Boston-based folk rock duo Three At Home don’t pull any punches. Mary Casiello and Dann Russo’s new song “Magnificat” takes the Catholic Church to task for its legacy of committing and covering up abuse, though the song can apply for anyone who has been silenced — particularly in the wake of the Depp/Heard trial. “Magnificat” begins with a slow build, featuring Casiello’s grief-stricken crisis of faith. As the song swells, Russo staunchly backs her while Casiello’s voice rises into an ’80s rock growl, venting her wrath on the clergy who don’t deserve the title.
With inspiration for this project stemming from the women’s empowerment movement, Casiello grew to realize that the only version of Mary she’d ever been exposed to came from others telling her story, leaving no space to consider the truth of Mary’s experience from her own perspective. It soon became clear to Casiello that her struggle was not with Mary, rather the people and institutions who have constructed her narrative on their terms. After spontaneously writing the skeleton for this track in a parking lot on the way home from a gig, Casiello workshopped the piece with a group of fellow songwriters before bringing the demo to Russo. He quickly fell in love with the piece, and the two began recording in June of 2021.
“I began writing ‘Magnificat’ back in 2018 during the rise of #MeToo. I was horrified hearing the stories of abuse committed by powerful men from Hollywood to the Catholic Church,” Casiello tells Adobe & Teardrops exclusively. “As someone born and raised Catholic, I found myself reflecting on the story of the Virgin Mary. She was always presented to me as loving, empathetic, submissive, and quiet. She never seemed to be angry or sad or doubtful. I began questioning who benefited from this narrative of her. We never get to hear her tell her story in her own words — what if there was more to her than we know? I hope that “Magnificat” gives listeners the chance to question systems that have hurt them or others, the chance to heal religious or systemic trauma, and a feeling of being seen and heard, especially for those who aren’t cis men.”