I believe it was no accident that Mavis Staples’ take on Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Strangers” popped up on my KCRW new music playlist this morning. I had just looked at my laptop and realized that today is September 11th. Exactly 24 years ago, we all woke up to a wildly different world. Our perspectives turned completely upside down. And to me it feels a little like that today… On the heels of another school shooting and a possible political assassination.
Like Otis Redding passing the baton to Aretha Franklin for her seminal version of “Respect,” Morby places all six minutes of his gentle breath of a protest song — “Beautiful Strangers” — into Mavis’ more than capable hands. As I found myself unexpectedly encountering Mavis' version, I heard the lyrics anew. To me, they represent unrelenting love in the face of some harsh and trying times.
My horse in this race is not politics, but humanity. I want to live the lesson that Mavis (and many) teach — a lesson of love and hope.
Mavis’ forthcoming album, Sad And Beautiful World will be out on November 7th, and I can’t wait to hear her take on other classic songs and songwriters (plus a few new ones of her own!). In the meantime, I’m all in on her forward facing vocals, the easy sway of her phrasing, and her mama bear presence on “Beautiful Strangers.”
LA artist Julius Smack approached his new LP Starlight with a humble request to an AI assistant: “Make an album that tells the story about the origins of Julius Smack.” The result, released earlier this year via Oakland-based record label Constellation Tatsu, is like nothing you’ve heard before — demos, saved TikTok clips, and everyday experiences like walking the dog are woven into electro-ambient soundscapes, teasingly tinged with bright pop flourishes. Fans of Smack’s fellow thinky electro-experimenters like Brian Eno, Caribou, and Four Tet will find plenty to admire here.
Li Saumet and Beto Montenegro — founding members of the beat-forward, Astrologically informed South American supergroup ASTROPICAL — pop by KCRW HQ for an energizing morning hang. Hot on the heels of headlining KCRW Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, they talk highlights from the show (namely getting down on “Calentita”), combining the sonic powers of their day job bands (Bomba Estéreo + Rawayana), and why it was so important to connect every song on their eponymous debut LP to a sign of the Zodiac. Plus, you know they’re coming through with some choice guest selects. Hit that player button to get to the goods.
You know this newsletter well enough by now to know that we have big feelings about "the song of the summer." It's been weird not to have one this year (even though Sam Sanders insists that there are options).
Switched On Pop host Nate Sloan dropped by this week to unpack the lack. Because even though we never came to a collective, unspoken agreement about a summer-defining anthem this year... We can at least (and always) be relied upon to discourse about it.
KCRW 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 You received this email because you are subscribed to Music Insider from KCRW. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.
.png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=Julius%20Smack(600x338).png "Julius Smack(600x338)")
%20Big%20Ears%20Sweeps%20-%20join.kcrw.com/email(600x74).png?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=email(600x74).png "email(600x74)")
%20Beto%20Montenegro%2c%20Novena%20Carmel%2c%20and%20Li%20Saumet%20-%20Photo%20by%20Ernesto%20Roman.webp?upscale=true&width=1200&upscale=true&name=(L%20to%20R)%20Beto%20Montenegro%2c%20Novena%20Carmel%2c%20and%20Li%20Saumet%20-%20Photo%20by%20Ernesto%20Roman.webp "(L to R) Beto Montenegro, Novena Carmel, and Li Saumet - Photo by Ernesto Roman")
