Cary Judd

Nestled in the shadow of the majestic Grand Tetons, a hop, skip and jump from Jackson Hole, Moose, Wyoming is worlds away in vibe and spirit from any typical hotbed of independent music- and that’s just the way Cary Judd likes it. For the past six years, the tiny town (pop. 65) has been both home and inspiration to the popular singer-songwriter, who took time away from breathing in the gorgeous scenery in 2008 to hole up in his basement studio and write and record his latest critically acclaimed album Goodnight Human. After receiving Performing Songwriter Magazine’s praise as “the perfect marriage between moxie and maturity,” the eclectic collection—whose debut single “Huang Shan (The Ah-ha Song)” received airplay on over 40 Triple AAA stations--was picked up for distribution by Sony Red and released in October, 2009. Judd just finished recording his follow-up EP "Trillions" with producers Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, Five For Fighting, One Republic, Augustana) and Andrew Williams (Five For Fighting, Alice Peacock, Jessica Simpson), with the ultimate intention of shopping this project to major labels. In the years since releasing his debut album Perfect Uncertain, Judd has achieved great success as an intuitive observational singer/songwriter because of his keen ability to fully embrace each person and place along the road and make the most of every experience. As he’s traveled across the U.S. playing up to 120 dates a year at colleges, house concerts and stadiums alike, the Southern California born and raised multi-talented performer has performed with or opened shows for Rocky Votolato, Rooney, Of Montreal, Owen, Margot & The Nuclear So & Sos, Joshua James, Tristan Prettyman, Citizen Cope, Isaac Hayden, Pedro The Lion, Tyler Hilton, Ryan Shupe & The Rubber Band, Raining Jane, and, as he likes to say, “many others that we’re sure you would be impressed with if he could just remember them!” In his down time, he’s stopped the smell the proverbial roses and soaked in uniquely American experiences along the way, including just about every National Park as well as other points of interest. Along those lines, “Huang Shan (The Ah-ha Song)” is a slice of spiritual pop-rock heaven inspired by his visit to China’s Yellow Mountain National Park, the sister park to Yosemite in the singer’s native state of California. While his debut and its follow-up, 2006’s Looking Back From Space, sold well, Judd’s belief in his latest collection of songs and his desire to reach as many people as possible prompted him to launch his first ever radio campaign for “Huang Shan.” “The song is about the enlightening experience of being in this amazingly beautiful national park in China and having the sensation of falling in love,” he says. “It was truly one of the most amazing spiritual days of my life. What I love about ‘Huang Shan’ is that it’s accessibly poppy but it’s about something much deeper and more heartfelt than the average three minute pop song. Long ago I realized that songs were like a songwriter’s children and nobody will care about my tunes more than I do. So anything I put my heart and soul into is worth sharing with more and more people. “The songs on Goodnight Human are a reflection of my life over the past few years, and I’m creating some fictional characters based on things I have seen in other people as part of this expanded consciousness. I’ve definitely grown as a songwriter and artist since the first album, and I’m proud to say that I produced this one on my own for the first time. The album title is meant to be intriguing and everyone reads something unique into it based on their own world view.’” Judd first realized the vast appeal of his music to people of all ages when he started playing at a coffeehouse in his hometown of Thousand Oaks, California. In line after the show waiting to buy a CD and get his autograph were soccer moms, 15-year-old emo kids and 60 year old men—all of which help him debunk the stereotype that, despite his success on the college circuit, his brand of spirited yet lyrically rich songwriting is limited to a younger crowd. His song titles are as provocative as the album name. “The Apocalyptic Love Song” puts everything he could think of into a jangling, up-tempo pop song—his worldview of humans as a species, the repetition of history, the fallacy of our monetary system. The peppy pop-rocker “Angel with a Cigarette” is an exciting exercise in imagery-filled lyric writing about a character based on someone he knows. “From the time I was very young, I knew that I was here to be a musician, and I am always up to the challenge of creatively bettering myself with each new song and project,” says Judd. “I’ve learned over the years that there’s no substitute for a great song, because a great song is something anyone can listen to and has universal truth. It can be deep and personal yet the average person can say, ‘I know what that guy or girl is going through. Now that I’m really where I want to be as a writer and artist, my goal is to expand beyond the regional touring I’ve done and develop into an artist whose songs are heard and appreciated throughout the country. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to make a living purely from making and performing music for many years and it’s freeing, and I am at peace, just knowing that I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing.” interpreter/translator