artist Cara Luft

Strumming since the age of four and singing since she can remember, Cara Luft brings a welcoming wit, ease and grace to the stage seldom seen in this age of fast fame and virtual presence.

Spending those first crucial nine months bathed in the resonant thump of her mother’s Martin D-18, she was raised in a house and community vibrant with folk music and musicians. These roots inform and charge Cara’s musical being, and underscore her depth and commitment to music, to song, and to the vital sharing of these gifts through soulful performances.
 
A powerfully elegant guitarist, Cara is a maven of open tunings, branching out into mandolin and clawhammer banjo.  Her writing is a blend of social commentary, imagination and rhythmic intensity, her distinctive voice penetrates to the core.  In performance she balances pathos with joy, telling hilarious stories between songs.

In 2002, Cara joined forces with two other female artists to form the Wailin’ Jennys. Along with a third of the songwriting duties, she was the instrumental anchor, an mc extraordinaire, and a major contributor to their renowned vocal harmony arrangements. Two Jennys’ albums resulted - the second of which, 40 Days, was awarded a Juno Award for Best Roots Album (Group) in 2005.

Her decision to follow her own muse was taken after three years of touring and recording with the trio. She found she needed to honour her core sensibilities, craving honest, deep music, lyrics with integrity; music with edge, grit, groove and spellbinding vocals.
 
The Light Fantastic is a testament to this difficult choice and is receiving strong critical praise and listener response. The album’s credentials are strong, with Neil Osborne producing and Cara hand picking the musical team from the thriving Winnipeg community. She  continues to tour with multi-instrumenalist Hugh McMillan.

Cara reaches out to people in the magical, wonderful way of the bard, from beginning of show to final encore.

The Light Fantastic marks Cara’s welcome return to the solo trail. A set of songs written during nearly a year long post-Jennys sabbatical, they cover topics ranging from her annoyance with trite lifestyles (Give it Up) to deep spiritual reflection (Jerusalem) and imaginative exploration (The Light). She chose Canadian rock star Neil Osborne to produce the album, relying upon his experience in that genre to bring a fresh slant to folk recording. Bringing together a group of seasoned Canadian folk and roots musicians to form a solid basic ensemble, laying down the main tracks live “off the floor” gives the songs a life and vitality that is unparalleled. Filling the sound out with violin, viola, pedal steel, tablas, and a wide range of vocal harmony, the album was mixed by renowned mix engineer Warne Livesey, and mastered by the sensitive genius Joao Carvalho. The Light Fantastic is a cornucopia of sonic delight, lighting the path to reaching the vast reservoir of soulful intensity that is Cara Luft.

“Cara’s new record is great, real, and heartfelt – as she is.  No fluff or extra notes – just the good stuff!” -– Buddy Miller  –  producer, songwriter, guitarist (Emmylou Harris)

“The Light Fantastic is a little bit country, a whole lot of folk and a surprising dollop of rock from an artist who’s quickly climbing the ranks to become one of the stars of the Canadian roots scene.  If you thought it was a drag when Luft left the Jennys, check out The Light Fantastic and see what she’s been doing since. You won’t be disappointed.”  –  John Threlfall, Monday Magazine

“Luft is a consummate performer.  Unlike so many singer-songwriters, [her] music has an urgency that can’t be denied… as good as anything I’ve heard for a long time.” –  Americana UK

“Listening to Cara Luft is like sipping a fine cognac, warm and smooth at the beginning, stirringly captivating by the end.” –  James Hodges, Roadside Attractions (Saskatoon)

“The Light Fantastic showcases Luft’s exceptional abilities as a guitarist and her compelling and distinctive voice. Moreover, the original songs on this album are a powerful combination of imagination, rhythmic power  and social commentary...” –  Greg Quill , Toronto Star

“... one of the finest contemporary folk albums of 2007.” – Fish Records (UK)

“This is her time, this is her year and THIS is the album.  Songwriting as good as any I heard in all of 2006, begins my 2007. Make room in your musical world for Cara Luft… before she kicks your door down!” –  Terry David Mulligan, Radio Host (CKUA)

“Yes, Luft is a Wailin’ Jennys founder but so much more too, head and shoulders above most. Think Julie Miller meets Gillian Welch on a lot of this, with an occasional bit of Linda Thompson tossed in. The Light Fantastic could be very big in Canadian roots circles.” – John P. McLaughlin, The Vancouver Province

“The Light Fantastic is a winner. Parts of the album are as gentle, low-keyed and stripped down as anything the Jennys did. Other parts are heavier, edgier, rockier, combining elements of traditional and contemporary folk with country and roots rock. The results are so pleasing because of Luft’s considerable talents as a writer and performer, coupled with contributions from producer Neil Osborne (54-40) and an exciting group of guest musicians.” – Robert Reid, The Kitchener Waterloo Record

“...a truly Canadian diamond in the rough  –  no need for cutting or polishing.”  –  Andy Morel, Rossland Arts Council

“The Light Fantastic is rooted in the folk tradition but slathered in rock ‘n’ roll.  Luft’s clean and clear vocal soars powerfully above the heady blend of country, folk, roots, rock and more traditional fare.  She may be Jenny no longer but she’s still wailin’.” 4 stars – Bruce Leperre, Wpg Free Press

“The Light Fantastic is an appealing blend of country and roots rock. [There’s] a dash of badass rock in Luft’s hands [with] a hint of Jimmy Page in her guitar licks and a trace of Robert Plant in her high notes. It all comes together very nicely indeed.”
– Exclaim!

Cara Luft artist
Hugh McMillan multi-instrumentalist