NEW single Mama, I Love You from Albert Castiglia's upcoming release Righteous Souls.
Pre-Order CD: albertcastiglia.net Pre-Save/Listen: [ Ссылка ]
Release Date: July 19, 2024 on Gulf Coast Records

“Mama, I love you” was written a few years back after witnessing a black man getting killed on camera at the hands of a white man for no reason other than fear and hate. It wasn’t the first time I had witnessed such an act but after the last time, I couldn’t hold back the overwhelming feelings of sadness and rage. I pitched the song to my friend Kevin Burt, who is African American, for him to sing on his next album but he felt that the message would be more powerful if I, a white man were to sing it. His telling me that took me a while to process because I just didn’t feel that way at the time. Later on, as the song evolved and developed musically and lyrically, I warmed up to the idea of singing it but I suggested that we do it as a duet. I wrote the song but Kevin and bass legend Jerry Jemmott added so much to the tune in the studio that I gave them songwriting credit as well. It was an honor and a privilege to create this with them. When I write songs, they’re usually fueled by intense joy, sadness, and anger. That’s just how it is with me. The concept of racism is something I will never understand. For someone to hate another based on the color of their skin befuddles me and makes me furious to no end. There’s never been a place for it and I feel it’s hindered this country’s ability to reach its full potential and I say this as a loyal American. I love this country very much but there is still much left to be done here in terms of race relations and understanding one another.

This tune might make some people uncomfortable, but a wise man once said music should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. What would this world be like without socially conscious songs like “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holliday, “Ohio” by CSNY, “We Shall Overcome” by Mahalia Jackson, and “Abraham, Martin and John” by Dion? I’m proud of “Mama, I love you”, unapologetically. I just hope one day I’ll never have to write another like it again. -- Albert Castiglia

свернуть