Cloud Cult was formed in Duluth, MN in 1995 by Craig Minowa while pursuing a degree in Environmental Science, shining shoes and driving an ice cream truck. The band’s early work earned Cloud Cult several offers from record labels, but all were rejected in favor of self-publishing. In 1997, Minowa formed Earthology Records on his organic farm, powered by geothermal energy and built partially from reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. This nonprofit label uses only recycled materials and donates all profits to environmental charities. The band also tours in a biodiesel van. The band’s merchandise is 100% postconsumer recycled or made of certified organic materials. Cloud Cult has planted several thousand trees to absorb the band’s CO2 output. They also donate heavily to projects that build wind turbines as revenue generators on Native American Reservations.
In the year 2002, shortly after the unexpected death of his two year old son Kaidin, Minowa wrote over a hundred songs to deal with the loss. They Live on the Sun was finished in 2003 and went to #1 on college radio station charts across the country. Since that album, Cloud Cult’s music has been strongly inspired by the loss of Kaidin and the “big picture” issues of life: “who are we, why are we here, where did we come from, where do we go”. Minowa seems in constant pursuit of the light at the end of the tunnel.
Find this song on iTunes on the album “Light Chasers.” Find their official website here: Cloudcult.com
They are great. Would never have known of them. Thanks for the post. I loved it!
Thanks Bill. New find for me too.
what a sad and inspiring story behind this. a story of hope and finding one’s way, trying to make sense of things. very nice sound, gentle on the ears.
Yes, sometimes inspiration comes from the darkest places.
Pain so often drives art. We’re called to make sense of the unfathomable. Another seed for my Pandora garden.
Yes, so true…
Wow. Really like this. Love the fact that they follow their convictions and try to make environmental choices to give back what they use and borrow. Their music really moved me to. Great pick!
Yes, what a unique (and great) story.
Loved it and got more. Thanks for the introduction.
Great, glad you enjoyed them.
It would be terrible to lose a child.
Incomprehensible.
On Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 11:54 PM, Live & Learn wrote:
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