Bring Our Debut Album to Life

The Soul of American Song

Help Us Bring Our Debut Album “In This Short Life” to Reality!

Hello dear friends, family, and fellow music lovers,

We (long time collaborators Devony Smith and Danny Zelibor) want to share an exciting new project: the recording of our debut album, “In This Short Life.” Alongside the remarkable cellist Michael Nicolas, we are embarking on this project to bring to life the works of some of America’s most distinctive and innovative composers.

About the Album

“In This Short Life” will feature compositions by Mark Adamo, Grammy award winner Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Eve Beglarian, B.E. Boykin, Jake Landau, Will Liverman, and Benjamin Wenzelberg. Among the many wonderful poets represented are Maya Angelou, Anne Sexton, Sarah Teasdale, Tennessee Williams, Emily Dickinson, and in two of the pieces, the composers themselves. We’re thrilled that all of these works are receiving their first studio recordings - and especially that we have the chance to commission brand new music by Jake Landau and Will Liverman specifically for this album.

We have been fortunate to work closely with many of these composers, performing and premiering their work over the years. The compositions we’ve chosen are joyful, introspective, soulful, heartfelt and in some cases deeply personal, all while exploring the many facets of American sound through the lens of classical art song. The music draws from the innately American influences of folk music, gospel, jazz, and musical theater.

Why We Need Your Support

Creating an album of this caliber requires significant resources and a top-tier label. We’re honored to be working with Lexicon Classics on every aspect of the album. And excitingly, thanks to the incredible generosity of a seed donor, we have already raised $5,000.00.

Your generous donations will go directly toward:

Recording Costs: Ensuring we have access to high-quality studio time to capture the best possible sound.

Mixing and Mastering: Polishing the recordings to professional standards so that each piece shines.

Musician Fees: Compensating our wonderful collaborators for their time and expertise.

Join Us on This Journey

We enthusiastically invite you to be a part of our musical journey. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to realizing a dream that started as a brainstorm on an uptown walk 4 years ago. We are passionate about bringing this music to life, and we cannot wait to share this experience more fully with you all.

Thank you for your support and belief in our vision for “In This Short Life.”

Devony Smith and Danny Zelibor