Record song for BI / sing it in NYC

THIS CAMPAIGN IS NOW CLOSED.  THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE FOR HELPING ME TO RAISE OVER 1/3 OF THE FUNDS NEEDED TO RECORD MY SONG FOR BASIC INCOME "JUST BECAUSE I'M ALIVE"!  

The song is now available for free download at www.brandymoore.ca/music

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OBJECTIVE:  
Help recover the cost to record "Just Because I'm Alive" and to get Brandy to New York City to sing her song for basic income live at NABIG 2017!

Hi Everyone! 

I'm very excited to announce that my song for the basic income movement "Just Because I'm Alive" is now recorded and released!  You can hear a sample and/or download here:  www.brandymoore.ca

60% of net sales from this song will be split equally between BICN, USBIG and BIEN to further support the basic income movement!

The studio cost to record this song was $4,000.  So far, I have raised $835 through this GoFundMe campaign, plus another $550 from private contributions, for a total of $1,385 to date.  

Thank you everyone!!!  

The rest of the costs are sitting on my line of credit.  But I'm not too worried about it, because while I may be broke, thanks to my best friend Don, I have enough food to eat and a safe place to sleep :)

And now my next goal is to get to New York City to sing Just Because I'm Alive at NABIG 2017!   And in the fall, I'll also be going to Lisbon, Portugal to sing it once again at another basic income congress!

NABIG stands for North American Basic Income Guarantee, and they host an annual congress on basic income in the US and Canada, alternating back and forth between countries each year.

NEWS ARTICLE:  
Click here to read the July 7/16 article published by Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) about Brandy's song "Just Because I'm Alive"

ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN POST:
(including an update)

Hello!

My name is Brandy Moore and I'm a Canadian singer/songwriter, originally from British Columbia but currently making my home in Regina, Saskatchewan.

I believe in Basic Income.

A guaranteed, unconditional Basic Income would make such an incredible difference in the lives of countless people, including my own life as an artist, a woman, and a human being who cares about social justice all around the world.

Basic Income is an idea that's been around for several hundred years, with supporters on both left and right of the political spectrum.  To learn more, here are a few links:

Basic Income Canada Network

United States Basic Income Guarantee

Basic Income Earth Network

Deeply inspired by the idea of Basic Income, I wrote a song about it called "Just Because I'm Alive". 

A few months after writing my song, I learned that a congress on Basic Income (NABIG 2016) would be happening in Winnipeg, Manitoba, just six hours away from me by car.  I felt I just HAD to sing my song there, so I quickly submitted a proposal to be a presenter and was thrilled when it was accepted!  This was not going to be a paid performance, but I really believe in Basic Income and I wanted to lend my voice to the cause.

It was incredible to connect with so many others who also support the idea of Basic Income.  I met lots of great people and listened to many excellent presentations given by speakers who truly care about seeing Basic Income become a reality.  There were economists, senior citizens, lawyers, feminists, social justice advocates, single parents, professors, writers, income assistance recipients, social workers, income assistance workers, people living with disabilities, staff from women's shelters, staff from food banks, politicians, and one singer/songwriter! ;) 

On the third day of the congress, it was time to sing my song!  There were many presentations being given that day, with some happening at the same time, and I was set up in one of the breakout rooms:

I started off by talking for a few minutes about what a Basic Income would mean to me as an artist, a woman, and a human citizen of this planet that we all call home.

I first performed my song "Now", written several years ago about environmental protection and social justice.  And then I performed my latest song "Just Because I'm Alive", written in 2015 but not yet recorded at that time.  

When Basic Income supporters heard "Just Because I'm Alive",  they wanted to adopt it as their anthem!  I was (and still am) very excited and honored to be invited to lend my music to the BI movement!

Then I was asked to sing "Just Because I'm Alive" for a second time in the larger main room of the congress so that everyone attending could hear it all together in one space.  So I quickly packed up all my gear and moved it down the hall to set it up and sing it again right before Dr. Ryan Meili of Upstream based in Saskatoon (and whom I'd never met before) gave a presentation on the impacts of a basic income on health.  Thank you Dr. Meili for being so gracious about squeezing me into the beginning of your time slot!

After this second performance, a supporter suggested to the crowd that a GoFundMe campaign be set up to raise funds for a professional recording of the song!  

(UPDATE:  After several months of raising funds and getting myself into a studio, I'm very happy to say that my song is now recorded and released!!!  Thank you so much again everyone!!!)

As an artist living below the poverty line - as most artists do - raising part of the needed funds through a crowd-funding campaign was really what allowed me to make this happen!

For me, true wealth is having enough to eat, a safe place to sleep, good health, good friends, access to education, and being able to do what I love for a living.  

I think these things are all basic human rights and I wish the same for every human being!  

If my song "Just Because I'm Alive" helps to influence even one heart and mind in the direction of supporting a basic income, then it will have served a worthy purpose!

I believe that basic income will become a reality for human beings.   It's really just a matter of when.  And as long as we keep taking steps in the right direction, we will get there!  Perhaps more quickly than we think :)

GoFundMe accepts donations by credit card payment only.  However, if you would like to make a donation using interac e-transfer or cheque, please message me privately here as I will respond asap:  www.brandymoore.ca/contact

$5 is the minimum allowable donation set by GoFundMe, but that's plenty to give, as long as enough people help!  Crowd funding works!

The amount of each donation will be automatically posted on the campaign's home page by GoFundMe,  but sharing your name is optional, so you can remain anonymous if you wish :)

If you don't feel entirely sure about the idea of basic income, but you do believe that all human beings deserve enough to eat and a safe place to sleep, then we share that same belief.  Or, maybe you simply just believe in me as an artist and would like to support me in the creation and release of this song, as well as getting to New York City for the first time to sing it!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart :)

Brandy Moore

www.brandymoore.ca

 "Just Because I'm Alive"  

Shouldn't I have enough to eat?
And don't I deserve a safe place to sleep?
Where no one can take what doesn't belong to them?And I don't have to look over my shoulder?

Why must I pay for my existence?
And why must I prove my worthiness?
I have a right to basic needs
Why?  Why?  Why?  Why?  Why? -----
Just because I'm alive -----

I don't look like you
An' I don't act like you
An' I could never make it in your world
But I still deserve a decent life
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? -----
Just because I'm alive -----

I'm alive -----

Just because I'm alive -----

(guitar solo)

I'm hungry
I'm cold
I'm lonely
I feel-----
Just like you do

Because I'm alive -----

I'm alive -----

Just because I'm alive -----
Just because I'm alive -----
Just because I'm alive -----
Just because I'm alive -----
Just because I'm alive -----

Why, why, why, why?
Why, why, why, why?
Why, why, why, why, why?


PS:  The lyrics to "Just Because I'm Alive" came from my heart, and they were written from the perspective of a homeless person.  But everyone, without exception, deserves a Basic Income floor of security.  Things happen, and circumstances can change overnight for most of us.  Many are just a paycheque away from a lack of food and housing security.  Many people need to flee unsafe homes or work environments, but can't because they have no other means for survival.  And many people do not currently have the inner strength to change their situation, whether that's because of addiction, mental illness, the high cost of housing, a lack of education, an abusive situation, marginalization, racism, childhood trauma, or a combination of many of the above (which is sadly often the case).  I believe that most people, given enough to live without desperation, can and will heal their lives and go on to contribute in a meaningful way to society, just by being who they are.


We all deserve enough to eat and a safe place to sleep. Just because we're alive.

With love,

Brandy Moore