Music

My Music is Your Music

• Authentic
• Beautiful
• Soulful

My friends,

I'm writing to ask you to donate anything you can towards the production of my latest record. After nine-months of work recording it, I've hit a financial wall and I need your help to make it a tangible CD and Vinyl record...$5, $10, $20, more, anything you can spare. The good people at Rockethub have made it easy and FAST to contribute . If my goal isn't met, you're money gets returned to you automatically.

Below are more details about how these songs all got started. Thanks for reading and thanks as always for listening.

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Starting in August of 2009 I found myself in need of a new living situation. While working the Obituary Desk one day I found a small ad on Craigslist that advertised a room simply, "Pie-da-terre, Studio, Flatiron."

I thought to myself, "If they've got that little to say about a place in the Flatiron District, it must be a find." So I decided to write a detailed email about who I was, where I was and why I needed an apartment...and that I was a musician. 

An hour after hitting 'Send,' I received a phone call:

'Alfonso?'

'Yes.'

'It's your new landlord Morocco, move in tonight.'

I took down the address, faked a serious illness and hightailed it to the block where I now live.

At first, I thought there was some mistake, but as I entered through the elevator and met my wonderful friend and landlady I gazed upon a 3,000 square-foot dance studio. Hardwood floors, stage lighting, PA, the works! She showed me the small duplex off to the side, I gave her the deposit and we shook hands. No paper work, just word of honor.

Now almost a year later, 2 grandmothers burried, 1 relationship broken and a hell of a lot to be thankful for, I'm sitting in this dance hall holding nine songs on a CD in my hand, all recorded here; in this most majestic of sonic spaces, with some of New York's most talented musicians. 

I've racked my mind and resources trying to find ways to get this album out to you, sat across from record execs who scoffed at the idea that an artist with a Latin name could successfully put out original this music. I've heard heeps of No's.

The only 'Yes' I've consistently heard throughout my six years putting out records has been from listeners, fans, YOU.

Seeing my friend Nichole show up to a show in New York after a three hour drive or reading letters from James in Indiana -- getting encouragement and thanks from Dillon in Atlanta, Michele in Paris, Lisa in Alexandria, Ted in Beijing, John in DC, Craig in London, Tony in Massachusetts...that's where it's at. That's who makes my music happen...you do.

It's your music.

So here they are, nine songs; my best as I see it. The album is called "Russian Bear," after a nickname I was pegged with in High School. They speak of love and family lost, peace gained, restlessness settled and fantastical escape.

The stories take you from my New York apartment, to a hospital bed, to an eternal night. Then to Barcelona, the stratosphere, a Halloween party and back to this Dance Studio. If nothing else my friends, it is so very real.

I love these songs so much. And they've given back to me in full already. Their string arrangements are hipnotizing and melodies pure and full of that dreamlike quality I listen for in music.

I need to master the record, manufacture 1,000 CD's, 100 Vinyl copies, 340 Digital download cards, 150 T-shirts and grab a publicist and tour support to get this record performed live in your town.

So please my friends, let my music, your music, be other's. Give to the record and give generously. Let it be discovered by a teenager in Anchorage, an art student in Mexico or music lover right next door.

Thank you so much for all your support, friendship and encouragement.

Throughout, within and beyond,

Alfonso