Rhiannon Giddens has composed a new song, "Best Day / New Day," for NPR's Morning Edition Song Project, in which musicians create an original song about the COVID-19 era. Giddens and Francesco Turrisi talk with Morning Edition host David Greene about the song, life during the pandemic, and its context in world history. You can hear the conversation and the song here.

Vagabon has released a live performance video of her song "Water Me Down," from her 2019 self-titled album. It was filmed by Justin Carlson during the same session as her performance of the song for Rolling Stone's first Fridays for Unity event on October 16 to support the Future Now Fund and help get out the vote. You can watch the video here.

Dawn Upshaw has been named among the inaugural ten inductees to the Opera Hall of Fame. The Opera Hall of Fame, established this year on the occasion of OPERA America's 50th anniversary, recognizes the achievements of outstanding living American artists, administrators, and advocates who have strengthened the art form and the field. The 2020 inductees will enter the Opera Hall of Fame alongside those formerly recognized through the NEA Opera Honors, from 2008 to 2011, including John Adams. An induction ceremony for the inaugural class will be held in early 2022 in New York City.

Sam Gendel's new album, DRM, was released digitally on Nonesuch Records earlier this month, with the vinyl due April 16. Here, he talks with London-based journalist John Lewis about the album, on which he performs solo musical experiments with vintage instruments, accompanied by his voice. Find out why he tells Lewis: “A friend said it was like Kanye West meets The Triplets of Belleville.”

Pat Metheny has released a video for the title track to his critically acclaimed 2020 album, From This Place. The song features lyrics by Alison Riley, sung by Meshell Ndegeocello. Also performing on the track are drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Linda May Han Oh, pianist Gwilym Simcock, and the Hollywood Studio Symphony led by Joel McNeely. You can watch the video, made by Robert Edridge-Waks, here.

While many of us can't go out to take in great live music, here are some events taking place online to enjoy while staying home this weekend: Sam Amidon plays in Dublin's National Concert Hall marathon livestream; Devendra Banhart performs in Planned Parenthood benefit; Tyondai Braxton contributes to Semibreve festival online; Jeremy Denk gives a recital from Caramoor; k.d. lang takes part in The 519 Community Centre virtual gala; Gaby Moreno leads an Acoustic Festival on Facebook; and Chris Thile launches his masterclass series. Off line and in person, Brad Mehldau tours Europe, and Laurie Anderson leads a NYC voter activation parade with RuckUS.

Sam Amidon’s self-titled album is out digitally and on CD today, with the vinyl due January 22. "A fine showcase for Amidon’s studio experimentation," says Rolling Stone; "incorporates elements of spacious, echoing ambient electronic music to complement Amidon’s warm vocals, reminiscent of Nick Drake and Arthur Russell." No Depression says "this LP, full of delicate noise and artful sophistication, deserves a pause in a harried time." A video of the album track "Cuckoo," recorded live in concert at Kings Place in London earlier this month, can be seen here.

David Byrne has partnered with HeadCount—the non-partisan organization using the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy—to curate a playlist for Spotify. In honor of Spike Lee's new film of David Byrne's American Utopia on HBO Max, the playlist aims to inspire listeners in the United States to exercise their right to vote in the 2020 election. You can hear it here.

The Staves have released a live video for "Good Woman," the title track to their upcoming album, due February 5 on Nonesuch in the US. The video was made in London's Sunbeam Studios, directed by Olivia Eames. The Staves say: "We’d like to thank our amazing band, Glyn, Marcus, Chris and Rob, and all the crew involved for making this shoot possible whilst observing social distancing rules and keeping all of us super safe."

Sam Amidon is the guest on the latest episode of WNYC / New Sounds' Soundcheck, hosted by John Schaefer, to discuss his new, self-titled album, out tomorrow. Amidon is joined by multi-instrumentalist Chris Vatalaro, who is also on the album, to perform three songs from his new, self-titled album: "Cuckoo," "Hallelujah," and "Pretty Polly." You can hear the session here.

Sam Gendel's new album, DRM, is due on vinyl on April 16, 2021. This Thursday at 12pm EDT, Gendel will be commenting and answering questions as a one-time, single supercut of all fourteen videos for the album—one for each track, all directed by Marcella Cytrynowicz—premieres on the Nonesuch Records YouTube channel.

Spike Lee's film of David Byrne's American Utopia on Broadway, now streaming on HBO Max, is the subject of today's NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, which you can hear here. “Spoiler alert: we all love this thing," says Glen Weldon. "This thing is a balm for my withered soul. I think it's the balm for humanity's soul." Soraya Nadia McDonald concurs: "Part of what Spike gets at really well is just the joy that is so absolutely present in this show and that makes it so addictive. Certainly that was the thing after I saw it, I kept listening to the Broadway cast recording on repeat afterward."