In February 2023, indie rocker Ben Kweller lost his teenage son, Dorian, in a tragic car accident. The weight of such a tragedy is hard to measure, and it could’ve ended Ben Kweller’s drive for his career. Instead, he took that pain and wrote about it. It’s an amazing show of resilience, as he penned a song dedicated to his late son’s memory. In May 2025, Ben Kweller released his seventh studio album, Cover The Mirrors. The album featured contributions and collaborations from The Flaming Lips, Waxahatchee, and MJ Lenderman.
Crystal child, double Gemini / A million songs in his head
Doesn’t care if you’re wrong or right / He believes what you said
Summer smile, a breezy laugh / Long hair waves in the wind
Nothing like being by his side / Wish I could see him again.
On “Oh Dorian,” Ben Kweller is joined by MJ Lenderman. Lenderman sings along on the choruses and takes lead vocals on the second verse. The album is laced with a support group, surrounding Kweller during a dark time.
Watch him glow and radiate / When he walks through the door
Understands what you say / ‘Cause he’s been there before
We’d drive all night, hopping place to place / Connecting everyone
And since he left, you can see it on everybody’s face / Nothing is as fun.
“I Can’t Wait To Hang With You Again”
The chorus resolves with the heart-tugging lines, “Oh Dorian, my best friend. I can’t wait to hang with you again.” Kweller longs to see his son again in the afterlife. It’s a heartbreaking but somehow hopeful dedication to his son. Kweller successfully turned tragedy into an artistic dedication to his son’s legacy. It’s an inspiring turn of events for the indie rocker.
In an interview with People magazine, Ben Kweller opened up about the loss of his son. “It’s really weird. Dorian dying should have been the moment that disconnected me the most. It shattered me, but it’s also somehow the thing that’s helping with all the other stuff.”
On continuing to release Cover The Mirrors, despite its dark tone, Kweller stated, “I don’t know if that just comes back to my natural personality. But is there an expectation that I make a certain kind of album after a tragedy like this?”
Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic