Lari White will mark her 25th anniversary as a recording artist with a double EP, titled Old Friends, New Loves, scheduled for fall. White is using Kickstarter to involve her fans in the process of recording and releasing the album.
“I’m excited to bring everyone into the studio with me—and Kickstarter lets me do that,” White said. “This will be the first recording I’ve done where the fans ARE the record label. They back the project and I report directly to them on every little detail, giving them control-room access to the whole process.”
Recording at The Holler, White’s recording studio, Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell and other longtime collaborators will make special guest appearances.
The Old Friends EP is highlighted by rootsy versions of 1990s RCA hits, such as “Lead Me Not,” “That’s How You Know When You’re In Love” and “That’s My Baby.” Meanwhile, the New Loves EP features recent originals and favorite covers, influenced by soul, jazz and country songs, and featuring guests Shawn Mullins and bass legend Victor Wooten.
“My fans have followed me the whole way on this crazy 25-year creative journey,” White said. “We love music and we love storytelling, and we don’t let ourselves be limited by rules about genre or medium or ‘brand’ for God’s sake. The only rule is that it’s honest. And I honestly LOVE country and jazz and soul and movies and literature and photography and any art that moves the human spirit to a good place.”
The Kickstarter campaign features a range of unique rewards for contributors, including a two-night Nashville vacation in White’s West Nashville bungalow with a champagne breakfast prepared by the singer herself. Other notable items include voice lessons with White through her new ArtistWorks Country Vocal School, and a backstage pizza party at one of her upcoming concerts. Contributors can also get producer credit on the new albums or an intimate acoustic house concert.
In addition to her career as a country artist, White has produced albums (Toby Keith’s White Trash With Money), acted in films (Cast Away) and appeared on Broadway (Ring of Fire).
