Mavis Staples has released a cover of Frank Ocean’s song “Godspeed.” Listen to the moving rendition, which features a spoken word outro by Youth Poet Laureate and folk artist Kara Jackson, below.
The track was produced by Brad Cook, known for his work with Bon Iver and Waxahatchee. Staples expressed deep admiration for Ocean’s songwriting and debut album, saying, “Channel Orange was my first introduction to Frank Ocean, and I was just amazed at the writing and the soulfulness coming from his voice.”
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She continued, “I loved Blonde when that record came out. That first line in ‘Godspeed’ of ‘I will always love you’ just crushes me every time I hear it…or sing it. It’s just such a beautiful song and he sounds amazing on it so I was a little nervous if we could pull it off. I was honored to sing his words.”
Mavis Staples, 85, is heading out on tour this summer and fall, playing to fans in Canada, Europe and the US (get tickets here).
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Staples released her 14th album We Get By in 2019 via ANTI-. Last year, she released the standalone track “Worthy.”
Mavis Staples 2025 Tour Dates:
06/21 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Jazz Festival
06/23 – Toronto, ON @ Toronto Jazz Festival
06/26 – Montréal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Festival
06/28 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
06/29 – Brevard, NC @ Brevard Music Center
07/05 – Sioux City, IA @ Saturday in the Park
07/13 – Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festvial
07/18 – Detroit, MI @ Concert of Colors
07/20 – Columbus, OH @ Jazz & Rib Fest
07/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Memorial Hall
08/02 – Notodden, NO @ Notodden Blues Festival
08/05 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg
08/07 – Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West
08/10 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Jazz Summer Fest
08/22 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat
08/23 – Rocky Mount, VA @ Harvester Performance Center
08/25 – Ocean City, NJ @ Ocean City Music Pier
09/11 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
09/13 – Napa, CA @ Blue Note Summer Sessions
10/04 – Memphis, TN @ Mempho Fest
10/09 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Theatre
1012 – Chandler, AZ @ Chandler Center for the Arts
