Meshell Ndegeocello Enlists Bill Callahan and Chris Thile for Powerful Bob Dylan Cover Ahead of New Collaborative Album ‘Synonym’

Grammy-winning visionary Meshell Ndegeocello continues to build immense anticipation for her upcoming collaborative studio album, Synonym, with the release of a striking new single. For her latest offering, Ndegeocello has joined forces with acclaimed singer-songwriter Bill Callahan and virtuoso mandolinist and vocalist Chris Thile to deliver a captivating, reimagined cover of Bob Dylan’s classic protest anthem, “With God on Our Side.”

The newly unveiled track arrives accompanied by an intimate music video directed by Damani Baker. Shot entirely with the artists sitting together on a simple park bench, the visual puts the intense focus squarely on the raw performances and the striking interplay between the three distinct voices.

The collaboration brings together three musical worlds known for their depth, sincerity, and fearless approach to genre boundaries. Discussing the unique pairing in an official press release, Ndegeocello shared deep admiration for her collaborators, explaining what drew her to their singular artistic sensibilities.

“Bill Callahan’s voice to me is enchanting and just draws you in,” Ndegeocello said, highlighting the warm, baritone resonance that has made Callahan a revered figure in indie folk and alternative music over the past several decades. Speaking of her second guest artist, she continued, “And then my other angel is Chris Thile. He’s a very grounded human being; I just love the earthiness of his voice.”

Revisiting a legendary protest song originally released by Bob Dylan on his 1964 sophomore album, The Times They Are a-Changin’, presented both an artistic opportunity and a formidable challenge for Ndegeocello as an arranger and producer. Rather than attempting a standard tribute or a note-for-note replication of the historic folk composition, Ndegeocello sought to reshape the material through a modern lens, injecting the arrangement with a heightened sense of tension and weight.

According to the artist, this new interpretation infuses the song’s sobering lyrical critique of war, nationalism, and historical conflicts with a renewed sense of urgency. This arrangement of the Dylan track gives the lyrics “a lot more aggression,” Ndegeocello noted, reflecting the tumultuous currents of the contemporary world.

“So, I was challenged to take this folk song and make it feel like I hear it,” she explained, describing the meticulous and thoughtful process of deconstruction and reconstruction that defined the recording sessions. “It’s like putting together a puzzle with all these little pieces. Rearranging allows me to give more respect to the song.”

The track serves as a vital preview of Synonym, an expansive and star-studded collaborative project scheduled for release on October 2. The upcoming full-length album promises to showcase Ndegeocello’s peerless ability to bridge disparate musical communities, blending jazz, funk, R&B, folk, and alternative rock into a cohesive artistic statement.

The project boasts an extraordinary roster of guest features and musical luminaries who cross generational and stylistic divides. Alongside Callahan and Thile, Synonym features contributions from a powerhouse lineup of iconic and contemporary performers, including legendary soul and R&B queen Chaka Khan, acclaimed singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, innovative pop and soul artist Moses Sumney, and visionary transgender icon Anohni.

The announcement of "With God on Our Side" also follows the momentum generated last month by another major collaborative release from the album sessions: a bold, atmospheric cover of The Human League’s synth-pop standard “Don’t You Want Me,” recorded alongside indie rock icon Cat Power. That single established the collaborative spirit of the Synonym era, showcasing Ndegeocello’s knack for stripping down familiar commercial standards and rebuilding them into deeply personal, moody sonic landscapes.

As the release date for Synonym approaches, the pairing of Ndegeocello, Callahan, and Thile on a canonical political folk song demonstrates the album’s thematic breadth and uncompromising artistic vision. Through thoughtful arrangement, stunning vocal performances, and a stark visual presentation directed by Damani Baker, the trio has breathed fierce new life into one of Bob Dylan’s most enduring political examinations, setting a high standard for what promises to be one of the most compelling musical projects of the year.