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Matthew West

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
—C.S. Lewis

Life was good for Matthew West. Having catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, "More”—the most played Christian AC song of 2004—the multi-Dove Award nominee and sought-after songwriter had enjoyed two critically-acclaimed studio recordings, Happy (2003) and History (2005); been a mainstay at Christian radio with memorable hits like “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know”; and toured with such artists as tobyMac and BarlowGirl. But in April of 2007, with a new label home at Sparrow Records, concert dates on the books and plans to hit the studio with a fresh batch of songs for an album he’d already titled Something To Say, Matthew lost his voice.

After one look at his vocal chords, doctors at the Vanderbilt Voice Center immediately put all his plans on hold. They discovered a vascular polyp and hemorrhaged blood vessels on Matthew’s vocal chord, making it impossible for him to sing. His doctors were convinced only two courses of treatment would work: complete silence and surgery.

“Everything came to a screeching halt,” Matthew says of the diagnosis and the news of surgery. “All of a sudden my calendar was completely cleared. My studio plans were postponed. My life shut down.” Even worse, he says, was the frustration of not being able to communicate with his wife, Emily, and 1-year-old daughter, Lulu. “I was armed with a dry erase board, unable to do the little things we take for granted everyday, like talking with my wife, or singing to my little girl before bed.”

This season of silence wasn’t just a wake up call for the Wests, it was a dark, uncertain place. “I saw a side of Matthew that I had not yet really seen,” says Emily. “A more fearful side, vulnerable, less confident. But also, I saw in Matthew a determination to allow God to do a work in his life through this trial. I saw him commit time each day in prayer, and really seek God for some purpose to this season.”

Matthew recommitted himself to journaling his thoughts and prayers during his season of silence. “Solitude is an uncomfortable place, and silence is so unnatural for most of us,” he relates. “I found myself surrounded by questions like, ‘What if I can’t sing anymore? What if my voice doesn’t sound the same? What if I can’t provide for my family?’ It was foundation shattering. But over and over again, I felt this recurring message on my heart saying, ‘Cease striving…don’t even ask for answers, just be with Me. Be still. I am using your voice, even when you can’t hear it.’”

Most of the songs on Something to Say were written before Matthew’s surgery, but in many ways, it took this trial to fully understand their meaning. “Prior to this experience, I only had a glimpse of what these songs had to say, but having literally nothing to say for two months, it was as if I understood what these songs were trying to communicate all along. It’s like writing messages or taking notes and then taking the test to see if you really ‘get’ what you’ve written. Sometimes you’re given the message before you know what it means. Then the test comes, and you can see how God intended everything to be.”

Driven by a distinctive lyrical clarity, Something To Say is a soundtrack for life—a powerful reminder that God is speaking every day out of the broken places and pieces of our lives. Produced by Brown Bannister, Ed Cash and Chris Stevens, the album delivers the infectious guitar-driven pop that fans have come to expect from an artist and writer whose songs have also graced projects by Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Mark Schultz and Billy Ray Cyrus, as well as a cut on Rascal Flatts’ multi-platinum Feels Like Today.

From the high-energy title track, to the powerful “The Moment of Truth,” to the closing ballad “Stop The World,” Something To Say unfolds in fresh and thought-provoking ways to reveal its message of hope and healing. “I wanted to write songs that weren’t afraid to talk about real life,” Matthew says. “Real struggles. Real issues. Real problems. Because every song about real life is an opportunity to sing about the real Hope that can be found in Jesus.”

“Life Inside You” is an unforgettable example. Based on a true story, Matthew captures the struggles—and Hope—of a teenage couple facing pregnancy and addiction. “This young couple, with all the potential in the world, on the verge of throwing in the towel… somehow in the center of what seemed so hopeless, that tiny heart was beating… She kept the baby. It’s a boy. They got sober and got married. Redemption is real.”

The core message of the entire album, he says, is “no matter how many mistakes we’ve made or trials we’ve faced, it’s the brokenness of our lives that God uses to give us something to say to the world. I was sitting in church one Sunday after my surgery when my pastor read a quote from C.S. Lewis: ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’ It’s easier to cover up the weakest moments in life, hoping no one sees, but that’s not God’s plan for us. ‘Offer it up to Me, let Me show you what new life is like, what I can do with your mistakes.’ He will amplify His voice through you in a huge way.”

Ultimately, Matthew hopes to communicate the message that God is indeed at work in all our lives, in every circumstance, in every moment of our existence. And even in the silence—as Matthew well knows—there is still great Hope to be shared, a story to be told, and something to say.

Twitter Updates

When you feel the impulse to give, that is God showing you his heart for someone in need. You will not regret an act of kindness.
about 5 hours ago

Latest bulletin 11.23.09

'Give This Christmas Away' Starter Pack

Sign up for Matthew's Newsletter and download the "Give This Christmas Away" Starter pack, including a video from Matthew West. http://matthewwest.com/give-this-christmas-away/

Photos posted by Matthew West

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Matthew On Huckabee! Dec 4
USA Today Article Dec 1
'Give This Christmas Away' Community Nov 23

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Nov 23, 08:27 AM

'Give This Christmas Away' Starter Pack

Sign up for Matthew's Newsletter and download the "Give This Christmas Away" Starter pack, including a video from Matthew West. http://matthewwest.com/give-this-christmas-away/
Sep 04, 01:40 PM

Give This Christmas Away

Check out the new music video for "Give This Christmas Away" written and performed by Matthew West and featuring Amy Grant. The song is in the upcoming Veggie Tales Christmas movie “St. Nicholas - A Story of Joyful Giving”. Stay tuned for more news about this Christmas and everything going on!
Check Out The Video
Sep 02, 01:37 PM

Matthew's Christmas Book Announced

Carol Stream, Illinois – Popular Christian music artist and songwriter Matthew West has partnered with Tyndale House Publishers in the publication of his new book, 101 Simple, Meaningful Ways to Give This Christmas Away.
Available by November 1, the book was inspired by “Give This Christmas Away,” the theme song (recorded with Amy Grant) West was commissioned to write for the new Veggie Tales Christmas DVD, “Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving” releasing this fall. “Matthew hopes December will look different this year if Christians change the focus,” said Nancy Clausen, director of marketing and product development for Tyndale. “He wants to encourage people to show the true meaning of the season by giving in honor of God’s ultimate gift to us – Jesus Christ.” The book will feature the lyrics to the song “Give This Christmas Away” and Matthew West’s story of how he was inspired to write it. Each subsequent page of 101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away will contain one idea on the theme, plus an explanation on how to put it into practice, with a related Bible verse selected from the New Living Translation (NLT.) The 101 ways will range from the seemingly insignificant ways – like holding the door for someone – to working with a ministry, such as Operation Christmas Child, and discovering what giving to that organization means in the life of a child. “My mom is already planning to sign her church up to live out a number of the ways to give,” says West. “I think this will also be a great book for families to work through together, to re-focus on the true meaning of Christmas. My family and I will be picking a bunch of the ways to give and take part too.” The song will be released to radio on November 27th. Along with Veggie Tales, Amy Grant and Matthew West are also partnering with Samaritan’s Purse in a video that will be used to promote the Operation Christmas Child’s shoe box campaign. West is this years spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, a relief organization that goes to the aid of the world’s sick, poor, and suffering. In addition to the book there is an entire “Give This Christmas Away” campaign, starting with a shoe box distribution trip to Bogota, Columbia with Operation Christmas Child later this month as well as a “Give This Christmas Away” tour this December which will be a family focused event featuring Veggie Tales, Operation Christmas Child and Matthew West. Matthew will also have his own Christmas Special airing on Gospel Music Channel this season centered on the “Give This Christmas Away” theme. Tyndale and Big Idea are also partnering on a floor display fixture to display the new Veggie Tales DVD and the Give This Christmas Away book. Tyndale will publish 101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away with a hardcover binding, approximately 112 pages, at a suggested retail price of $9.99.
Aug 04, 10:35 AM

"Nothing To Say" Re-Airings on Gospel Music Channel

Just in case you missed it the first time – here are some more chances for you to catch Matthew West's powerful documentary "Nothing To Say" on the Gospel Music Channel. Matthew says of the documentary, "The film follows my journey through vocal surgery, and recovery. It was a really difficult time in my life, but I wanted to film this season because I felt like my story could help people going through their own tough times."
Click here to see if the Gospel Music Channel is in your area.

Wednesday 8/5 9p CST
Thursday 8/6 12a CST
Sunday 8/9 5p CST
Saturday 8/29 9p CST
Sunday 8/30 12a CST
Jul 24, 08:31 AM

Something To Say Only $2.99 Today On Amazon.com

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEAL OF THE DAY AT AMAZON.COM! MATTHEW WEST'S BEST-SELLING ALBUM SOMETHING TO SAY, FEATURING NO. 1 RADIO HITS "YOU ARE EVERYTHING" AND "THE MOTIONS," AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL PURCHASE TODAY ONLY AT THE LOW PRICE OF $2.99.
Get It HERE!!
Jul 16, 10:45 AM

"Nothing To Say" World Premiere on Gospel Music Channel

The TV world premiere of Matthew West's documentary, “Nothing To Say,” will air on Gospel Music Channel this Friday, July 17th at 9pm central.
Matthew says on his website, "Some of you may have seen the music video for 'The Motions,' that actually featured some footage taken from the documentary. Well, now you can see the whole thing, in it’s entirety. The film follows my journey through vocal surgery, and recovery. It was a really difficult time in my life, but I wanted to film this season because I felt like my story could help people going through their own tough times."
Check out the film this Friday, and head over to Matthew West's site to share your thoughts.