For an independent musician or band, starting an album is often easy. Finishing an album is often not.
It's been a few years since Bend-based singer-songwriter Shireen Amini released her debut record, a vibrant fusion of ultra-rhythmic rock, folk, soul and world sounds. Now, her sophomore effort is partially done, and like many artists in recent years, she is exploring a fan-funded route to complete it.
Amini is passing up the ubiquitous online fundraising site Kickstarter and going straight to her fans, inviting them to become members of “Shireen Amini's Blue Genies Fund” and help her finish her new album, tentatively titled “Saving Grace” and planned for a summer release.
Members have many options for joining, ranging from $20, which buys a copy of the record and a sticker inside a personal note from Amini, to $5,000, which gets 15 copies of the CD, a free house concert by Amini, a thanks in the liner notes and lots of other fun stuff.
You can give less than $20 or more than $5,000, of course; it's all about raising enough money to finish the job. There is a link with much more info and a way to donate at www.shireenamini.com.
Amini's not just sitting at home waiting for internet dollars to roll in, though. Tonight, she'll throw a Blue Genies fundraiser at Common Table in downtown Bend. Details ... now!
Shireen Amini's Blue Genies Fundraiser ; 7-10 tonight; $5 after 8 p.m.; Common Table, 150 N.W. Oregon Ave., Bend; www.shireenamini.com.
