Pittsfield Singer Seeking IndiGogo Boost to Fame
 Sarah Elizabeth Rayner of Pittsfield is trying to raise funds to record an album. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A young Pittsfield singer songwriter has been given the opportunity to record an album in Los Angeles.
Sarah Elizabeth Rayner has been completely surrounded by music for most of her life and has been writing her own songs since she was 9. In somewhat of a fluke earlier this year, a talent scout from a Los Angeles-based music label discovered a video of her playing an original song and got in contact with her.
"It was kind of a spur of the moment thing; an hour after I bought my ukulele I wrote a song and ended up posting it on YouTube," Rayner said. "The next day a talent scout from Research Music and Sound contacted me and said they were interested in recording my music."
Rayner, the 18-year-old Westfield State sophomore, said she knew she wanted to be a professional musical artist ever since she opened for Ryan Cabrera, a popular singer-songwriter, at the former Pittsfield bar Chameleons in 2012
"There were so many people there, and it was such a high-energy show," Rayner said. "There was such great acts there, and I just remember sitting there thinking this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."
Rayner said she was ecstatic to find out she may be able to live her dream; however she said creating the album comes with a hefty price tag of $10,000. The money covers her flight over to California, studio time, and other expenditures.
"It was amazing to hear from them, but not so amazing when I found out it would cost more money than I have probably seen in my whole life," she said.
Rayner has created an account on Indiegogo, a crowd funding website that allows people to donate money to her. Donations come with perks, and the more someone gives the bigger thank you they receive. If someone donates $50 they get a thank-you letter and a copy of the album. If someone donates $1,000, Rayner said she will write a song for them. There are many price options and different perks.
Rayner said she is incredibly thankful to all those helping her "live her dream" and she sees Berkshire County as a major influence in her songwriting as well as the place that allowed her to truly explore her music.
"Berkshire County has always been a very supportive music scene for me," she said. "I have pretty much played everywhere in the Berkshire county, and … everywhere I go there is always supportive people in Berkshire County."
Rayner said the Berkshires is incredibly special to her and there is something unique and "unexplainable" about it.
"I think there is just a unique energy around here; it is very peaceful here," she said. "There are a lot of artistic people and I feel like I have been influenced by a lot of them."
Rayner said even though Westfield is close to Berkshire County it is not the same.
"It is not the same, and I don't know if it is because there is something about this area or if it's because I have lived my entire life, but there defiantly is something different," Rayner said.
A multi-instrumentalist, Rayner usually focuses on her guitar and ukulele, but said she would like to bring piano more into her performances. She said although she is influenced by popular singer-songwriters such as Sheryl Crow and Ingrid Michaelson, her music is not modeled after anyone else's art and really acts as a catharsis for her.
"I depend on music to basically survive myself, and a lot of songs have gotten me through tough times," she said. "My ultimate goal is to kind of provide people with music they can relate to and that they can use to aid them get through the struggles in their lives."
Rayner said although the Internet has helped her be discovered, she worries that artists are shying away from live performances. This is something Rayner sees as a critical part of being a musician.
"I am very upfront with my music and everything, and people know it really comes from me," she said. "When I am standing in front of them, just me in my guitar singing ... I want people to know this is me in my truest form."
Rayner said she is excited for her new adventure, but in the end sees her music as an extension of herself that she wants to spread.
"I am just trying to be true to myself and spread my message," she said.
Tags: crowdsource, fundraising, musicians,
