17 Comments
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Sandy Morby's avatar

We are so incredibly proud of you and happy for you! Love, Mama & Papa!

Dan Stone's avatar

All-time great song, magnificent cover, and man, what a great post, Kevin.

PJ Thompson's avatar

Beautiful Strangers is one of those songs that brings you to a place of heightened emotion and feeling before you even focus on the lyrical content. I have found that I didn’t really need to know what it was about in order to access what it was about. I am marveled by artists who manage to accomplish this feat.

I’m so excited to hear Mavis’s take on it. Reading and knowing your perspective and experience through its rebirth will only enrich that experience. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!

John Ware's avatar

I'm not crying at my desk, you are! Wonderful news...congratulations.

Emma Swift's avatar

So wonderful. Congrats Kevin!

Christian DeBonville's avatar

What an honor - I was first introduced to Mavis year ago when she collaborated with Jeff Tweedy, and especially enjoyed her work with Run the Jewels. Clearly, she has been influential across an eclectic mix of musicians I admire and respect; and this is just further evidence of that. Look forward to her album.

letruska's avatar

this is so beautiful. thank you for your music.

Layla @ Brass Tacks Tarot's avatar

This was so beautifully written. My husband and I just went to see you in Seattle tonight (loved your show!).

While waiting to catch the ferry home, I found your Substack and then immediately started listening to the Mavis cover. Wow. “Beautiful Stranger” is a song that has been a great comfort to me as a school teacher since the Uvalde shootings. Thank you for writing it.

Jeremy Vyls's avatar

Just feeling so grateful to be in the same lifetime as you. Thank you for your music and your words that accompany me every day, and congratulations to you, you really deserve that honor ✨ Take care!

Daniel Hagedorn's avatar

Yes…a beautiful version…so cool. Thanks for sharing the story of the song, and how these people in our lives influence us, make us better…because that is the power of music. And music is my savior.

Fiona Sibley's avatar

Just listened… absolutely stunning. Love your version too, obvs.

Yan Palmer's avatar

Chills and a helluva lotta wow. WOW.

Minister of Culture's avatar

In reading how you wrote Beautiful Strangers in around an hour, it reminds me of Dylan talking about his early work, and how he seemed to channel something larger, something unknowable. He said those early songs seemed to be "magically written." Sounds like you tapped into the same cosmic vein and released something truly magical. Thanks for giving it to the world!

Aurélien Fabre's avatar

Listening to Mavis' Only for the lonely records today. What an heartbreaking album. And it's just a piece in the puzzle! Love this version of Beautiful Stranger. Mavis later career never disappoints too. I'm eager to listen to the new one. But this cover is a good introduction (even if it's actually the second single)¡