PARENTS OF KAI WESENER, a.k.a. bl4ck m4rket c4rt TO RELEASE HIS EP, TODAY I LAID DOWN, FOR THE FIRST TIME ON VINYL AFTER HIS TRAGIC PASSING, AVAILABLE AUGUST 25

8/11/2025

NET PROCEEDS FROM VINYL RELEASE WILL GO TO SWEET RELIEF’S MENTAL HEALTH FUND TO HELP OTHER MUSICIANS WHO MIGHT ALSO BE STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSIOn

New York, NY (August 11, 2025) - Sweet Relief is honored to receive support from the family and community of Kai Wesener, a brilliant young musician who poured his heart into his art. Recording under the name bl4ck m4rket c4rt, Kai created haunting, beautiful music that captured the complexities of mental health with raw honesty. His slowcore, shoegaze, and slacker rock sound reflected a quiet battle beneath the surface, one shared by so many artists today.

Kai was selected for GRAMMY Camp 2023 and had just released his debut album when he passed away at age 17. His songs live on as a powerful expression of what it means to struggle, survive, and speak through sound.
Net proceeds from the release of his vinyl EP will benefit Sweet Relief’s Mental Health Fund, supporting musicians facing the same invisible challenges Kai gave voice to. Vinyls will be shipped on August 25, the two year anniversary of his original EP release date.

Sweet Relief is so deeply moved by Kai’s legacy, and grateful to help carry it forward.

A study by digital distribution platform Record Union surveyed about 1,500 musician participants in 2019 and found that 73% of independent musicians struggle with mental illness. Mental Health Fund provides financial assistance to music industry professionals in need of mental health services and aims to significantly lower that percentage.

For more information on Mental Health Fund, visit: https://www.sweetrelief.org/mentalhealthfund.html

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a 501-C3 nonprofit that has provided millions of dollars in financial assistance to thousands of musicians and music industry workers. Founded in 1994 by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, has helped countless members of the music community who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems. 100% of all donations to Sweet Relief for California fire relief are being distributed to victims, Sweet Relief is covering all fees. You can donate to the Sweet Relief Natural Disaster Relief Fund HERE and find out more about the organization at https://www.sweetrelief.org/.

In Memory of Kai Wesener (2006–2023)

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