I have a record coming out on New Year's Day.

It's not my record — I've got one of those coming soon too, but this isn't it. This one's a two-volume compilation of protest music and I'm on Volume 2. It's called The Weapon and the Shield. Did you say what's the cover look like? 
 

Click for more info. Artwork by The Ordinary Walter.

The Weapon and the Shield was organized by Daniel Paul Kiff, aka Kiffie the Dreamer. Here's what he says about it:

"This compilation is a reminder that art can be a form of peaceful protest. Inspired by Fela Kuti's statement, that 'music is the weapon', this is a non-profit grass-roots project. All money raised after Bandcamp fees etc. will be donated to organisations that defend human rights and that align with the values of the contributors."

He spells organizations funny and puts the comma after the close-quote because he's English. I like Kiffie but let's be honest this kind of thing is why we had the Revolution, a documentary by Ken Burns. 

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My song on the comp is Left Two Three, which I'm sure you'll remember was a Song of the Newsletter in June.

There are live listening parties on Bandcamp in the new year for each volume. What happens is the record plays live and there's a live chat box going. The party for Volume 1 is Friday January 2 at 3 pm EST / noon PST, and the one for Volume 2 — that's the one I'm on — is Saturday January 3 at 3 pm EST / noon PST. You can RSVP at those links. I think you have to sign up for a Bandcamp account if you don't already have one, but that's free.

I Have a Record Coming Out, Part 2

My second EP is off to L.A. for mastering. For those of you who aren't musicians and don't know what mastering is, it's a thing that happens before a record comes out. It involves a skilled person doing skillful things, often in Los Angeles. I could say more but I think it's clear by now that I have no fucking idea what mastering's really about.

The EP will be called True Stories of Time Travel. There are more musicians and more instruments involved this time than on Us Ugly Guys Got Style — available for digital or CD purchase at Bandcamp — and the artwork, which involves an actual photographer and model, is more involved. I think you're going to like it. I'm aiming for a late February or early March release so stick with me. 
 

A Change Is Gonna Come

I'm hoping you won't even notice this but I'm planning to switch newsletter providers.

When I started The King Teen Newsletter I went with a platform called AWeber, because I saw some advice on Reddit or somewhere that it's good for musicians because it's connected to Bandcamp. I haven't figured out any way this plays out other than images automatically linking to Bandcamp, which I can do myself if I want to.

Meanwhile I subscribe to plenty of newsletters that I can read on the web, which I like doing, and which is possible with AWeber, but as you know if you've ever clicked through when I link a past newsletter, the experience sucks. Like, here's my "home page."
 

Not exactly a handsome design. So I'm going to switch to some other newsletter platform. Not the Nazi one. I'll let you know once I've figured it out, but I'm hoping you won't even have to re-confirm your subscription.

Happy Chanukah, however you and your family spell it. Merry Christmas and happy Kwanzaa too. I don't think you'll hear from me again before Christmas so my gift to you is a newsletter exclusive video of me performing my version of Pearl Bailey's 5-Pound Box of Money at The Cave in Chapel Hill on December 6.

Thanks for reading, listening and coming on out.

Your friend,

The King Teen

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