Bright Eyes and Cursive unveil mash-up single, "Recluse I Don't Have To Love"

Many years ago, when Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst was hanging out with Cursive, messing around on the piano, playing a rendition of the 2002 track, "Lover I Don’t Have To Love", his friend Carly (spouse to Cursive’s Matt Maginn) pointed out the musical hook and libertine similarities between that song’s lyrics and "The Recluse" by her husband’s band. For years it was an inside joke - “should we make a mashup, just for fun?” And now, on the eve of Bright Eyes’ North American tour with Cursive, the Kash-up mashup dream has become a reality.

Coinciding with National Trans Day of Visibility, all profits from the song will benefit the Poison Oak Project, Bright Eyes’ 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to advancing equity for LGBTQ+ people, with a particular focus on supporting the trans community, by raising money for local LGBTQ+ organizations, both nationally and in each city along their US tour route.