Mavis Staples: All In It Together

A message of hope rings through Mavis Staples’ soulful new single, “All In It Together.” Produced by and featuring (on backing vocals and guitar) Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, the song “speaks to what we’re going through now—everyone is in this together, whether you like it or not,” Staples explains in a statement. All proceeds go to Chicago non-profit My Block, My Hood, My City, which provides essentials to seniors …

Nation of Language: September Again

A single from Brooklyn-based synth-pop band Nation of Language’s forthcoming debut album, Introduction, Presence, “September Again” carries an underlying melancholy that’s balanced by a singable chorus and plenty of sonic glam. “So you go back to church to reclaim the feeling / you say you don’t understand why / And you spend extra time standing naked in the mirror / When you wanna wear something …

Amber Mark: Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana Cover)

NYC-based Amber Mark’s cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” is so radically different from the 1993 version that it’s almost unrecognizable at first. Reimagined as a funky, simmering R&B tune, the song is a far cry from its grunge origins. Mark says that her newfound approach to working on music is the only positive to come from our current, collective isolation. “All the pressure I normally …