You're here! You came!

My name is Rachel and I make things that either a) make me feel or b) help me understand how & why I feel. I write songs, make albums & videos and tour a bunch under the name Her Crooked Heart. I also am the founding director and primary choral arranger for a ragtag rock & roll(ish) community choir in the Twin Cities called Kith + Kin Chorus. I also create crafty, useful things and artwork to compliment all the music making. And while our nutso culture may not always agree, I think there is incalculable worth in art, delivered with honesty and bravery.

So welcome to PATREON! A place where you and I can become sustaining supporters of the artists whose creations we most cherish. Here, you're not paying for a product, you're supporting a process. You're directly supporting artists – like me – so they can do the plodding, beautiful, necessary, mysterious, baffling work of CREATING. Sadly, it's pretty stinkin hard to afford to stay home and actually write songs. But without that, there can be no records to sell and no shows to play! If you choose to become one in my merry band of MICRO-PATRONS, you're making it sustainable for me to do the work at the heart of Why I'm Here. I'll reward you with the work itself as well as a smattering of Thank Yous – just for you and your fellow patrons.

So, how does Patreon work, you ask?

– I create songs, videos and other things
– I release 1 - 3 of them each month
– You decide what that's worth to you and sign on to contribute each month
– I experience gratitude and peace of mind
– I send you little treats, invitations and exclusives

What will I be releasing here?

While most of this won't be exclusive to Patreon (after all, I'm hoping to grow my career, not keep it in a bubble of exclusivity), I'll be using this as the launching pad for most releases. Such as...

– Fancy music videos
– Covers on the Covers! (songs in beds with friends)
– Choir arrangements (multi-tracked audio of the songs I arrange for the choir)
– Humble home videos (new & old favorites)
– ( new tender secret songs, only for your ears )
– Live videos
– Writings of a non-musical sort
– Demos & home recordings
– Tutorials! (the very occasional jam, notebook, fabric record sleeve "how-to")

And what are these treats, invitations and exclusives?

Money's funny. $5 for one person is energetically worth the same as $50 for another. It feels right to my heart to treat all y'all the same so no matter your support level, you'll receive the following:

– Each month, I'll send a postcard to five of you at random. Regardless of your country, when your lucky number comes up, I'll tumble through your mail slot.
– All patrons will be the first to know about upcoming tours and get a shot at some free tickets.
– Once in a blue moon, I'll draw a realistic pencil portrait of one of yous. They don't happen often but they're a treasure when they do.
– All patrons will be the first to know of new projects, releases and good/bad ideas.
– Every now & again I'll throw a patron-only webcast show. Snuggle up in bed or putz around the kitchen - I'll be there with you in real time, serenading you. Care to help me with the setlist?
- And of course, the creative works you've enabled me to fashion

Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions / ideas. And if this just isn't your bag, THAT'S OK. Coming to shows, being lovely, telling your friends, buying a record, sharing a post.... all that is still as ever a HUGE SUPPORT. Living by your Art can be a messy and baffling way to build a life. Your presence brightens the way.

Alas, mostly gone are the days of fantastically wealthy Patrons of the Arts – which is a bummer as I like to imagine them cloaked in opulent outfits and wielding fabulous accents. But who's to say we can't put on something velvety and talk funny and support artists in our own modern way?

love & gratitude,
rachel

PS – "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" – Mary Oliver