Burning Clouds
A Song of Loss, Hope and Healing
The Story Behind the Song
When devastating wildfires swept through Lānaʻi, Hawaii, I was heartbroken.
My husband Dave and I had spent our honeymoon there, and seeing a place filled with such wonderful memories reduced to ashes was difficult to comprehend. What affected me even more were the people. Many Native Hawaiians have a profound spiritual connection to the land. They see themselves not as owners of nature, but as its caretakers. Watching their communities suffer stayed with me long after the news coverage ended.
Then the fires spread across Canada.
Communities across British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and later Jasper faced unimaginable loss. Families lost homes, treasured possessions, photographs, heirlooms, businesses and, in far too many cases, loved ones.
I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
A haunting melody kept returning until I finally sat down with my guitar and wrote Burning Clouds.
“The song is not about the fire itself. It is about the people whose lives were forever changed by it.”
The headlines eventually disappear. The memories never do.
Hope Grows Through the Ashes
While researching the fires, I came across a photograph that changed the ending of the song.
Tiny green plants were emerging through the ashes of a burned forest.
That single image reminded me that nature heals.
Forests recover.
Communities rebuild.
Life begins again.
People eventually learn to smile again.
But they never completely forget.
The scars remain.
That became the heart of Burning Clouds.
It is a song that acknowledges unimaginable loss while reminding us that hope still exists.
Music Can Do More Than Tell a Story
I wanted Burning Clouds to become more than a song.
I wanted it to continue helping families long after the recording was finished.
I partnered with the Canadian Red Cross, directing royalties from the song and proceeds from fundraising concerts to support Canadian families affected by wildfires.
Every stream.
Every download.
Every purchase.
Every performance.
Together, those small contributions continue helping people rebuild their lives.
My hope is that years from now, long after I’m gone, someone will still discover this song—and that one more stream will become one more small act of kindness.
Every stream and purchase of Burning Clouds continues to support Canadian wildfire relief through the Canadian Red Cross.
Bringing Burning Clouds to Life
Burning Clouds became much more than a recording project.
It became a collaboration of people who believed in the message behind the song and generously donated their time and talents to help bring it to life.
AJ Gillette – Producer
When I shared my vision for Burning Clouds, producer AJ Gillette immediately understood what I hoped the song could become. He generously donated the use of his recording studio, countless hours of recording and production, added the percussion that helped shape the emotional feel of the song, and mastered the final recording for release.
AJ’s generosity, creativity and belief in this project made it possible to transform an idea into the recording you hear today.
Ray Elderbroom – Pan Flute & Cello
The haunting pan flute and cello woven throughout Burning Clouds were performed by Ray Elderbroom, who also generously donated his time and remarkable musical talent to this project.
Ray immediately understood the emotional landscape I hoped listeners would experience. His beautiful arrangements added warmth, depth and a haunting quality that became one of the defining characteristics of the recording.
In Conversation with David Wojcik
Spill the Tea Radio
• September 2024
Following the release of Burning Clouds, I joined broadcaster David Wojcik on Spill the Tea Radio to talk about my journey back to music after retirement, where my songwriting inspiration comes from, and the story behind Burning Clouds.
During our conversation we discussed:
- Returning to songwriting after a lifetime in marketing and business.
- Where my songwriting inspiration comes from.
- The story behind Burning Clouds.
- Partnering with the Canadian Red Cross.
- How one song can continue helping people for years to come.
Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/spill-the-tea-radio/id1730582369?i=1000670450149
Watch Burning Clouds Music Video
https://youtu.be/hr7FE5Nvm3s?si=O3zgx61aitIgf9sG
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