NEW artists are being sought for the second volume of a compilation album following the successful launch of Volume I last November.

St Albans Calling, a collective of local, unsigned musicians, is looking for song submissions from new performers for Volume II to be launched in early June at the Pioneer Youth Club in St Albans.

In addition to singer/songwriters and bands writing and playing original material, the organisation wants to hear from local producers experienced in Logic Pro and filmmakers interested in creating music videos.

Lori West, director of St Albans Calling, said: “The project generated so much interest from the community that some participants started talking about Volume II before we had even launched Volume I!

“So, here we are, beginning a new year with a new volume involving a new set of artists and exciting plans for taking the project forward.”

St Albans Calling’s mission is to help artists develop their careers and to bring them closer to their local community by engaging local businesses, staging musical events suitable for people of all ages, and supporting local unsung heroes – the charities.

It will be donating all proceeds from sales of Volume I to five local charities, including Crohns and Colitis UK, Earthworks, Emmaus, St Albans Bereavement Network and Special Olympics St Albans.

Artists participating in Volume II will be given the opportunity to work with music industry professionals, including songwriters, producers and business people.

Lori continued: “It was an enlightening experience for me to make Volume I happen, and through it, I learned that there are huge misconceptions amongst artists about the music industry. One of the biggest is the lack of recognition that music is both an art form and a business, and it’s this that makes it challenging for artists to break through or can leave them feeling defeated.

“I see this as an opportunity to empower artists with tools and insight into the business of making music, providing them with real experience and a clearer roadmap to fulfilling their dream of being a professional in the music business.”

Artists interested in taking part in St Albans Calling Volume II can find out more by attending a meeting at 7.30pm on Monday, February 11, at the Rose and Crown pub in St Michael’s, St Albans.

St Albans Calling Volume I can be purchased through download at CD Baby for $10 or by emailing Lori West at stalbanscalling@gmail.com for hard copy CDs.