BIO indepth

Singer/Songwriter/Composer/Producer/Guitarist

Cara Tower is a native of Santa Barbara, California where music found a way into her heart as a small child. Cara’s first touring experience was a series of convalescent homes throughout the greater Los Angeles area with a small ensemble of second graders known as the Pied Pipers. By fourth grade Tower took up an esoteric, self-taught study of the classical guitar (privy only to 10 year olds). In High School Cara was awarded a coveted vocal scholarship with noted opera star Madame Bobonia of The Music Academy of the West. After developing chronic laryngitis, Cara began a quest to find her own voice. Bored with learning material already written, Cara started to explore the mystical world of original music composition, where she began a life long journey down the expressway of her own unique vision.

While vacationing in Britain, Cara’s then dance oriented recordings, received airplay on underground radio stations throughout England and France. As a result in 1989, Tower signed a 3-year publishing contract with Virgin Music (London). Tower recorded in studios throughout London, completing her Virgin audio sojourn in Scotland, where she worked on her recordings with producer Terry Adams.

1993, upon returning to the United States, Cara began to perform as an acoustic solo artist where she quickly caught the attention of famed music producer Mike Clink; Guns and Roses, Heart, White Snake, Sammy Hagar etc. Together they formed an unusual musical team, producing demos and eventually recordings for Hollywood Records from 1994 to 1996.

1999, Tower matured into the exciting realm of independent production, founded Raw Dog Records, and brought her debut CD “living On Bread & Circus” into fruition by the summer of 2000. This CD is full of lyrically phenomenal social chronicles that articulate the cry of the heart through a beautiful, funny and poignant sojourn of the human experience. Tower spent many moons exercising the mother of invention; making instruments out of regular house and garden items to create an organic-electronic sound to her rhythmic and melodic patterns. Including a garden sprinkler (Infinitely Inseparable) and a dial tone (No One Suspected) wine glasses, water jugs and a coin operated pig ride (She Comes From An Ordinary Family). Are to name but a few. This combined with both modern and mid-evil instruments put Cara near the top of the obscure innovator's list. Two songs from B&C were used in the soundtrack of Angela Shelton's award winning documentary "Searching For Angela Shelton. An additional three songs became vocal features in Dan Chinander's feature film Hiding Victoria, currently playing in theaters in Europe and soon to be released on DVD in the United States.

2003 Cara released her second CD "And Then...There Is A Bridge." A body of material focused on articulating and appreciating the generosity and kindness of life itself. Honesty, hope, true freedom and gratitude for this existence, all serve as reminders of what is of value to the human heart. This CD takes on the nuances of world beat rhythms and melodies, as well as classical influences such as Debussey, Schubert, Brahms and Mozart. Sweeping orchestral arrangements, tablas, guitars, bass and a sense of space accompany Cara's soulful vocals. This CD is elegant and understated in delivery, delicate yet powerful, gentle yet strong within a timeless message of hope.

After releasing the Bridge CD, primarily through International events held by Prem Rawat, Cara received numerous invitations from over 12 countries and 32 cities to tour as a solo multi-media artist from 2003-2009. Inheriting the nick name; Ambassador Of Light, as she shared her music and honest insights about life with her intimate audiences around the world. Geographic, political, religious and economic stratospheres, were over come and became irrelevant in such hostile war torn regions as Croatia. Her music has served as a cultural bridge and an invitation to the individual, to hear the voice of wisdom within their own heart.

2009 Cara Tower has released her third CD, Ambience Of Love. Produced and engineered together with Eduardo Del Signore bassist for Ritual, Milton Naciemento, Dion Warrick and Jon Anderson. The music exudes up lifting messages, heart-felt lyrics and melodies that touch the soul. With a force and lyric vulnerability the music and Cara's vocal performances are as weightless and concentrated with direction as light. The album journeys through the familiar to the unique and totally unexpected.

The first song, "Even When" is the title track in Hiding Victoria, a feature film by Dan Chinander.