The Roots and John Legend Get Inspired by Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire have inadvertently inspired the Roots and John Legend to create a cover album of protest songs, reports The Guardian.

Due for a September release, the album began as a project to reinvent 'Wake Up' by Arcade Fire, but began to take a life of its own and turned to soul music from the '60s and '70s. The title 'Wake Up' remains, but the cover in question has since been dropped from the final track listing.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, The Roots' ?uestlove explained more. "I was trying to make something sample-able, like a '70s soul record." Eschewing obvious soul numbers, the production team have taken to lesser known tracks by Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, Nina Simone and Donny Hathaway.

?uestlove noted that he wanted the Grammy-winning John Legend to "get dirty" with his vocals this time. "I wanted this to be his worst performance ever .. for every vocal take he did, I tried to choose the one with the cracks."

Alongside production of 'Wake Up', The Roots have been working on their own album, 'How I Got Over'. Legend will feature on two songs -- first 'The Fire', "a modern-day Rocky-like sports anthem," and will also cover 'Again,' from Legend's own album, 'Once Again.'

'How I Got Over' should be out in June, but ?uestlove won't be rushed. "I won't turn in any record before I get goose bumps and I get that feeling in my stomach. I definitely have it with both albums."