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Folk singer wants to learn your secrets

About three years ago, Arnprior-based folk singer Craig Cardiff was out on the road, doing a string of shows.
Craig Cardiff winter 2013 - photo by Adam Dee
Arnprior-based folk singer Craig Cardiff performs at the Fromagerie Elgin April 3. Supplied photo.
About three years ago, Arnprior-based folk singer Craig Cardiff was out on the road, doing a string of shows.

Although the Juno-nominated musician believes in creating a strong connection between the performer and the audience, Cardiff admits he'd gone into a bit of an autopilot mode.

Wanting to shake things up a bit, Cardiff introduced a notebook he's dubbed the Book of Truths, where audience members are invited to anonymously write a truth about their lives — a story, a confession, a hope, a secret.

“The big heartbreakers for me is when you play through the night, and you realize how everybody has this radio station playing in their head of how low they think of themselves and they're not any good to anyone,” he said.

“You and I would be in the room, and we would never guess in a million years that there would be this range of experiences of craziness and big love and big loss.”
Cardiff said the Book of Truths has impacted his songwriting.

He said his latest album, Love is Louder (Than All this Noise), is largely a response to the stories, as he wanted to write something to make people feel better about themselves.

Sudburians get a chance to hear Cardiff's latest material — and write in the Book of Truths — starting at 8 p.m. April 3, when he's slated to take the stage at Fromagerie Elgin.

Love is Louder (Than All this Noise) is actually a double album, featuring 21 tracks. One album features full live band recordings, while the other is more subdued, with acoustic guitar, cello, clarinet and violin.

Cardiff said he's fond of live recordings, as they have a certain je-ne-said-quoi studio albums often lack. It all goes back to the idea of connecting with an audience, he said.

“I don't know if you've had this experience at performances, where often you'll be touched by music and be impacted by it,” Cardiff said.

“Then you'll hear a recording, and the recording's just not quite the same. The biggest part is missing because there's nobody that's responding to it.”

Tickets to the concert, which cost $15, are available at www.craigcardiff.com.

@heidi_ulrichsen


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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