When times got especially tough during lockdown, New York-based singer, songwriter and producer Amber Mark turned to the soulful affirmations embedded in her own work. “I wrote this song to motivate myself in times of insecurity,” she says of 2021 single “Worth It”, the track that leads her Apple Music Home Session. “So it will always have a special place in my heart.” Together with a rousing cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”, transformed from a tonal pop ditty to a rumbling, piano-led ballad, Mark serves a stirring double-punch of heartfelt R&B. “The pandemic taught me to have fun with my artistry and not put so much pressure on myself,” she says. “Now I get to explore the playfulness of my music. All the subjects I explored during lockdown really helped to open my mind. I started looking at the universe with a whole new perspective, and in doing so, became more confident in pushing for my dreams.”