ABOUT CAUSE & EFFECT

The bravery of our military men and women is unparalleled and provides us our safety and freedom, but that bravery often comes at a high price to those individuals and their families: combat injuries, PTSD, difficulty integrating back into civilian life after deployment, and alarmingly high rates of veteran suicide — on average 22 veterans die by suicide each day.

"Our vets are facing numerous challenges - from gaps in mental health care to waiting for disability benefits," says IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. "As the Afghanistan War continues to draw down, and more of our brave men and women return home, it is crucial we meet their needs."

My personal connection to veteran's issues stems from the high number of veterans in my family and circle of friends. In particular, my grandfather, Forest Erickson, was in the 357th Regiment, Company B, of the 90th Army Infantry division in World War II, landing on Utah Beach on D-Day. He fought on the front lines until the end of the war, helping liberate several concentration camps and earning both the purple heart and bronze star. In addition to being a soldier, he was a wonderful man and an amazing grandfather.

Shortly after I began to write this album, my grandfather passed away. I decided that if I wrote anything worth releasing I wanted to donate all the sales to an organization supporting our veterans. The IAVA was an easy choice because of the amazing work they are doing in the space, as well as the efficiency with which they are doing it. I am immensely grateful for the artists who were willing to lend their time and talents to these songs to help this important cause.

The first single, "Something to Hold on to (feat. Pip)" is available on iTunes now. Pip Andrew is an amazing singer, as evidenced during season two of NBC's The Voice.

Brian Bason