Hi friends,

I’m Marissa, a musician, writer, and mom of two girls and I’m making my dream record.

This project will allow me to record a new collection of songs at Freda Recording with producer Nick Bullock, bringing in a full string quartet, drummer and additional multi-instrumentalist to help me make my vision for these songs come to life. The theme is cinematic, honest, and rooted in how I see the world right now, especially through the lens of motherhood.

It might be the most inconvenient time to make a record.

That may be exactly why I need to make it.

About the Album

These songs were born out of the last few years of my life, and how I view the world now through the lens of motherhood.

Becoming a mother changed everything. Through all the chaos, sleepless nights and dismantling of what I thought was important, I became something more real than I ever was. I have also never felt so awake. One of the many gifts motherhood has given me is a depth of feeling and the urgency to create something meaningful.

This album is my insistence on following that call.

It’s me stepping fully into what I want to say, without shrinking it to fit metrics or expectations.

In a world that can feel incredibly chaotic, in a musical climate that is suggesting AI replace the heart and soul of real musicians, I am making something true to everything I believe in artistically.

Why Now?

Everything feels loud right now. Social media, news cycles, metrics, comparison. It is easy to get wrapped up in numbers and forget what it means to simply create.

I went through a season of questioning whether I should keep pursuing this at all. Instead of quitting, I chose to make things. Not for an outcome. Not for numbers. Just because creating is simply and always worth it.

Creating is an act of love. It is resistance to apathy. It matters, especially when it feels inconvenient. This record is me choosing meaning over noise.

Making the Record

With your help, I will record this project at Freda Recording in a focused, immersive environment.

Bringing in a string quartet will allow the songs to feel cinematic and expansive. I want to give them space to breathe and capture performances that feel airy, haunting, and alive.

I have written hundreds of songs, toured the country six times, and released over 45 songs with Highland Kites. Now I am stepping fully into this solo chapter. This feels like a true beginning.

This Is Where You Come In

I know this number seems big so let me explain what it all would cover:

Studio time and production
2 full string arrangements plus a string quartet
An additional multi-instrumentalist (pedal steel, guitars, etc)
5 days of mixing and mastering
Travel and logistics (staying locally)
Vinyl pressing
Stretch goal: a video team to capture the process/film a documentary style video

Anything beyond our goal expands what is possible, allowing for additional visual storytelling, pressing more vinyl and other pieces that fully supports the record.

Choose Your Reward

Choose the reward that feels right to you. Whether you’re here to support the music or enjoy some of the artwork and behind-the-scenes pieces, every contribution helps bring this album to life. Pick the level that fits your budget and excites you most.

$25 — The Early Listener
Early digital download of the album + a handwritten postcard from Marissa
$50 — Behind the Songs
Early digital download + an exclusive voice recording about the inspiration behind the songs and this project
$100 — The Inner Circle
Early digital download + signed album cover print + downloadable handwritten lyric book with notes and drawings
$250 — The Art of the Album
Early download + signed album cover print + handwritten lyric book + high-resolution downloadable artwork by artist Chris Taylor inspired by the songs
$500 — The Collaborator
Early download + signed album art + custom artwork by Marissa inspired by one of the songs + downloadable Chris Taylor artwork + write a song together that Marissa will produce and mix/master
$1000+ — The Patron
Private house concert (location dependent) + framed and signed album art with a personal letter + custom artwork by Marissa inspired by the album + any of the above rewards you’d like

Thank You

When you back this campaign, you are helping me make something meaningful in a world that often feels overwhelming.

If you can give, I am deeply grateful.
If you can share, that matters just as much.
If you are quietly rooting for me, I feel that too.

This record doesn’t get made alone. It gets made because we decide it matters. If this project resonates with you, I’m asking you to join me. Choose a reward that feels right and help us reach the goal. And if giving isn’t possible right now, sharing this campaign is just as powerful. Every early pledge, every repost, every conversation moves this forward.

Let’s make something real together. Even when it makes no sense.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Marissa

Join Marissa’s Solo Record Project

A solo album born from motherhood and the courage to create