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Making people move, both physically and spiritually, is Mavis Staples‘ speciality. On her latest single “Worthy,” the singer channels the aura of her collaborations with Prince during the Eighties for the upbeat record filled with gentle reminders and self-affirmations. The artwork for the record features an image of Henry Taylor’s painting “The Darker the Berry, The Sweeter the Juice,” revealed in 2015.
“It’s a pick-me-up song — it’s a celebration, and you can’t help but move,” Staples shared in a statement. “Certain songs just cover you, and this song is just so sassy and fire. It’s got me fired up.” The record was written and produced by MNDR, who laid the groundwork for the singer’s soulful performance as she offers words of encouragement, singing: “Smiling, shining/Beaming like the sunshine/Rising, climbing/Grinding through the hard times/Growing, showing up like you’re a star/’Cause no matter where you stand today/I hope you know you are/Hope you know you’re/Worthy.”
“Working with the legendary Mavis Staples seems like a dream,” MNDR shared. “Listening to her soulful voice, spending time in her grace, and watching her artistry in the studio as the trailblazing icon of music and culture was an experience too profound to put into words and one that I will never forget.”
She added: “As I listened to her breathe life into our song ‘Worthy’ — a song of celebration through good times and hard times, a song to celebrate ourselves and others — I realized that there is no other artist who could give this song more spirit and soul than Mavis Staples, a legend, an icon. It was one of the most profound moments of my life, and I am forever grateful.”
“Worthy” arrives as Staples continues an international tour making stops across Europe and North America through September. A number of shows on the run include special guest performance appearances on the road with Norah Jones.
