[5] Electric Blues contained the track "Home in My Heart", written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell, and originally recorded by Solomon Burke.
[8] Getting Personal, which was released in January 2017, saw guest musician Big Daddy Wilson (vocals) feature on one of the tracks.
[9] By this time, Bruce Iglauer founder of Alligator Records stated, on hearing the work of Strauss, "Excellent playing, with a lot of maturity and emotions".
Otis Grand opined "Clearly, real blues is embedded in Kai’s skull, and I think he finally did it and is steering himself fittingly".
[10][11] Strauss had concerts in 2023, which included a date in January at the Stadstheater Blues Festival alongside Giles Robson, Sugar Queen, Big Bo and Little Steven, and a short joint tour with Tony Vega throughout March.