Photo: Natalie Bisignano

On the Dear Hunter‘s new song “Shame,” lead hunter Casey Crescenzo channels not only actual shame for the song’s inspiration, but also turns to an unlikely source for backing vocals. “My mother sings all of the choral vocals,” he says. “I’m really excited for people to get an idea of what she brought to the record.” The song itself finds Crescenzo exploring themes of “polarizing difference between facade and reality.” Intrigued? While he probably won’t reveal who the actual subject of “Shame” is anytime soon, Crescenzo isn’t oblivious to the way his own role: “I definitely carry my own shame with me like a knapsack of bad decisions, and that worked its way in to the song.”

The Dear Hunter’s new album, Migrant, is out April 2 on Equal Vision Records. Stream “Shame” below: