Listener’s Songs of the Week: New songs by Mavis Staples, Holly Arrowsmith and Liam Finn

By Mavis Staples

The 84-year-old civil rights activist and legendary soul singer Mavis Staples gets seriously funky with this righteous message of empowerment and self-belief, which taps into a bit of Prince (with whom she worked) and Sly Stone. Still touring, still got something important to say. – Graham Reid

By Holly Arrowsmith

Should those “Come Together” local tribute shows ever do Joni Mitchell’s Blue, it sounds like Arrowsmith would need to be press-ganged into service alongside Nadia Reid (hey, maybe call it Ladies of the Canyon and add that album’s hits). She recently won the APRA Country Song of the Year for Desert Dove but there’s something about Arrowsmith’s melodies and lyrics that take her out of boot-scootin’ territory, and Blue Dreams is but one more fine example of that. – Russell Baillie

By Liam Finn

Out touring Up Over with Crowded House, Finn releases another track in his by-instalments “Hyperverse” project. This latest one seems to indicate joining the family firm doesn’t mean he’s turned his back on being the solo singer-songwriter doing the frenzy with his drums, guitar and loop pedals. It goes all past in quite a rush. – Russell Baillie

By Rita Mae