Black Trans Music Matters - Let's Get It Heard

Trans Trenderz is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

(photo: apollo flowerchild by kacie marie)

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WHO ARE WE?

Trans Trenderz is a Black Trans led record label that aims to bring Trans voices into the mainstream industry by offering them record deals that let them keep the rights to their music and its royalties.

When the Black Lives Matter movement regained traction in early June, we decided to launch the Ghostly Beats Project, an initiative specifically for Black Trans Artists which pairs them with allies to have access to free services and resources they wouldn't otherwise have access to.

The initiative quickly picked up steam, culminating in official partnerships with Grammy Award-winning producers and engineers like Joel Hamilton (Norah Jones, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, etc), and Adam Ayan (Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, etc).

And while these recording, mixing and mastering services are absolutely vital for Black Trans Musicians to make it into the mainstream, they are not the end-all-be-all. We also need those songs to be heard.

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Trans Trenderz is run by artists who currently depend on government benefits which are running out. And since the label itself makes its money by taking a 10% cut off our artists' booking fees it is pretty challenging times...

That's why we need your help to fundraise our startup capital and get this record label to a point where it is completely sustainable.

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(photo: blxck cxsper by blxck cxsper)

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WHAT IS THE MONEY FOR?

- Our PR Team -

In order for the songs to be heard by a maximum amount of people and have the chance to break through the mainstream industry we need to get onto platforms that are unreachable to folks who don't have publicists. By hiring a PR team we will be able to get songs featured onto platforms that are currently out of reach to Black Trans artists.

- Our out of town Artists -

A lot of amazing Black Trans musicians live in places where opportunities are scarce and we believe that they too should be able to have access to the Studio G facilities and other resources we've managed to gather. That is why we want to be able to fly them out to New York and get them an AirBnB or a hotel room so that they don't have to take risks by staying at somebody else's house.

We also are working on establishing collaborations with recording facilities outside of New York City and want to be able to fly there to help launch the collaboration in the smoothest way possible. That would include coaching Black Trans producers who would end up taking over the initiative in their city.

- Bureaucracy -

The fees related to our LLC registrations came out of our rent money and we would love to be able to pay them back.

- Equipment -

Our founder Blxck Cxsper has to work with the label remotely at the moment as they are stuck in Montreal because of Covid. Their computer cannot handle their workflow and keeps crashing or freezing in very worrying ways. We'd love to be able to replace it with one that works and doesn't threaten to die every day.

Additionally we'd love to be able to provide our artists with Rode NT1-A microphones and FocusRite 2i2 soundcard so that they be able to record demos from home and practice their craft.

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(photo: heather hills by kacie marie)

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WHY SHOULD YOU HELP?

There is no Black history without Black Music.
There is no Black history without Black Trans people.

Every revolution needs a soundtrack and at Trans Trenderz we believe that this one should be written by Black Trans people. Not only because it is important to make sure those artists heard we also believe that Music is healing and the world can only benefit from hearing those voices.

Plus... it's not enough for us to help Black Trans people in times of crisis. If we truly want to live in an equitable society, we must support Black Trans People in their joy and creation.

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(photo: blxck cxsper by noire mouliom)

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THANK YOU!