Matthew West

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by Jenny Bennett

If the recent chapter in Matthew West's story could be captured in a newspaper headline it might read: Christian singer/songwriter loses voice at height of career.

But as newspaper reporters are not exactly notorious for telling the whole story – fear not – Matthew’s journey has a happy ending. Or is it just another beginning?

In late spring 2007 with a busy schedule lying ahead, Matthew was having some difficulty singing. It was bothersome enough that he decided to visit Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville for a checkup, where doctors discovered a vascular polyp on his left vocal cord. The polyp would not go away, they said, and would have to be removed before it got worse. As with all surgery, there’s obviously some risk involved (though the procedure is now done with laser technology that had not yet been developed when Julie Andrews had this problem.) And perhaps most difficult of all, months would go by before Matthew would be able to sing again. All shows were cancelled and recording was postponed.

If faced with this situation many of us might think “Why is this happening to me? In case you hadn’t noticed, singing is kinda my thing. Is God done with me?” From Matthew’s perspective, nothing could be further from the truth.

“I had this idea to call my new record Something to Say,” Matthew explains in a May 2007 MySpace blog. “Little did I know I was going to have this problem with my vocal cord and that it would lead to surgery. But here's the deal: I believe with my whole heart there is a reason for this season of silence. And when my voice is strong and I am able to sing again, I will remember this time – this season of silence – when I was forced to be still and know that He is God.”

Matthew hasn’t been hesitant to relay to the fans what happened or details about his journey of recovery; he’s even documented the experience through video blogs on MySpace. There are two cameras involved – the one that allows you to accompany Matthew to the doctor’s office, and the tiny one the specialist uses to look at his vocal cords on a screen (yikes!)

In September, Matthew was finally able to do his first post-surgery show. Not that long of a break in the grand scheme of things, but it must have seemed like an eternity to a guy whose job is to sing and perform. Life goes on and Matthew’s album hit the streets January 15 as planned, yet it's obvious something has changed from within.

The songs on the album were written before the surgery; somehow the themes ended up being amazingly relevant. And they are honest and real. Matthew writes about tough issues and judging by his willingness to let people look down his throat over the Internet, is not shy about tackling them.

Songs about addiction, teen pregnancy, faith and redemption are all expressed in what I’d call Matthew’s unique brand of guitar-driven “hip pop rock”, blended with his vocals that range from smoky to sweet. (Safe and Sound is a tender lullaby that all believers and especially parents will treasure, and it’s in these softer moments that Matthew really shines musically and spiritually.) Yet it’s hard to decide which track shines the brightest.

Moment of Truth will give encouragement to both faith-seekers and those looking for renewal in marriage. You Are Everything and The Center rival to be the album’s feature praise & worship song, and Save a Place for Me is a highly personal tribute to Matthew’s grandmother, a stroke victim who has outlived the doctor’s predictions by five years! 

The versatility of Matthew's voice is probably one of the most remarkable things about him, so it truly is a blessing he has regained it. He uses an almost-spoken technique at times and even has a tinge of twang in Friend in the World. This song, with its upbeat yet original message, is a highlight on the album. I sense instant-hit potential, and the album’s title track Something to Say definitely holds the same promise.

Matthew’s fans are understandably excited about the release of the album – and with everything he has been through, Matthew himself no doubt sighed a very audible sigh of relief (and contentment) when Something to Say dropped.

matthewwest.com
MySpace

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