'It's dark in the US right now. But I turn on a light, you know?': Mavis Staples on Prince, Martin Luther King and her 75-year singing career

The music of Mavis Staples is a beacon of hope, love and protest that has resonated with generations of listeners. On her new record, she sings about the darker times we're living through, but finds solace in the light of human connection and community.

"I'm at a point where I'm not just singing about my whole life, but also what's going on today," says Staples. "I want to tell you about war, fighting, love – the hard times that are going on in the world right now. There's some stuff about farmers losing their farms, and we have Sad and Beautiful World as the perfect title."

Staples' music has always been a powerful force for social change, and her experiences with legendary artists like Mahalia Jackson, Prince, and David Byrne have shaped her sound.

"I was really influenced by Prince," she says. "He would talk to my sister more than me, but I loved him so much. He kept everything all to himself, then it would come out like a blast." Staples has also collaborated with artists from different genres, including Hozier and the Staple Singers.

But Staples' music is not just about her personal experiences; it's also a reflection of the world around her. Her latest record features songs that tackle issues like racism, police brutality, and social injustice.

"I think the darkest time I've lived through was probably during the Civil Rights Movement," she says. "But even in those times, there were moments of hope and beauty. We had to hold on to each other, and that's what I'm doing now – holding on to love and community."

Staples' music is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is always hope. Her voice is a powerful force for change, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists and activists.

"I turn on a light when it's dark," she says. "I don't dwell on it. If someone needs me out there, I'll be out there."
 
🌟 Mavis Staples' new record is more than just music, it's a wake-up call 🚨. The world may be in the dark times you mentioned, but her light shines so bright ✨. It's beautiful to see someone using their platform for good, and she's not afraid to speak truth to power πŸ’ͺ. I love how she finds solace in human connection and community – that's what we need more of 🀝. Her legacy is inspiring a new generation, and I'm so grateful for artists like her who continue to fight for justice and equality πŸ’•.
 
πŸŒŸπŸ’‘ so i was listening to mavis staples new record and it totally gave me chills. her music is like a ray of light in the darkest times πŸŒ‘πŸ’” she's talking about war, fighting, love, but also finding hope in community & human connection πŸ€πŸ’• i love how she says she's not just singing about her life, but what's happening today πŸ“†πŸ—ΊοΈ it's like she's speaking truth to power without being too preachy. and can we talk about her collaborations? hozier & david byrne are such legends πŸ‘πŸ’― what i love most is that her music isn't just a reflection of herself, but the world around her πŸŒŽπŸ”
 
🌟 i totally feel mavis staples' vibe with this new album. she's speaking truth to power and sharing her experiences in a way that's both personal and universal. the song titles alone are giving me chills - 'Sad and Beautiful World' is so real right now πŸ€•, but it's also a testament to her optimism and faith in humanity. i love how she's not afraid to tackle tough issues like racism and police brutality, but at the same time, finds solace in community and love. we need more of this kind of music in our lives πŸ’–
 
πŸŽΆπŸ’– i feel like mavis staples is the ultimate symbol of hope in these crazy times we're living in! her music is like a warm hug that never gets old πŸ€— she's always been an inspiration to so many people, and it's amazing to see how her legacy continues to live on through new generations of artists and activists πŸ’ͺ what i love most about her music is the way it tackles tough issues like racism and police brutality, but also finds solace in love and community ❀️ and let's be real, who else can rock a song about the struggles of farmers losing their farms? πŸŒΎπŸ‘€
 
Mavis Staples is still killin' the game at 80+ πŸ™ŒπŸ’–! Her new record is like a breath of fresh air - she's speakin' truth to power about all the crazy stuff goin' on in the world right now. I love how she's keepin' it real, talkin' about war, racism, and police brutality, but also findin' solace in love and community. And let's be real, her collabs with Hozier and David Byrne are always a bonus 🎡πŸ”₯. What I admire most about Mavis is that she's still holdin' on to hope, even when the world feels like it's goin' crazy. She's proof that music can be a powerful force for change, and we need more artists like her in the game πŸ’ͺ
 
😊 I'm loving the new vibes from Mavis Staples! It's so refreshing to see an artist use her platform to shine a light on the tough issues we're facing today πŸŒŸπŸ’«. Her music has always been like that - a beacon of hope and love in a world that can sometimes feel dark and divided πŸ’”πŸ‘₯. I think it's awesome that she's not afraid to talk about the hard stuff, but also finds ways to celebrate our humanity and community ❀️🌎. It's gonna be interesting to see how her new record is received - I'm sure we'll hear some powerful messages and maybe even some new rallying cries πŸ’ͺπŸ”Š
 
Mavis Staples' new record is like a breath of fresh air in these crazy times πŸŒŽπŸ’–. She's not afraid to tackle the tough stuff - war, fighting, racism... but instead of getting all dark and gritty, she finds solace in love and community ❀️. I love how she says she's still holding on to hope and beauty, even when things feel like they're falling apart 🌈. Her music is always been a powerful force for change, and now more than ever we need her voice to remind us that we're not alone 🎢. And can we talk about how cool it is that she's collaborated with artists from different genres? Hozier, the Staple Singers... it's like a musical United Nations 🌍! Anyway, I'm all in for more of this Mavis Staples magic ✨.
 
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