Debut Album by Liberian Asylee, ZONDO (Abraham)

Hello My People, I am Zondo (Abraham Mellish).

I am a native-born son of Liberia who was forced to immigrate to America at the age of 15 as an asylee, due to Civil War. In response to this struggle, I found the path of musical expression, so I taught myself to play instruments (especially guitar) & write songs. I fuse traditional Liberian sensibility with American folk-pop to create a unique blend of sounds that transcends boundaries by speaking directly to the heart. I approach my music as an opportunity to unite people & ignite their spirits. It’s a global place where melody, rhythm, activism, & culture intertwine.

Here I am asking for your help to fund my debut album, featuring all original tracks I wrote. This album is a tribute to the sacrifices of my family, my friends, & strangers who helped ensure my survival as a child in Liberia & since my arrival to the USA. For this album, my team & I will choose from 3 working titles—all of which capture this essence: “Monrovia Boy”; “Water No Ice”; or “In the Flesh”. It has been in the works for nearly a decade now, and the time has come to bring it to fruition.

I need your help to complete this album for 2 main reasons:

1. As a father of two & a husband, I have to provide for my family. My calling is music. So I need your help to secure the funding to be able to devote most of my time & energy toward this project over the coming year. With your help, my messages of healing & empowerment through musical expression will finally reach a wider audience.

2. As a Project Director, I have to provide for my musical collaborators & assistants. Although this project bears the banner of my name, my vision for this album depends on the input of several masterful artists/producers who have been (& continue) contributing to the final product. I need these funds to pay my music mates for their work.

The Album you are supporting in this campaign will feature a strong handful of tracks you can already listen to thanks to live recordings or studio drafts. For a taste of what’s to come, I invite you to visit this page: https://zondo.love/listen (All of the original songs featured here will be on the Record). You may hear influences from Tracy Chapman, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, or other greats. Or maybe it will reach you directly first.

I continue to create music and am committed to sharing it with the world through avenues dedicated to the liberation of all peoples. This album isn't just a singer-songwriter project. It's a movement towards Restorative Justice, toward Peace.

As my fellow Africans have said: Ubuntu!