Yusuf / Cat Stevens through the eyes of Luke Wygodny
An exploration of the music that shaped his creative path

Luke Wygodny (singer/songwriter) is a proud Evanston native currently based in NY’s Hudson Valley. Coming off a run of performances in LA of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Primary Trust (for which he composed the original music), Luke returns to his hometown with his brother Elias to share the songs that inspired them to carry out the folk tradition of storytelling.

Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ dedication to the craft of songwriting and truthseeking has been one of Luke’s biggest inspirations. Growing up, his records hummed through the speakers of the Wygodny home. He was the soundtrack to the family, and gifted them and the world a gentle reminder, “I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul.” In 2016, the Wygodny brothers created a space for NYC artists to reflect on the question, “what keeps your heartstrings in tune?” This evolved into the band ‘The Heartstrings Project.’ When the world shut down in 2020, Cat’s team reached out to The Heartstrings Project to be a part of the (now virtual) CatSong Festival. Sharing the bill with the likes of Noah Kahan, Dave Matthews, HAIM, and James Morrison; the event celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Tea for the Tillerman.

Luke is honored to carry out Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ legacy of music, spirituality, humanitarian aid, and quest for peace in a time when it is needed most.