As we head towards Black Deer Festival weekend, we’re posting a video each day from one of the artists appearing in the Deer Park this year. Today, we’re focusing on AUK favourite Courtney Marie Andrews. Taken from her acclaimed album ‘May Your Kindness Remain’, this single showcases everything that Andrews is about: pure, soaring vocals, great songcraft and ear-friendly hooks and melodies. The songs on this critically-acclaimed album focus on the theme of everyday people striving for unattainable goals and the disenchantment and depression that comes from such commonplace situations. Yet, somehow the whole thing feels full of hope, especially ‘Kindness of Strangers’. Lyrically resonant, the song’s metaphors list ways we might fail but how we can get by with the support of others: “How do you dive deeper in a shallow riverbed // When the current pulls you further from what you shoulda said? // Getting by on the kindness of strangers.”
Andrews’ most recent album was the deeply personal ‘Old Flowers’ in 2020, which was nominated for a GRAMMY for best Americana album at the 63rd awards ceremony. That record was written as she came to terms with the end of a long-term relationship and featured many of her most intimate and honest songs to date. Andrews’ talents don’t stop with writing songs. She’s also published a collection of poems themed around the transformations we make on our journey through life. ‘Old Monarch’ begins with poetic tales inspired by Andrews’ childhood before taking us through her first love and beyond.
Andrews is fabulous live. You can see her on the road in the UK and Ireland this summer, including on Saturday 18th June at the Black Deer Festival. While you’re waiting, check this out.
