I was contacted several months ago by Michael Goodman (aka Implex Grace) of Distance Recordings about contributing a track to an upcoming compilation album. I knew a handful of other artists who were submitting material either personally or by reputation, and was honored to be asked to be a part of this project. Fast forward several months. I figured the compilation had fallen through since I hadn’t heard anything from anyone involved. Meanwhile, Mother Nature was taking a bat to Japan and the whole world was forced to watch. General feelings of helplessness abounded.
It was around this time that someone suggested we release the compilation asap, and donate 100% of the proceeds to the relief efforts in Japan. The overwhelming surge of positive responses to this proposal flooded my inbox. Finally, we were able to help in some small way.
I’ve been somewhat apprehensive in the past of artists wearing ribbons to promote their own music. It’s a horrible thing to attempt to cash in on the suffering of others. Is the artist writing this song because [s]he really feels strongly about the issue, or is it a cheap bid for attention? Is saying “in memory of…” a way of attracting more google hits and a vain attempt at viral one-hit-wonderism? Don’t look now, buddy, but your ego showing. Hypocritically, I now find myself telling people to buy this album because “it’s for a good cause”. Am I becoming one of those tea-bags with stars in his eyes and dollar signs in his heart? I don’t know. Maybe.
This album was, as I had mentioned, compiled months before anything had even hinted at pummeling Japan. I’m not wearing a ribbon or changing the color of my profile picture on various social networks so that everyone knows I support this, that, and the other. I don’t proclaim that my track was written in memory of anyone. It’s as selfish a piece of music as anything else I’ve ever written. This piece was not made for Japan, but I’ll gladly donate all hypothetical proceeds to help them. I mean, if money is generated and we need some place to send it, I’d much rather it go there than to my own personal sandwich fund. (jk, the plan was always to donate the proceeds. The only thing that changed was the decision to send it to the Red Cross for Japan instead of some other organization).
The audience typically interested in the niche family of artists featured on this compilation will not grow simply because this album is being sold “for a good cause”. You may hate the music, and that’s fine. Don’t buy it. If you really want to help Japan, you can donate money directly to the Red Cross and cut out the middle man. For the few of you who would be interested regardless, please consider sending your dollars to procure a copy. It’s the type of thing you’d probably get anyway and, though it’s only $5, *gulp* every little bit helps.
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*double gulp* And it’s for a good cause.
