Alexander Cardinale Refurbishes Cat Stevens’ Peace Train

The L.A. artist's intense personal jouney inspired his cover of the folk-pop classic.

Alexander Cardinale takes the Cat Stevens classic Peace Train in a new direction on his inspired cover and stylish video — showcasing today on Tinnitist.

More than 50 years after the British troubadour recorded his heartfelt folk-pop anthem of hope, unity, forgiveness and healing for his landmark Teaser And The Firecat album, Los Angeles singer-songwriter Cardinale had updated the timeless track with contemporary indie-folk production and flourishes. Without taking a thing away from the original, Cardinale makes the song his own — fitting for a recording inspired by one of the most transformative and ultimately unifying experiences of his life.

In late 2019, Cardinale and his wife Daphna welcomed their second daughter into the world. At exactly that time, his single Simple Things featuring Christina Perri started charting at radio. But soon, Cardinale’s family was hit with an unimaginable revelation: A few months after their new baby girl’s birth, the family discovered a life-altering IVF mixup: The baby wasn’t biologically either of theirs. Their embryo had been accidentally switched, and another had been transferred into Daphna. This meant their birth daughter belonged genetically to another family, and as fate had it, the Cardinale’s biological daughter had been born to their birth daughter’s genetic parents.

Faced with the impossible, both families naturally found themselves blending together, ensuring the two babies would stay in everyone’s lives and could grow up together as sisters. The experience shifted Cardinale’s entire focus. He stepped away from his rising career, redirecting all his energy into his family and their healing journey. Now, years later and in a period of reflection, Cardinale returns to music with renewed purpose. His version of Peace Train is a heartfelt expression of his truth. The single channels his hopes for unity, healing, and resilience — not only for his family but for listeners everywhere.

“I reflect on what got me through the darkest period of my life: Choosing love,” Cardinale shares. “When faced with an unimaginable situation that could have quickly taken us down, my wife and I made a conscious decision — to embrace love instead of fear, to lean into unity rather than division. It wasn’t an easy choice; the pain, confusion, and uncertainty could have completely overwhelmed us. But in the midst of it all, we found strength in coming together — not just with each other, but with another family who was experiencing the same profoundly unique upheaval.

“Through that choice — through the power of togetherness — we discovered that love is not just a feeling but an active, courageous commitment. It required us to let go of resentment, extend empathy beyond our own pain, and recognize that healing is a shared journey. Love, not fear, became our guiding force, and in choosing it, we found a sense of peace that transcended the chaos of our circumstances. This lesson directly inspired me to release this song. Through love and unity, we were able to rewrite our story — not as one of loss but of resilience and newfound family. This isn’t just a cover song to me — it’s an ideological mantra.”

The video for Peace Train was directed by Zac Poor and was filmed in a dark, rundown loft just south of downtown Los Angeles. Xander says: “Despite the stark and gritty environment, the video’s message is clear: Unity and togetherness can transcend differences. It aims to highlight the idea that, regardless of one’s political, cultural, religious, or economic background, there is a shared human connection that binds us all. Through its raw and intimate visuals, the video encourages viewers to look beyond ideological divides and embrace a common sense of humanity and belonging.”

Emerging in 2009 with the EP Sick of Dreaming, Cardinale spent nearly a decade honing his skills and building a fan base before diving into the mainstream with the 2016 single Made for You. Tenacious and prolific, he spent the early part of his career touring alongside artists like Pentatonix and Melissa Etheridge and landing songs in popular TV shows like One Tree Hill, Castle and Ghost Whisperer.

He went widescreen in 2016 after the release of the driving folk-pop hit Made for You, which was selected to be the global anthem for ad campaign Share A Coke And A Song. The song garnered billions of impressions worldwide and was featured on 250 million bottles of Coke. Subsequently, Cardinale inked a deal with Atlantic and teamed up with Perri in 2019 to issue Simple Things, which ultimately hit the Top 10.

Watch the video for Peace Train above, hear more from Alexander Cardinale below, and follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.