I've had more than one person inquire as to why it is I have to pay for the recording of this album... as if professional musicians and producers just work for free all the time... lol.
I think the underlying question is, "why don't (or can't) you just get a record deal, so that the record company pays all the costs?"
The proper answer to that question is complex. First, I probably couldn't get a record deal if my life depended on it, for a variety of reasons - but most importantly, because I'm creating a style of music that is worlds different than anything on the radio right now. Record companies primarily exist to make money, and are therefore largely interested in signing artists who are producing material similar in style to what is popular today. All well and good.
Second (and more importantly)... why would I want a record deal? This is not the holy grail that everyone seems to think it is. It essentially involves signing away ownership of your master recordings, as well as roughly 85% of the potential profits derived therefrom (plus a host of ancillary income to which no label should have a rightful claim, but that's another story for another time).
The reality is, I'm wearing two completely separate hats in this endeavor: Yes, I am the artist... but I am also the label. Not only am I paying the recording costs, but I am the A&R exec, as well as the executive responsible for contracting with distribution partners (to get the music to the world), videographers (for the creation of promotional videos), and marketing firms (for the purposes of creating artwork, updating social media profiles and posts, generating press releases and facilitating blog placements, and managing targeting advertising campaigns).
It's a lot of work, and a fair amount of expense... but in the event this project becomes successful (to whatever extent), it will be me reaping the rewards.