How It Works
Click on the Donate Button above and donate any amount you would like to help King Kohn produce his next album, and in return, get great rewards and receive unique, personalized swag for your participation. Merchandise will be sent to backers during the month of March, 2012 (see the summary of awards in the above text box).
If you would rather donate by check or money order (which is preferable to avoid merchant fees), you can mail a check or money order payable to: King Kohn, PO Box 4992, Austin, Texas 78765.
Below, you may view a raw YouTube video clip of one of the songs featured on the album. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, King Kohn has also embedded a copy of his estimated budget and cost structure for the album.
About King Kohn's New Album
Here he is again on the cusp of delving into another full length album of Acoustic DeathMetal Hippie Folk Rock! The new album will demarcate a turning point in King Kohn's musical career. Bigger. Bolder. Louder. This album will contain thirteen original tracks, of which, three of them will be solo piano/vocal pieces. You will hear the return of Taka and Herm (King Kohn's two acoustic guitars), and Jolis (his cello).
In the tradition of his love for acoustic music, King Kohn's 1976 Baldwin piano will be moved to the studio as well. What a great sound you will hear on the piano tracks. Michael Krieger will be back on the drums with his impressive new set-up: The Kit Of Despair. Doug Frazier will return on lead guitar and lay down some soaring leads to tantalize your senses; and lastly, Lance "Captain Shred" Woodburn, serving up shred for some thirty-seven years, will add his unique and undeniable guitar sound to melt your face off. What a line-up King Kohn has in store for you!
Projected Budget
Studio Tracking Time $45/hr 24 hrs $1,080 Studio Mix Time $45/hr 16 hrs $720 Musician Pay $520 Mastering $85/hr 5 hrs $425 Masters/Storage 3 disks $115 Digital Distribution $35 Copyright & UPC $50 Piano Move $200 Miscellaneous (strings, etc.) $50 $3,195
Why Back King Kohn As An Independent Artist?
BACKER REWARDS AND PARTICIPATION: This is an opportunity for you to participate in a very real and personal way. Backers will receive an array of various rewards, personal recognition and will be able to participate with the production of the album. ALL backers, no matter the amount pledged, will be credited on the album and on King Kohn's Official Website. In essence, you will become part of the album you helped bring into the world.
ARTISTIC CONTROL: In an effort to maintain artistic control of the material on the album and control over those involved with its production, King Kohn is producing the album hisself rather than risk a label shelving or butchering his work and retaining an interest in its rights. King Kohn spends a lot of time, money and energy bringing his music directly to the public rather than wasting precious resources soliciting music labels. His first album was an absolutely wonderful experience, and by producing it hisself, he learned more about the music industry and the recording, mixing and mastering process than he ever imagined. It was an invaluable experience worth many times the cost of the production of the album. With the knowledge and experience gained from his self-produced debut album, his four to six hour per day practice regime and your help, he will be able to produce yet another wonderful work of art.
IMMORTALITY: Imagine the possibilities. When you look back a few years from now and witness the burgeoning musical careers of the artists on the album that you helped bring into the world, what a beautiful feeling you will have as you remember being part of something special, eternal. You will be forever remembered for your patronage, and will join King Kohn on his musical journey.
King Kohn's new studio album is due to be released on 4/20/2012.
Pre-order your album now and you will receive a free 11" x 17" signed promotional poster. All pre-orders will arrive one week before the official release date.
BLACKENED BLISSFUL BLOOM is a thrilling roller coaster ride of human emotions. Wonderfully raw and heartwrenching; savagely off-beat; joyously inspiring; operatic and theatrical; the lyrics will grip you. From songs about chasing your dreams to tales dipped in sorrow to the emergence of a secret society of vampires, Blackened Blissful Bloom is a tapestry of Acoustic Death Metal Hippie Folk Rock.
Sinister growls, eerie whispers and passionate screams; shredding metal guitar solos intertwined with eloquent, melodic and tasteful licks; riveting double bass drums, playful penetrating percussion fills rocketing at light speed mixed with creative rhythms and solos; and, of course, the ever-present acoustic guitar sound.
Featured instruments on this epic production include: piano, acoustic guitar, violoncello, electric guitar and drums. The album will be about 45 minutes long and will contain 13 tracks.
Track 01: The Battle Of Blissful Bloom
This song introduces the album. It is a solo piano and vocal piece. Gently horrifying. Questioning. Ominous.
Track 02: Buzz Off To The Man
Upbeat tune of joyous defiance urging everyone to follow their heart, and not be afraid to make a new start.
Track 03: Veni Vidi Voro
This song begins with an epic drum solo. It is a fantasy tune about a cult of vampires who have been repressed for centuries. They have awakened, are gaining power and are coming to mercilessly feed on the corrupt.
Track 04: Johnny
A sobering song mourning the loss of a young man who took his own life. This is a healing song for those who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Track 05: Go Out And Play
This is the first song King Kohn ever wrote. It is an intoxicatingly playful tune celebrating life, reminding us that life is short and any moment could be our last.
Track 06: Money
Composed for a play, this song is a piano and vocal piece reminding us of how the love of money corrupts and destroys our dreams, our humanity. It is a warning to be ever-cautious of its powerful influence and destructive nature.
Track 07: Charity
An acoustic delight about a girl named Charity, and the act of giving to others a little piece of ourselves to inspire those around us to pursue their dreams.
Track 08: Eva Lucia
This is the daughter of Satan, an artist, who will change the way we look at good and evil rising in all her glorious depravity to inspire the world of blissful black.
Track 09: Dreamlife
A gentle, happy vocal and piano piece about following your dreams and enjoying the hard road you will certainly face. It reminds us that anything worthwhile takes time, hard work, patience and relentless determination. This life is our dreamlife.
Track 10: Living Alone
A terribly happy tune about that feeling of loneliness we all get from time to time; however, it reminds us that many others face this feeling every day in much more tragic ways than us.
Track 11: Prickly Little People
A short, playful, rhythmic song about those people in our lives who, rather than inspire and encourage us to follow our hearts, use verbal razors like jealousy and self-hate to tear us down.
Track 12: Let The Music Out
A grand and humble song that reminds us that music has no rules. It is inside of us all. There is no right. There is no wrong. There are only the songs inside us screaming to escape.
Track 13: The Dying Game
In this free and open song dwells an overt warning: Do not surrender to conformity. Find yourself. Be yourself. You have only this one life, so live it.