeth Nott (Percussion)

Erina Katoh (Vocals)

Gage Hulsey (Guitar)

Hiroki Hashimoto (Vocals)

Isaku Kageyama (Taiko)

Israel Heller (Violin)

Inoue Tsuyoshi (Vocals)

James Waterman (Vibraphone)

Jesse Peachy Autumn (Harp, Piano)

Joel Mankey (Mandola, Trumpet, Shinobue, Vox, Co-Producer, Engineer)

Junzo Tateiwa (Tabla)

Kenny Endo (Percussion)

Leslie Abbott (Vocals)

Luke Abbott (Guitar, Fiddle)

Michael Mull (Clarinet)

Matej Kolenic (Fujara, Konkovka)

Masahiro Nitta (Shamisen)

Mike Penny (Shamisen)

Nate Miller (Erhu)

Riley McShane (Vocals)

Tom Delany (Uilleann pipes)

Rick Walker (Percussion)

Reigen Fujii (Shamisen)

Shawn Renzoh Head (Shakuhachi)

Sho'on Shibata (Percussion)

Sonia Wyman (Vocals)

Steve Uccello (Bass)

Sumie Kaneko (Koto)

Toshihiro Yanagawa (Vocals)

Yvette Holzwarth (Strings)

Shawn HeadComment