The Staves have released "Nazareth," the band’s first new music since its 2017 EP with yMusic. "We recorded 'Nazareth' in one take on a field recorder sat outside the studio in the summer of 2018," says the trio. "The sun was shining and the birds were singing. We tried recording it in the studio but just kept coming back to this version. It seemed to have the magic.  The song was intended to be in the spirit of an Irish blessing or a kind of a prayer, asking to be kept safe—but it pretty quickly became a more personal and introspective lyric. Moments of glory quickly faded. Worrying, trying. How we mean everything and nothing at the same time. To everyone, to no one."

Laurie Anderson is the guest on the latest episode of Alan Cumming and Chris Sweeney's podcast, Homo Sapiens. "She's such a legend," says Cumming. He ascribes to her a queer sensibility, which he defines as "an openness to things other than your own experience and a compassion and a generosity and respect for people, and you think everybody should have as good a go as you do." Anderson joined the hosts prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for a wide-ranging conversation on religion, finding perspective, meditation, managing stress, and the state of the world. You can hear it here.

Sam Gendel joined singer, songwriter, and producer Ethan Gruska for a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's online series Play At Home, pictured above with guitarist Ryan Hommel. The performance, which debuted today, was filmed at Sound City Studios back in February, shortly before the release of Gendel's Nonesuch debut album, Satin Doll. You can watch it here.

Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Vince Gill—whose rich history and friendship runs for almost 50 years—reunited to perform a concert for Grand Ole Opry's Saturday night broadcast live this past weekend. You can watch the hour-long set again here. "There’s nothing better than singing with old and dear friends," says Harris, "especially if those friends happen to be Rodney and Vince."

The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt gave Amoeba Music a look at what he's been listening to as part of its series What's in My Bag? (Home Edition), including Eartha Kitt, Elke Sommer, Bessie Smith, and more. Merritt filmed the episode on a mini-golf course in upstate New York, so he also gives us all a look at his putt-putt skills. You can have a look here.

Mountain Man has released a live take on Michael Hurley's "Blue Mountain," from the trio's new live album, Look at Me Don’t Look at Me, out next Friday, August 7, on Nonesuch. The track and album were recorded at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle in November 2018. You can hear "Blue Mountain" everywhere now, and watch a visualizer for it here.

Lianne La Havas performed "Bittersweet," from her new, self-titled album, for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's online series Play at Home. The video was filmed at La Havas's recent one-night-only concert at London's Roundhouse. You can watch it here.

In this essay, composer Sarah Kirkland Snider shares the story of (and behind-the-scenes photos from) her collaboration with video designer Deborah Johnson / CandyStations on Mass for the Endangered. The Mass, with a libretto by poet/writer Nathaniel Bellows, is a celebration of, and an elegy for, the natural world, an appeal for greater awareness, urgency, and action. The recording, on which the English vocal ensemble Gallicantus performs the piece, is due September 25. 'Sanctus/Benedictus,' from the piece, is available now, as is Johnson's video for it.

Rhiannon Giddens has been appointed the next Artistic Director of Silkroad. Her first official appearance will be this Wednesday in a virtual concert for Tanglewood. "Rhiannon is a source of inspiration for all of us," says Kathy Fletcher, Executive Director of Silkroad. “In addition to her enormous musical talent, she fosters an immense social consciousness and creates unity through her art. These are goals for which we consistently strive in our own performances and education initiatives." "Rhiannon is an extraordinary human being and musician," says Silkroad founder Yo-Yo Ma. "She lives Silkroad’s values, at once rooted in history and its many musics, and is an advocate for the contemporary voices that can move us to work together for a better world."

Lianne La Havas's new, self-titled album was just released to critical acclaim on Nonesuch Records in the US. Here, she talks with writer Sophie Harris about her third album, which spans the arc of a relationship and reflects musical references as varied as Milton Nascimento, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorious, Al Green, and Destiny’s Child. Read the article to find out why she tells Harris: "I dare say that this is the closest I’ve gotten to a pure expression so far."

Devendra Banhart, whose new EP, Vast Ovoid, is out now, performed "Taking a Page," from his 2019 album Ma, for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's online series Play at Home. The video was filmed at his home in Los Angeles by Consuelo Althouse. You can watch it here.

Devendra Banhart's four-song EP Vast Ovoid is out now. It follows his 2019 studio album, Ma, about which Q says: "Banhart’s singular world remains as intoxicating as ever, as if all human life is here." The EP, available in a limited-edition 12" white vinyl 45 and digitally, includes the Helado Negro remix of the Ma song "Love Song" and three songs "that didn’t quite fit in with Ma's theme of maternity," Banhart says. "Ultimately all three songs are about the difference between disappointment and disillusion … Bigger difference than I realized ..."