<div><strong>Greetings from Michael &amp; Alex!</strong>
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<div>It has been 25 years since that photo was taken and sadly neither of us has made it back to Abidjan since. So we are <em>delighted</em> to say that <strong>this February we'll be flying to Ivory Coast for a long-overdue reunion with our Zieti bandmates Laurent &amp; Narcisse!</strong> We have our plane tickets and accommodations all set and are beyond excited to see them after such a long time.
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<div>But this isn't just a visit. We are fundraising to buy equipment for <strong><em>Studio Djépao</em></strong>, a multitrack audio/video space at Laurent's family home in the western Ivoirian mountains. <strong><em>Studio Djépao</em></strong> will be the only facility of its kind in the region and its focus will be on preserving and expanding the rich musical traditions of Laurent and Narcisse's Guere heritage. It will also link via internet with Narcisse's newly-opened <strong><em>Studio Yeoue</em></strong> in Abidjan and to our home studios in the States so that Zieti can collaborate on new music and videos for years to come.
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<div><em>Visit </em><a href="https://zieti.bandcamp.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Zieti's Bandcamp page</em></a> <em>to hear 2 new tracks co-produced by Narcisse and Michael in 2023.</em>
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<div><em>Zoom video from 2023 with footage from 2013.</em>
</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="_a41rfsyQuk" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_a41rfsyQuk/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div>In December Laurent began construction on <strong><em>Studio Djépao,</em></strong> clearing land and making 1,500 mud and cement bricks with his cousin who is a mason. They lay the first foundation bricks immediately after the new year and Laurent's goal is to have things fully built and outfitted in Spring 2024. With any luck by this time next year he'll be putting out new music and videos from his mountain studio, featuring sights and sounds we can only imagine today.
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<div><em>First bricks at the future site of Studio Djépao!</em>
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/77444919_1704424693882330_r." width="100%" />
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<div><em>Laurent's three-man crew and brick-making machine.</em>
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</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="kYENn6cRSLk" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kYENn6cRSLk/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div>Zieti has had <em>beaucoup</em> successes and many more setbacks over the years, including war, separation, brushfire accidents, motorcycle crashes, transcontinental album releases, NPR interviews, children born, parents aging and passing and all manner of life's twists and turns. But because of the blessing and support of our incredible partners <strong>Natasha </strong>and<strong> Ellen</strong>, and our friend <strong>Cherif's</strong> crucial help with shipping and housing, plus so many others, we have never lost our connection to one another or our hope for Zieti's future.
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<div><strong>So thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering a donation! </strong>To those who have supported Zieti in the past we thank you again for all you've helped us accomplish over the years. If you are new to Zieti's story we invite you to <a href="https://zieti.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explore our website</a> to learn more. We'll be posting our progress and other interesting things to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAQ6jB9YpGp8RW9xE7yrlEAxQAv7BGWs9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZietiMusic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@zietimusic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elsewhere</a> (@zietimusic), so please also follow and pass the word if you can.
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<div>Cheers!
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<div>Michael &amp; Alex
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<div><em>2023 Zieti relaunch message from Narcisse &amp; Laurent.</em>
</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="hZ2lY_bVr2A" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hZ2lY_bVr2A/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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<div>PS: If we are fortunate enough to exceed our fundraising goal we will use every penny to help <strong><em>Studio Djépao</em></strong> &amp; <strong><em>Studio Yeoue</em></strong> grow and succeed. In the future we would like to open a rehearsal &amp; demo-recording space in Abidjan to support Zieti and other musicians who want to perform live, original music. A space like this is guaranteed to become a hub for roots musicians in Abidjan, revive Zieti as a live band in Côte d'Ivoire, and provide a sustainable business to support the Zieti family for the foreseeable future.
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<div><em>Zieti performing with King Shabba in 1998.</em>
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/77444919_1704428535390614_r." width="100%" />
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<div>__________________________
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<div><strong>Minimum equipment for <em>Studio Djépao</em></strong>:
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<div>2 PC laptops (w/ min studio specs)
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<div>3 external backup drives
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<div>powered USB hub
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<div>Presonus 1824c interface
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<div>Yamaha HS5 studio monitor pair w/cables
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<div>Headphone distribution (x4) amp
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<div>5 studio headphones
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<div>Power converters/backup battery
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<div>American-style power strips/ext cords
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<div>M-Audio Keystation 49 mk3 midi controller
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<div>6-8 microphones w/mounts, cables
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<div>Used acoustic/electric guitar
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<div>Set of 5 diatonic harmonicas w/ neck holder
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<div>2- 4K video cameras
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<div>2- extra batteries for video cameras
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<div>2- chargers for extra batteries
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<div>4- 128GB mini SDXC cards
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<div>---
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<div>Thank you again!
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Mary Christine Owre

Kim Clarke

Mac Economy

Alice Fox

Anonymous

Stephen Vago

James Shepherd

Carolyn Harrington

Peggy Pridemore

James Lawrence

Marcotte Denise

Benjamin Hayes

Adam Bodner

Help us bring studio gear to Zieti in Ivory Coast!

Just $294$ to go! Make an impact.

Help us bring studio gear to Zieti in Ivory Coast!

Just $294 to go!
Make an impact.