Jill Sobule Launches Kickstarter for First Album in Eight Years

Jill Sobule, whose song "I Kissed a Girl" was the first Billboard top 20 hit ever to celebrate a same-sex romance, has launched a Kickstarter for her new album.

"This will be my first record of all-new original songs in, gosh, nine years," said Sobule on Kickstarter. "It took a little (well, slightly longer than little...) break from recording, but now I'm back with a creative vengeance!"

"Nostalgia Kills" is an album of short-story songs: an autobiographical look-back, an acknowledgment of the present, and a reminder that we all have to keep moving on. There are sad songs here, but even they have a dash of hope and humor and a hint of redemption and forgiveness.

"A couple of the songs were written for a one-woman show that I'm working on called "#Fuck7thGrade." Everyone's worst year ever," said Sobule.

She has enlisted some of her musician friends, including Wayne Kramer, John Doe, and Roger Manning, with Ben Lee producing.

Sobule is a songwriter, storyteller, musician, performer, activist. Over the last 25 years, she has put out nine records, written three musicals, scored for television, and traveled the world playing clubs, theaters, TED and EG conferences, political rallies, and maximum security prisons.

Her first record, released on MCA in 1990, was produced by the legendary Todd Rundgren. In 1995, after signing with Atlantic Records, she had her first brush with fame. Her song "I Kissed a Girl" (the original!) was the first Billboard top 20 hit ever to celebrate a same-sex romance, in spite of being blacklisted by numerous radio stations throughout the Bible Belt.

"To this day, not a day goes by without someone, somewhere emailing or approaching me to say how much of an impact that song had in their life. In all humility, that makes me proud," she said.

That same album also included the song "Supermodel," which played during the iconic bathtub scene in the movie "Clueless."

Since then, Sobule has released four critically acclaimed records: "Happy Town," "Pink Pearl," "Underdog Victorious," and "California Years." The latter was one of the very first crowd-funded records. In 2015, she released "Dottie's Charms," a literary concept record, which was launched by Harper's Magazine and featured co-writes with some of America's finest authors, including Luc Sante, Jonathan Letham, and Rick Moody.

Sobule has toured with Billy Bragg, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Weller, X, Joe Jackson, Tom Morello, and Warren Zevon. She was once onstage with Paul McCartney, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Neil Diamond and, Carole King, singing Leiber and Stoller's "Kansas City." (I'll never forget James Taylor nudging me to say, "Can you believe who we are up here with?")

Lately, Sobule has been writing for a new musical version of the 1970s play, "Yentl." It's had runs in several U.S. theaters and there are plans to take the show to Poland in 2018. Sobule co-wrote the music for "Times Square" (an adaptation of the 1980 cult movie of the same name) with her longtime writing partner, Robin Eaton; NYU will be presenting it this January.

She's also been very active in political and social causes, playing prisons with Wayne Kramer's Jail Guitar Doors, performing at fundraisers and campaigns (for the better candidates); she also played dates this last Summer on Lady Parts Justice's "Vagical Mystery Tour." Her song about the history of anti-immigration sentiment, "When They Say We Want Our America Back, What The F#*k Do They Mean?," made a splash during the 2016 Presidential campaign.

Sobule said that in 2008, she and a friend came up with the idea of a website which had a tiered system of gifts and services in return for various levels of donation. The press got wind of the idea and the campaign became a complete success -- with her able to record "California Years" with producer Don Was and some amazing musicians.

Since then, the music business has changed dramatically. Now, unless you are the 0.001 percent lucky enough to sell billions of CDs, most musicians rely on touring, house concerts, and platforms like Kickstarter in order to keep the music flowing.

Said Sobule, "I plan on spending $40,000 to make the record. That includes studio time, paying my musicians and my producer what they're worth, mixing, and mastering. In addition, I have budgeted an additional $30,000 for marketing expenses (publicity, radio promotion, advertising, travel, tour support, etc.). I intend to spend the year on the road. I'm gonna give it all I have!"

Sobule said she's written and recorded ten songs for this project, and will come up with one or two additional songs before mastering.

"My hope is that all of you (the backers) will feel proud to have made this next record possible," said Sobule. "And of course, that I will get to meet each and every one of you when I play these songs live in a club, theater, or your living room in the very near future."