If there was ever a sentiment befitting of the times, it’s JUNO and CFMA-nominated singer/songwriter Craig Cardiff’s cozied, homespun video version of song “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” The video has become a much appreciated moment of lightness and positivity having been viewed over 150,000 times on Facebook and YouTube in the past few days.
Recognizing the songs’ relevance to the situation today, even though it was written and originally released several years ago, Craig asked his fans to share videos of themselves acting out the signs he has got fans at his concerts to do at every show, body positions that evoke human symbols of chorus lyrics to be “Safe”, “Loved” and “Home”. Over 50 people sent in videos of themselves, and for each submission Craig’s label True North Records is contributing $50 to the Unison Benevolent Fund, an organization that provides financial support to musicians and music industry people facing economic hardship.
It’s unsurprising Cardiff would rise to today’s uncertain times in such an thoughtful, inviting way; for almost a decade, the Waterloo, Ontario-based artist dubbed by Gordon Lightfoot as a “songwriter who needs to be heard” has passed around a notebook titled ‘Book of Truths’ during shows, encouraging the audience to write and share something — a story, a confession, a hope or a secret — they might be too afraid to say out loud.
As a result, Cardiff often finds himself responding by writing songs that offer glimmers of hope for people to hold onto; “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” — especially during COVID-19 — lands no differently.
Re-released especially for 2020, “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” is the latest to be added to Cardiff’s growing library where he has been streamed more than 100 million times, and heard on NBC’s award-winning television series This Is Us.
He has played with and opened for artists such as Justin Nozuka, Glen Phillips, Lucy Kaplansky, Dan Bern, Natalia Zukerman, Andy Stochansky, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards, Blue Rodeo, Gordon Downie, Hawksley Workman, Sarah Slean, Skydiggers, 54-40, and more.
Nominations for a JUNO Award (Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo) and Canadian Folk Music Award (Contemporary Singer of the Year) round off a growing list of workshops and talks at schools, camps, festivals, and churches throughout North America and Hong Kong, as well as TED x University of Western Ontario, TED x Kanata and TED x KitchenerED.
Craig Cardiff is signed to True North Records, and represented by APA Agency, and Tom Sarig and his Esther Creative Group in New York City.
“To Be Safe, Loved & Home (2020) is available on all major music platforms.
