Sometimes, the algorithm gets it right.
A random evening of scrolling on YouTube led me to a short clip of a young musician who wasn’t just playing notes.
She was locked in, fully invested, and clearly in love with the study and craft.
The artist is Cara Richard, a 12-year-old player whose passion for music runs far deeper than age might suggest.
In our conversation, Cara shares how she first tried guitar, only to discover her hands weren’t quite ready.

But – Enter her Dad: to the rescue with a perfect solution.
And the rest, as they say, is rock and roll history.
Cara wields her instrument with confidence and joy.
With a wildly varied repertoire, ranging from the Beatles, Yes, and Rush, to Jellyfish, They Might Be Giants, and even Real Big Fish, she’s not interested in labels or musical gatekeeping.
While a certain famous Liverpudlian is among her idols, Cara is just as likely to cover Boston or Frank Sinatra – with equal enthusiasm.

Cara enjoys drawing, both in digital and traditional formats, but it’s clear that music is her true north. Her playing is disciplined, expressive, and, above all, fun.