Chris Medina Seeks Fans' Help with Fundraising for New Album

Former 'American Idol' contestant and Oak Forest resident Chris Medina is taking on the recording process without a record label, and wants fans' help in fundraising for his new album. 

Medina has started an Indiegogo campaign, seeking pledges from fans to chip away at $35,000 in expenses to create his next album.

During his appearance on the show, Medina touched hearts with his story of devotion to fiancée Juliana Ramos, who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2009. It led to the writing of single "What Are Words," and he shot to stardom soon after its release. He signed with a Norwegian record label, released an album and saw success overseas. In recent news, Medina inked a movie deal to bring his love story to the big screen.

"I’ve had a chance to tour the world, I’ve had a chance to meet some incredible people, I realized I have the most incredible fans," Medina wrote on the site. "The cool thing is I realized I can actually make music as a career, and it’s got me all excited about the future and the things that I am working on now. I am also excited that I can share this experience with you."

The singer offers a variety of options for donations, ranging from $5 for an individualized postcard, to $30 for a Skype session with the singer, and upwards to  $2,000 for an in-person acoustic performance, and $10,000 for executive producer billing on the CD. 

With 25 days remaining in the campaign (as of Nov. 4), Medina has raised just more than $8,000. 

"I really felt it was important to make the album I wanted to make, and the only way to do that was to stay independent," Medina said, of turning down labels seeking to represent him.

"You all made my experience in the last 3 years absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to give something back to you, and I think this is one way to do it."

Interested in contributing? Visit Medina's Indiegogo site.