Campaign Story

My Why

I’m a songwriter. That’s what I do. It’s my craft, my passion, and honestly, the way I make sense of life.

I’ve always felt called to write. For me, songwriting is how I understand people, the world around me, and all the mess that comes with being human. It’s how I try to find beauty in ugly things, meaning in pain, and some kind of truth in all the confusion. I want to write songs that make people think, songs that make people feel, songs that say the thing sitting on the tip of your soul that you can’t quite put into words yourself.

Sometimes writing feels less like building something and more like receiving it. I’ll look back at a song and barely remember how it got there. And when I’m performing at my best, it feels the same way — like I’m tapping into something bigger than me. That’s why I keep doing it.

My name is Mary-Charlotte Young, and this is my fundraising campaign.

Up Til Now

There’s a reason this campaign matters so much to me. Fourteen years ago, my friends in Texas helped crowdfund my escape from an abusive marriage in California. I left with nothing but a baby in my belly and had to rebuild my whole life from scratch. Over the next decade, I worked my ass off to do exactly that. I rebuilt. I kept going. I made records. I figured it out.

But recently, that same person has reemerged, and the financial toll has been brutal. On top of that, I had to replace my car twice last year and move after my landlord sold the home we were living in — all while self-funding my latest record, The Wimberley Flood.

Up to this point, I’ve been completely independent. I write the songs, book the shows, make the art, design the merch, take the photos, make the videos, drive to the gigs, and pay out of pocket to make the records.

Since returning to playing full-time in 2018, I’ve self-funded and released three records: LA Again in 2020, Honky Tonk Eyes in 2022, and The Wimberley Flood in 2025.

Along the way, I’ve had the chance to support artists like David Ramirez, Fred Eaglesmith, River Shook, Max Stalling, Dallas Burrow, Taylor Hunnicutt, and Mike Ethan Messick. I’ve co-written with artists like Dallas Burrow, Billy Hartman, Dustin Brown, and Anna LaMare. I’ve played festivals and showcases like the Texas Women’s Songwriter Festival, SXSW unofficial showcases, Outlaw Pride, Savannah Pride, and showcases at the Viper Room and Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles. I’ve played venues like Anderson Fair, Mucky Duck, White Horse, Cheatham Street, Dosey Doe, Dee’s in Nashville, and Blue Plate Special in Knoxville. I also got a great review from Americana UK, and my music has been played on Elizabeth Cook’s show on SiriusXM Outlaw Country.

The Next Step

So this next project is not about whether I'm willing to work for it. I already do. It's about the fact that making a record the right way costs real money, and right now, because of circumstances outside of my control, I can't do it alone.

I also want to be clear about something. I don't see myself as a victim, and I'm not asking for your pity. I'm simply someone who's faced some difficult obstacles and is determined to keep moving forward. This campaign isn't about rescuing me—it's about helping me keep building something I believe in.

That's where this campaign comes in.

I’ve partnered with Edgewater Music Group to help raise the funds to record this next batch of songs the way they deserve to be made. We already have major-label distribution lined up, which means there’s a real path for this music to reach farther than anything I could do by myself. But serious moves in the music industry are expensive — studio time, musicians, production, mixing, mastering, visuals, promotion, release costs — it all adds up fast, especially for an independent artist.

Perks

In exchange for your support, I’m offering some really cool rewards — things like early access to the music, original artwork, private performances, behind-the-scenes access, and even opportunities to be credited as an executive producer.

How You Can Help

This is also an all-or-nothing campaign. If we don’t hit the fundraising goal, we won’t be able to move forward the right way.

I don’t love asking for help. But I do believe in these songs, and I do believe that with a little help from my friends, we can get this record made the way it deserves to be made.

So if you believe in independent artists, honest songs, and turning hard things into something meaningful, I’d be deeply grateful for your support.

Thank You!

Thank you for listening. Thank you for believing in this music. And thank you for helping me bring this next record to life.

–Mary-Charlotte