As this year's festival season winds down, 2011 will surely be one to remember for Mavis Staples, who performed at a number of events, big and small, worldwide. Not only was the soul singer a ubiquitous sight on stage, she was also in high demand backstage as younger artists ranging from Arcade Fire's Win Butler to Raphael Saadiq all wanted to meet her, question her and – fingers crossed – even collaborate with her.

"It makes me feel so good that these young people want to hang with me," Staples tells Rolling Stone. Citing the Decemberists' Colin Meloy as just one example, she says the indie rocker "had so many questions. He was like a bright eyed kid."

Indeed, the 72 year-old R&B icon appears to be on something of a roll right now. So while festival season proper may be coming to a close, Staples says she intends "to just continue, continue, continue."

Video by Eric Helton, Interview by Doree Shafrir, Written by Benjy Eisen