Ne Obliviscaris are one of Australia’s most respect heavy metal outfits. Beloved by both the local and international heavy music press as well as commanding a fan base across Australia, their position in the local heavy music community is enviable.
However, the respect and prestige they command hasn’t exactly translated into zeroes on their bank balances. “We have inherited a broken system that is no longer what it once was, yet has not found a definitive new way forward,” the band writes.
“A system where only the biggest of the big bands are able to make a living and the rest of us sacrifice our whole lives and risk financial ruin every step of the way.” This is something with which Ne Obliviscaris are familiar.
In a post announcing their new Patreon campaign, they detail how their international tours actually lost money. For example, their month-long tour supporting Cradle of Filth in Europe left the band AUD$20,644 in the red after factoring in expenses.
“So where to from here?” they write. “Well, we want to create an interactive fan experience unlike any band that has come before us. We want to help create a path, not just for Ne Obliviscaris, but for the countless bands across the world that are working incredibly hard.”
“And we want to do it by empowering YOU, the fans, so that you get to decide who succeeds and who doesn’t. The old establishment is dying. Let’s show that we can create our own new way forward and put the power back where it should be.”
The band don’t have lofty aspirations of buying a private touring jet or solid-gold mansions with the money raised from their Patreon campaign. Instead, they’re hoping to raise enough support to earn the Australian minimum wage.
“Minimum wage in Australia is $17.29AUD ($12.36USD) an hour or $656.90AUD per standard 38 hour work week,” they write. “Our goal is to try and reach a monthly contribution on our Patreon of $17,079.40AUD ($12,211USD).”
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“Divided by 6 people this works out to $34,158.80AUD ($24,422USD) each per year, the minimum amount one can earn for a full time job in Australia. We have no expectations of wealth or riches. That is of no interest to us.”
“For us it is much simpler, the dream of being able to do NeO full time and be able to survive financially in the process.” At the time of writing, the band have managed to accrue $2,821 per month from 185 patrons.
In return for your patronage, you will get “new NeO music, interactive tour video diaries, exclusive merch ranges, pre-sale ticket options, giveaways and competitions, tour podcasts, feature band interviews” and much more.
“If you would like to live in a world where an Australian progressive extreme metal band with a violinist can actually make a living from their music so that they can dedicate themselves 100% to creating the best music and tour the world as often as possible, then this is for you,” the band write.
