Three Is Enough

Echo Mountain Sessions CDs available now!

You can’t print CDs with 3 songs on them, right? That’s ridiculous. In this day and age, it’s all about streaming. You don’t need to even make CDs anymore, it’s all about vinyl. Or maybe now it’s cassette tapes. You need high streaming numbers, but you won’t make any money. You won’t get high streaming numbers, and you’re never going to make money. Sell merch. Put your face on a match book. Paint pictures of your cats to sell at your shows. But, 3 songs on a whole CD that you’re going to ask people to pay for? What is this, 1995?

Awhile ago, I won a raffle and recorded 3 songs at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville. More recently, I released those 3 songs on all streaming platforms. Right when the world discovered that not only does Spotify refuse to pay it’s artists, the CEO is spending billions of dollars on European AI-driven weapon development. People rightfully responded by canceling their Spotify subscriptions and moving to other platforms.

I’ve never had a massive follower count on Spotify, but it was always the link that I shared whenever I posted my music. And occasionally, especially around new releases, my numbers would jump up and I’d find out people were listening to me all over the world. Maybe the only good thing Spotify has done is make your music incredibly accessible and easy to share. (Or maybe that’s the worst?)

I lost steam trying to promote the new songs. Instead of linking Spotify, I linked YouTube. Instead of linking Spotify, I linked bandcamp…you know, the site that pays musicians the most and that almost nobody uses. I got discouraged, and went radio (streaming) silent.

Then, as the kids say, I remembered that I had free will. One night, I stayed up late and created an album cover and CD design. I found a CD pressing company that does small batches at pretty affordable rates (and they’re real people! I talked to actual humans!) and I ordered a very limited run of physical CDs.

I decided not to put them on bandcamp, or sell them on a website (ha ha, we all know that I don’t actually have a website). I thought I would just try posting on social media, and word of mouth that I’ve got CDs. If you want one, you can fill out a google form with your information, send me some money (check, Venmo, cash). Or, if you don’t want to fill out the form, you can email me, DM me, leave a comment, flag me down when you see me driving around town. There’s no middle man, and no processing fees. Just me and you.

It might seem silly to print a CD with only 3 songs on it. I felt embarrassed about asking $10 for it (until I had a talk with myself about knowing your worth). And you know what, maybe it is silly. But that’s ok. I’m old enough that it still feels special to hold something you made in your hands. My stomach still does a little flop when someone messages me, “Hey, I want one!” It feels more real than the numbers on the analytics. It’s grasping at straws while I constantly select “NO” when asked if I want AI to “polish” what I wrote, or to finish my sentences, or read my mind, or invade my brain.

So, if you want a CD they’re $10 + $2 for shipping. It’s my amuse bouche album. Just a taste of what’s to come. And every purchase is directly funding future projects, future videos, future bandmates’ pay, future photo shoots, future entrance fees, and opportunities.

For everyone who clicks on the links, who reads these words, who buys an album, who comes to a show, who enjoys my music, I am so thankful. I feel the space robots encroaching and I am desperately grateful to every real human connection I can find these days.

Want a CD? Fill out this form, comment below, find me on Instagram (susanandersonmusic) or Facebook, email (my instagram handle at gmail). We’re going to figure it out. You and me against the space robots.

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