American author, philosopher, theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman once said, “don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive.  And then go and do that.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  What powerful words, and such wisdom!  When I ask myself that question —  what makes me come alive — the answer is music.  It's always been thus.  Music is my vocation, my calling.  Whether I am creating it, performing it, teaching it, arranging it or sharing it, I am alive and fully present to life and to the world.  It is worthy and worthwhile work.  It has value.  I believe music, like all art, is an essential element of a fair, just and decent society.  It transcends barriers, borders and ideas.  It can inspire and unite, soothe and heal.  It connects us to each other, to our common history and, as Rosanne Cash says, music is “the premier service industry for the heart and soul. We cannot survive without music.” 

It is an unconventional career path that follows an unconventional financial route.  To quote Rhiannon Giddens, "there is a dissonance between the art we make and the world we’re forced to peddle it in.  We’re relied on to create this connection to a non-capitalistic world — a world of human emotion, a world of connection, a world of history — and yet, we have to do it as soon as possible, preferably yesterday, please. Music is art, family, empathy, love.  We’ve made it about money, and that’s a tragedy bigger than we know.”   

So how does an artist survive these days, where myriad income streams (ie album sales) have dried up, and we're trying to make 2026 expenses work on 1996 pay rates?  Enter the Superfan, the Support Community, the Patron, the Believer.  I was one of the pioneers of the album crowdfunding model (back in 1997), and now I'm finally venturing into the Patronage model!  :)  But move over Patreon!  I'm doing this my own way, in classic Cara Lovely Luft fashion: no intermediary, no middleperson, no percentage going to a 3rd party site. Introducing the Indie Music Angels Family!   

I was brought up by folk-singing socialist community-oriented parents, who drilled into me this whole beautiful notion that we all do the best we can with what we've got, so there's only one tier to this whole thing.  Sign up at whatever rate makes sense to you; pay what you want.  The system has been set at $5 min/month, and allows you to add what figure you wish.  VISIT HERE TO SIGN UP :) 

If you'd prefer to skip the credit-card processing fees, you can also arrange it as an annual contribution by US or Canadian cheque (to Box 68045 RPO Osborne Village, Winnipeg, MB  R3L 2V9 Canada) or by e-transfer to lovelyluft@gmail.com.  For those interested in submitting one-time contributions, please reach out directly to me to discuss: lovelyluft@gmail.com

All monies that come in help to keep me doing my job — offsetting tour expenses, getting me to music camps, paying bills — being ALIVE to my community, continuing to offer my light to the world without burning out.  And to echo RG, I want to stay focused on what I can do as a human being, not on how famous I can get.  I believe music, particularly home-grown and hand-made music, helps make the world a better place, a place I'd rather be alive in.  Come join me on the journey!