Good Duck Records is celebrating the release of its first album featuring 16 groups from St. John at a party at the St. John School of the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 28. Live music starts at 6:30 p.m.
The album “Raft Up” is a compilation of individuals and groups who have made recordings at Allen Clapp’s Coral Star Studios in Coral Bay over the last couple of years. The performers cover a wide range of genres, including steel pan, reggae, rock and indie music.
The wealth of tracks led Clapp and keyboard player Jared Warren to wonder how best to promote the many diverse and talented musicians on St. John.
“The music industry is a challenge,” said Warren. “It costs an incredible amount to get a recording made and then distributed. “You can put something on Spotify, and something might happen, but you have to spread the word. Record labels do this by taking (money) from the artists.”
Warren and Clapp decided to team up and form a nonprofit to serve musicians and ended up becoming a division of the Music Masters Collective based in New York.
“They do amazing work,” said Warren. “They have camps. They help launch kids in the music industry.” They also sponsor events by well-known performers like Nathalie Merchant, Todd Rundgren, Steve Earle, and Julian Lage. With the release of the album, “We’re hoping to lift up the whole St. John music scene,” Warren said.
“Raft Up” features Warren’s band, Mother Goat, Addis Revolution, Housewives of St. John, Love City Pan Dragons, Erin Hart, Terre Roche, Eva and Mark, the Magnie Family, and many others. More than 50 people contributed their talent. The album will be available on streaming apps on Feb. 27. CDs can be purchased at the event for $20.
At the party, different artists will perform sets of their music. Food a drink will be for sale. Admission is $10, and tickets are available in advance at the St. John School of the Arts website.
For further information, email quack@goodduckrecords.com.
