We are Canterbury Bells - a burgeoning Folk Rock outfit, comprised of compulsive songwriters Sean Ashkenson, Ezra Teshome, and Liam McKay. We blend classic folk sensibility with modern perspectives and methods, and we typically draw inspiration from the beauty of nature. We each contribute to the writing process, and work to bring to life our ideas in a collaborative environment.
We are excited to announce that we are currently in the process of recording a full-length album, Knight & Day! We have big plans for this project and have already invested a significant amount of time, effort, and our own finances in it.
We would like to ask for a bit of help to get us closer to reaching our goals, including a music video (potentially two!), a vinyl release, and to help offset the costs of recording, mixing, and mastering. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the finances and what we hope to achieve at different stages of funding.
Knight & Day is a project we have been working on for a long time now. Some of the songs were written as early as 2014, so nearly a decade of threads are coming together to weave this tapestry.
This began with an initial question - "what do you think about castles?" We wondered what they represent, who and what they were built for and by, as well as what they represent in the modern consciousness? What do modern-day castles, palaces, and fortresses look like, Physically, metaphorically, and spiritually?
We have worked to write these songs as a deeper investigation of these questions, and hope they inspire you to think about them to see where you may land. We also hope that by creating this project, we can partially answer some of these questions, effectively building our own castle, our community, through music and storytelling.
An important concern for us is to be absolutely transparent with this fundraiser - we are raising money to record, but how much really goes into this process? Below you can find our breakdown of the expenses that will go into this project if we are successful in our fundraising:
Recording Engineer - $1500
Bass $65/hr x 8hr = $520
Collaborations - $65/hr x 12 collaborators x 4 hours each = $3120
This figure above may seem high for those unfamiliar with the process of recording an album, and surprising given the DIY nature of the band and our approach to things. However, we strongly believe that artists should be paid fairly for their time.
We would love to showcase the vision we have had for Knight and Day with a Music Video, and have connected with a director who is excited to work with us. We want to help create a strong visual component in conjunction with our record.
Music Video - $5000
Vinyl
As with the Music Video, we would want to use the Vinyl as a medium for storytelling. Not only could we include the lyrics and more artwork in the gatefold, but we could also include notes and short stories, as well as little easter eggs referencing our inspiration for the album.
Vinyl Production - 200 Presses for $2500 Art assistance for Vinyls - $500
We want to be transparent about when you can expect to have access to the album we are working so hard to create, as well as add-ons, like our 3-Song EP and one-of-a-kind merch options.
Knight & Day from the start has been planned to release in 2026, so as to run with the release momentum to go on tour. We plan to release singles as a sort of landing strip to build up momentum. Here is an incredibly tentative release timeline:
We also want to make sure you know when to expect to receive physical rewards. We are currently working on establishing our timeline for this, as it involves securing screen printing, finishing the Album Art, and so much more work still ahead of us. It can be safe to assume, at the earliest, to expect to receive physical rewards from pledges by 2026.
As a feature of Backerkit, we are able to offer the option of Pay Over Time for pledges higher than $150 - this includes our "The Bird of Paradise" and "The Canterbury Bell" pledge level.
The fulfillment of the rewards in the tiers that fit this criteria will only be fulfilled once the full payment is received.
Any partial payments already made are not available for a refund.
Any sizing options for shirts will be available only after full payment is received.
Once we begin fulfillment, we will be able to get a better assessment of shipping costs. For now, these are the average shipping costs that will be charged after the campaign is fulfilled.
Regardless of whether or not you are/were able to pledge your support with us, just reading all the way to this point means this project grabbed your interest in some way.
We thank you for your time and support - and wish you the same level of support in your own works and endeavors.
We leave with one last question - what do castles mean to you?
