John's RECORDING FUNDS

Hey! My name is John Martinez. I am a professional musician born and raised in Pacific Beach, CA. I have been playing all types of music for as long as I can remember. Music has given me a multitude of opportunities in this life; such as the places I have been blessed to venture, to and the people that I now hold dear. Music has even sheltered me in my darkest moments, like the whole time my mom was battling cancer, or when she lost that battle. Music held me together when I lived in the car with my dad, or when my siblings ran away. etc... Simply put, God through music has never forsaken me. It's truly astonishing what music has accomplished for people across all generations. Of all the remarkable benefits of music, I believe the greatest gift of music is its power of communication. These run-on sentences could have filtered down to a single chord... oh the irony.

So why do I tell you all this?: I think it's important you understand how much it would mean to me if you donated. With this album, I want to reveal to everyone that their story matters and that it could inspire someone else to pursue their dream.

The funds will be used for my EP entitled "am I enough" and then spill over into my full-length album. where the title is still a secret. (he he)  

For the EP I am recording the songs in a jazz trio style, however, the musicians I wish to work with are highly skilled. I respect their time and skill immensely. I wish to pay them accordingly. Once I finish my EP I will be recording a full-length studio album/music video. The album is going to take a lot of time and money. Think of a large Jazz ensemble playing with a 30-piece orchestra. I want to make sure the musicians I hire are compensated appropriately... Your donation would also go into paying engineers, hourly studio rentals, and travel costs. I need to hire a photographer as well. They will be shooting the most captivating album cover of all time. I am coming out with a few lines of merchandise for promotion of the album as well. Also, I am not looking to be paid at all. I simply wish to share my story with the world. If you choose to donate, I cant thank you enough! Let me know if there is anything I can do for your generous contribution.

WHY YOU SHOULD DONATE?

I know how it seems... Another person seeking money for the creation of an album. I truly believe, through the creation of this album, I will be able to tear down walls of stereotypes. I want everyone to know their story matters. They don't have to "fit" in either. Whatever that means, anyways. For the longest time I felt lost as a musician. I felt like the jazz guys thought I was too "rock" and the rock guys that I was too "jazz". I feel like I could never fit in. But it took a while for me to realize not everyone is going to like my playing.

All I can do is practice and work on myself everyday. I don't want to be pigeonholed into sounding one type of way! Being versatile is how I grow as a musician. Robert Glasper's quote says it all.

"I started out playing traditional jazz, and I still do: I love standards, I love the music. But it must move on, and it must live and breathe, and continue to grow, and continue to change, and continue to mesh with other music - all that kind of stuff. Jazz can be on the playground too, you know."

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

I cannot thank you all enough! If you can't donate at this time no worries at all. All I ask you to do is share my go fund me to your Facebook page. 

#AmiEnough #JohnMartinezgofundme