It's always exciting when a musical legend resurfaces for a particularly exciting project. Though, of course, every release Mavis Staples helms is always a thrill. But now she returns with a few friends, enlisting some well-established and rising stars of the music world to write her latest album 'Livin' On A High Note'.

Mavis StaplesMavis Staples returns with an awesome new project

Produced by She & Him singer M. Ward, the album follows the release of her 2015 debut EP 'Your Good Fortune', and comes three years since her thirteenth solo album 'One True Vine'. Among some of the famous songwriters are M. Ward himself, who wrote 'Don't Cry' and collaborated with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon on 'Dedicated'; soul crooner Aloe Blacc with multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste; garage rocker Benjamin Booker; The New Pornographers' Neko Case; post-punk icon Nick Cave; and Tennessee Americana talent Valerie June who delivers the semi-titular track 'High Note'.

It's a huge group project for these guys and marks a significant event in Staples' 60 year career, which, let's face it, has never wavered from greatness; 2013's 'One True Vine' found itself nominated at the Grammys just three years after she won her first for Best Americana Album with 'You Are Not Alone'. Both were produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, though it is not known if he has contributed in any way to 'Livin' On A High Note'.

More: Mavis Staples played Glastonbury 2015

'I've been singing my freedom songs and I wanted to stretch out and sing some songs that were new', said Staples in a statement.. 'I told the writers I was looking for some joyful songs. I want to leave something to lift people up; I'm so busy making people cry, not from sadness, but I'm always telling a part of history that brought us down and I'm trying to bring us back up.'

If you can't get enough of this soulful pioneer, you can watch her very first documentary entitled 'MAVIS!', directed by Jessica Edwards, which is set to hit HBO on February 29th.

Mavis Staples is set to release 'Livin' On A High Note' on February 19th 2016 via Anti-.