The Collaboration Project
Info: background and our future plans.
One of the more unique artist profiles on Sellaband belongs not to a band or solo artist but to a group of artists and musicians known as “The Collaboration Project”. It all started when Dutch Sellaband artist Casper put his idea into writing:
“Everybody who wants to collaborate with me/us to record a collaboration CD, after reaching the 50K on this profile page will keep his/her own copyrights and definitely have the opportunity to sing or play on that future CD. I sincerely hope that it will become a successful project with a minimum of 10 joining artists/musicians from all over the world.”
The group now consists of minimum 20 good singers, a bunch of songwriters and a few musicians and producers who are all working together in an effort to raise the $50,000 budget to produce and promote their own album but even more important to increase their: network, contacts, gigs, music, sales and investors.
They come from all corners of the world and are connected only by the internet and their common goal. Also among the ranks are fans and investors with expertise in non-musical fields such as management, promotion, web design, marketing and other aspects of artist support. Similar to what developed during the golden years of hitmaking in Detroit, LA, New York, Nashville and Memphis, but different in that The Collaboration Project has embraced the tools of the internet in creating a hit factory of their own (still) under the umbrella of Sellaband till a better opportunity occurs. A collaboration as geographically widespread would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Every project with any hope of success must have leadership and organization The Collaboration Project is managed by a lover of music and musicians, Martin Wassmann, and of course singer/songwriter/guitarist and organizer Casper van Vulpen from the Netherlands.
Another interesting development has been that, as I listen to the collaborations in comparison to the work of the individual artists, I find the demo results to be more than alternate vocal takes or guest solos. The work truly seems to draw the best from all parties involved and the collaborative songs are not just rehashed mixes of unfinished song fragments but fresh work from individuals who seem to draw inspiration from the process and from each other.
Reaching the $50,000 goal and completing a professionally produced album has as many purposes as there are artists attempting the feat. For some, the album will be an end in itself, a product to be sold side-stage at live shows. Others may see it as a stepping stone to showcase their talents and seek more lucrative deals outside of Sellaband. The final product of The Collaboration Project will serve as many needs as there are artists. Some will add the album to their fan table, others will use the album to hone their production skills for bigger things to come and for some it may well represent the best work of their careers.
I’m certain that the finished product will be an interesting combination of styles and genre. The project justifies itself on the merits of the motives and efforts of the participants. Works of art are being created across national, cultural and linguistic borders. People are singing, playing and producing together as if under one roof. The production of music is accomplishing what political heads of state find impossible to bring about, international cooperation of purpose for the greater good.

History revisited and goals - what is this all about?
After a bit more than half a year since The Collaboration Project was launch, it is probably the perfect time to look back a bit and more importantly, look into the future.

So, looking back at the very fast first weeks, when artists and Believers alike came together for this project to help creating something special, this is now much more linear, lets say structured. The initial aim has not changed - make songs together, get 50k, make a CD with the best of those songs and filtered artists - but aside that a lot of the initial spirit of greater hopes is very much alive.

This is still about voluntary collaborative work to create songs and all the things needed around, management, marketing and all kind of other support. Some of the original team have left; some new artists and 'helpers' could be welcomed. The strength of the project is still the split of responsibilities, not all artists are equally good performers, songwriters, composers, producers, marketers or managers, so here we were able to make the project more than the sum of its parts.


For the future there are a couple of ideas and plans for more 'spin-off projects' which can be pointed out as: find sponsoring, a festival next year, concerts, extending the online presence, a tour and forming a 'band'. All to be developed over time and updated as we go further on this adventurous travel.



Are there any rules or criteria to join (both for artists and Investors)?
The initial 'team' is set, but every artist is welcome to join into any collaboration with any member of the existing team. The only requirement is that the participants of song collaboration agree on how they want to split the rights and possible income on the song upfront - to avoid trouble further down the line :)

For believers, who want to help we have created a 'helper' status, we are currently looking for people, who would like to manage and/or create more online profiles for the Collaboration Project.
A grip out the TCP talent basket
The most active artists/producers/ singer songwriters at this point in time are (see bio’s and photo’s section)
Gisel de Marco (Argentina)
Natalia Safran (United States)
Monika Thomas (UK)
Aryn Calhoun (United states)
Bonnie(Uruquay)
Lori Greco(Australia)
Inge M (Netherlands)
Laixa (France)
Angie Arsenault (UK)
Kostek Andreev (Poland)
Grant Stevens (Germany)
Casper van Vulpen (Netherlands)
And many more.


All the DEMO songs so far(weekly updated)
#C001: Slip Away Casper / Gisel de Marco

#C002: Elysian Fields Laixa / The Quahaugs

#C003: We Own the Mosh Pit Cavefish / Grant Stevens / Annie Bacon

#C004: Death of a Showman Blair Evans / Cris Tanzi

#C005: Riding on the Wind Casper / Bonnie / Lori Greco

#C006: Stars GD Allan / Kirt / Simeon

#C007: Carnival Love Song Telepathy / Kostek Andreev

#C008: Fly Lori Greco / Kostek Andreev

#C009: Taking the Slow Road Grant Stevens / Casper / Kostek Andreev

#C010: Do You Know Me Dreb / Laudanum

#C011: You Are So Crazy Outrance / Wildcat

#C012: By This River Moorlandt / Casper

#C013: Natalia Casper / Kostek Andreev

#C014: Hand in Hand Tarek Sidani / Kostek Andreev

#C015: Mountain Rivers and Butterflies Gisel de Marco / Casper / Kostek Andreev

#C016: When Will I Return David Patrick / Clem

#C017: Angels of Love Casper / Grant Stevens

#C018: Never Give Up Vegas Dragons / MR-10

#C019: Don't Do This Alone Dreb from Sheet Metal / Casper

#C020: The One Gisel de Marco / Marc Supsic

#C021: My Remedy Natalia Safran / Kostek Andreev

#C022: How Many Roads Natalia Safran / Kostek Andreev / Casper

#C023: Hey You Natalia Safran / Mick / Kostek Andreev

#C024: Heaven Knows Aryn Calhoun / Casper / Kostek Andreev

#C025: Falling Again Aryn Calhoun / Casper / Kostek Andreev

#C026: Dear Life Angie Arsenault / Chris Fullam (Conflict in the Sky) / MR-10 / Kostek Andreev

#C027: You Know The Game Inge M / Kostek Andreev

#C028: Phobia Monika Thomas / Casper / Kostek Andreev