Support My Debut Album: Born to Live
Frenchtown, New Jersey | Music
Folk, Pop
Losing the people we love is universal, yet grief is something we often struggle to talk about. Born to Live explores the truths of loss while offering a companion through grief and a reminder that even after profound loss - love, joy, and purpose can still be found.
Support My Debut Album: Born to Live
Frenchtown, New Jersey | Music
Folk, Pop
1 Campaigns |
28 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,788
Goal: $7,590 for post-production
Losing the people we love is universal, yet grief is something we often struggle to talk about. Born to Live explores the truths of loss while offering a companion through grief and a reminder that even after profound loss - love, joy, and purpose can still be found.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Guys!! Dani & I recorded my debut full length record… Born to Live! We spent the winter months of 2026 hunkered down in our home studio on the Delaware River - taking occasional icy walks on the river path and frequently filling our mugs with warm bevvies. I ate a lot of orange donuts and at some points felt like I was losing my mind a bit, but in the end all was well and I can very proudly say I absolutely love what we created.
Here’s a bit about the record:
After losing both of my parents unexpectedly within two months of each other when I was 26, I found myself in a very dark place. I had always written songs from many different emotional places, including joy, but after losing my parents, I couldn't imagine writing my way out of the pain. Part of me felt that nothing could, or even should, make me feel better.
My therapist suggested that I might be holding onto some of that pain and trauma because it had become intertwined with my songwriting. Then he asked if I had ever tried writing a song from a place of joy. At first, this really upset me. How could I write something joyful when I was grieving so deeply?
But I tried. The result was a song called “How Big Can I Dream,” and I loved it. Something shifted. I realized that making space for joy didn't diminish my grief or mean I was leaving my parents behind. It gave me permission to experience something beyond the pain.
That song opened the door to Born to Live.
The album became a journey through the full spectrum of being human - the grief and the joy, the anger and the love, the heartbreak and the wonder. The songs still hold the weight of losing my parents, but they also ask what it means to keep living, dreaming, loving, and allowing yourself to experience beauty after loss.
Musically, I wanted the album to reflect that evolution. The songwriting is intimate and confessional, while the production is expansive, soulful, and cinematic, blending indie pop and folk with touches of rock and R&B.
What started as an album shaped by grief became something much bigger: a celebration of being alive. Born to Live is ultimately about giving ourselves permission to experience the whole messy, beautiful spectrum of being human. We are born to feel all of it - to grieve, to love, to dream, to laugh, to hurt, and to find joy again. That is the gift of being alive.
Recording and producing this album with my husband was such a beautiful experience. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to collaborate with someone like Dani who knows me better than maybe anyone else in the world - especially with the vulnerable contents of this project.
In order to do this together, Dani and I had to take a risk and take some time off of work. This album became our priority. And now that it’s finished, it’s time to get this baby out in the world! We are releasing the album on September 25th 2026.
Making and releasing an album is very expensive - even when you make it yourself! Financial support from our beloved community will help us give this album the push it deserves into the world.
My hope is that this album can be a healing space for those who are grieving - pulling them out of the darkness and into a more hopeful place where they feel less alone. For those who aren’t deep in grief, this album serves as motivation to live the life you have always dreamed of.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Vinyl Records
Costs $2,140
Pressing vinyl allows for physical distribution so that people can listen to the album off of streaming services.
Radio Promotion
Costs $1,450
Radio promotion helps get the album into new ears all across the country! I'll be using Shine On Promo - they are great :)
Music Videos
Costs $2,000
With social media, the visuals of a song are important. They helps tell the story of the album and create a visual world for the listener.
Tour
Costs $2,000
We are touring the album in Europe and the US. This helps cover essential costs like accommodation and gas.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dani Sundream - Y’all already know that Dani is my dream guy. He’s an uber talented singer-songwriter who makes his own music in the folk-funk realm. Working on this project together has been such an incredible experience. We’ve learned so much about recording, production, and collaboration, but one of my favorite parts has been discovering each other’s strengths and learning how to weave them together to make seamless magic.
Nicole Mount - Nicole has been my beloved manager since 2020, always by my side as we’ve navigated this wild industry together. It has been such a gift to grow alongside each other, and I’m so excited that after all these years, we’re finally bringing our first album together into the world!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Guys!! Dani & I recorded my debut full length record… Born to Live! We spent the winter months of 2026 hunkered down in our home studio on the Delaware River - taking occasional icy walks on the river path and frequently filling our mugs with warm bevvies. I ate a lot of orange donuts and at some points felt like I was losing my mind a bit, but in the end all was well and I can very proudly say I absolutely love what we created.
Here’s a bit about the record:
After losing both of my parents unexpectedly within two months of each other when I was 26, I found myself in a very dark place. I had always written songs from many different emotional places, including joy, but after losing my parents, I couldn't imagine writing my way out of the pain. Part of me felt that nothing could, or even should, make me feel better.
My therapist suggested that I might be holding onto some of that pain and trauma because it had become intertwined with my songwriting. Then he asked if I had ever tried writing a song from a place of joy. At first, this really upset me. How could I write something joyful when I was grieving so deeply?
But I tried. The result was a song called “How Big Can I Dream,” and I loved it. Something shifted. I realized that making space for joy didn't diminish my grief or mean I was leaving my parents behind. It gave me permission to experience something beyond the pain.
That song opened the door to Born to Live.
The album became a journey through the full spectrum of being human - the grief and the joy, the anger and the love, the heartbreak and the wonder. The songs still hold the weight of losing my parents, but they also ask what it means to keep living, dreaming, loving, and allowing yourself to experience beauty after loss.
Musically, I wanted the album to reflect that evolution. The songwriting is intimate and confessional, while the production is expansive, soulful, and cinematic, blending indie pop and folk with touches of rock and R&B.
What started as an album shaped by grief became something much bigger: a celebration of being alive. Born to Live is ultimately about giving ourselves permission to experience the whole messy, beautiful spectrum of being human. We are born to feel all of it - to grieve, to love, to dream, to laugh, to hurt, and to find joy again. That is the gift of being alive.
Recording and producing this album with my husband was such a beautiful experience. It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to collaborate with someone like Dani who knows me better than maybe anyone else in the world - especially with the vulnerable contents of this project.
In order to do this together, Dani and I had to take a risk and take some time off of work. This album became our priority. And now that it’s finished, it’s time to get this baby out in the world! We are releasing the album on September 25th 2026.
Making and releasing an album is very expensive - even when you make it yourself! Financial support from our beloved community will help us give this album the push it deserves into the world.
My hope is that this album can be a healing space for those who are grieving - pulling them out of the darkness and into a more hopeful place where they feel less alone. For those who aren’t deep in grief, this album serves as motivation to live the life you have always dreamed of.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Vinyl Records
Costs $2,140
Pressing vinyl allows for physical distribution so that people can listen to the album off of streaming services.
Radio Promotion
Costs $1,450
Radio promotion helps get the album into new ears all across the country! I'll be using Shine On Promo - they are great :)
Music Videos
Costs $2,000
With social media, the visuals of a song are important. They helps tell the story of the album and create a visual world for the listener.
Tour
Costs $2,000
We are touring the album in Europe and the US. This helps cover essential costs like accommodation and gas.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Dani Sundream - Y’all already know that Dani is my dream guy. He’s an uber talented singer-songwriter who makes his own music in the folk-funk realm. Working on this project together has been such an incredible experience. We’ve learned so much about recording, production, and collaboration, but one of my favorite parts has been discovering each other’s strengths and learning how to weave them together to make seamless magic.
Nicole Mount - Nicole has been my beloved manager since 2020, always by my side as we’ve navigated this wild industry together. It has been such a gift to grow alongside each other, and I’m so excited that after all these years, we’re finally bringing our first album together into the world!