Listen to the new single below!
The Mastersons, singer-songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore, channel vintage acoustic rock (think Fairport Convention, Fleetwood Mac and even Led Zeppelin's folk songs) on their somber new track, "In the Name of God," premiering today at Glide. The duo's trademark close harmonies and stellar guitar work propel this driving acoustic track, one of five songs on their upcoming RED, WHITE & I LOVE YOU TOO EP. The follow up to their Shooter Jennings-produced album, NO TIME FOR LOVE SONGS, released in March this year, the EP follows on the album's themes but presents them in a stripped down, acoustic setting.
"In the Name of God" was written regarding the plight of refugees and the inhumanity of separating children from their parents and is aided by Eleanor's clear, poignant vocal. She sings, "Refugee, flee the refuge/My god tells me to help the refugee/Our president won't let me/We all deserve to be free."
In the accompanying interview, The Mastersons explain that the song came to them while they were on the "Lampedusa: Concert for Refugees Tour" with Joan Baez, Patty Griffin, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, Lucinda Williams, James McMurtry and Lila Downs. "It was so inspiring to be singing our own songs alongside these amazing artists to benefit refugees," Chris says. "We got to thinking about all the violence that people are fleeing when they are forced from their homeland and the intersection of fear and hate. The current administration has been spreading messages of fear and hate and has separated children from their families and locked them in cages. Every human has a right to a home. Every child should be with their parents and live in a world where they don't have to fear violence."
When they're not recording and touring as The Mastersons, the couple are valued longtime members of Steve Earle's band the Dukes and in-demand session players with credits ranging from Shooter Jennings to Tanya Tucker and more.
"We're facing a moral dilemma for who we want to be as a nation," Chris says. "We're hoping voters lead with love, kindness and empathy when they make their decision in November."
Listen to "In The Name of God" here:
Videos