Low/Shearwater

Sub Pop labelmates Low and Shearwater each contribute arguably improbable covers of popular songs to this limited-edition Record Store Day/Black Friday 7” single.

After performing a crowd-favorite live version of Rihanna’s “Stay” at the Pitchfork Music Festival this past July, Low recorded a proper studio version at Sacred Heart in Duluth, MN. Low’s version of the pop ballad is a stunner and follows in the wake of the band’s March 2013, Jeff Tweedy-produced album The Invisible Way. Low’s version of “Stay” has been available digitally since mid-September.

Shearwater’s new album Fellow Travelers is out November 26, 2013, and on it they perform reimagined songs by bands they have toured with over the years, including Folk Implosion, St. Vincent, Wye Oak, Xiu Xiu, and Coldplay among others. Unfettered by the operating principle of Fellow Travelers (and inviting future tour dates together) Shearwater recorded their own gauze-wrapped, undulating version of Frank Ocean’s “Novacane” for this single.

Sales of this single will benefit Rock for Kids (www.rockforkids.org) on Low’s behalf, and the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org/) from Shearwater.