Artist Profile - Ace Enders

Ace Enders' prolific career spanning over a decade continues with the release of the third album from his band I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, titled Gold Rush out on May 5th. The southern New Jersey based singer/songwriter and frontman of the now defunct cult favorite indie band The Early November is a completely independent artist, without a label or manager for the first time in ten years, which surprisingly has ignited more opportunities than ever for the 28-year-old family man. Enders, along with his wife and business partner Jenn, has launched a grassroots network of 200 interns in communities around the world to fulfill the functions of a small label staff with the goal of creating a new business model for other independent bands to do the same.

The new model supports the very organic intentions of Enders as an artist and further encourages and motivates him to create music that represents and cultivates the close relationship he has with his supporters. In fact, when Ace was unsure about his ability to continue his career in music, his fans rose to the occasion to help and inspire him to keep going, making him realize that a network like the internship program was both possible and necessary in the music industry. The support has gone so far as to fund the upcoming release through a Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $30,000, tripling the original goal and allowing plans for the next release to flourish through the new internship program.

The internship is aimed at channeling the connection between fans and artists to create a mutually beneficial partnership and rebuild the respect that has been lost through an over-saturated market and rampant free downloading. Within the program, the band receives the assistance needed with promotion, publicity, marketing, design, and more while the interns gain experience in the music industry and the very real potential to become part of the band's paid staff. The new model will begin functioning within the soon to be launched website, soundofevolution.com, a social and professional network that serves as an umbrella of support for the bands who will follow Enders' grassroots practices.

I Can Make a Mess will embark on a three week Pick What You Pay headlining tour in May, giving the attendees the chance to choose their own ticket prices, as a way to further the relationship of respect between fan and artist. Enders also plans to tour this fall in support of the new record and the documentary film that showcases the process of his new business model and the history of his career, with the hope of bundling speaking engagements about the music industry on college campuses, documentary showings, and music performances into the shows.

I Can Make a Mess is thrilled to be working with the humanitarian-based fashion brand, Jedidiah, who uses apparel sales as a vehicle to provide support, care and financial resources to those in need. Jedidiah has made it possible for the band to mirror the Pick What You Pay model of the tour for the sale of merchandise. Fans will be able to choose a price for a shirt at the shows, starting at just $10. The band will also support Jedidiah in their partnership with Stand Up For Kids, an outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless street kids.