Ca… Read Full Bio ↴“Turn the page because where we are is not where we’re going...”
Canadian-born singer/songwriter Matt Brouwer’s latest single, 'Waking Up', is more than just a nod to the past 14 years of being a recording artist, which Brouwer is celebrating on the release of his first career spanning ‘best of’ collection, "Writing To Remember". The sentiment of a bookend and a new beginning is no accident and reveals a season of transition that Brouwer is happily embracing. With more than a decade of hit songs, including “Water,” “I Shall Believe,” “Tonight,” and the Top 20 "Sometimes”; two GMA Canada Covenant Awards; two Canadian people’s choice Vibe Awards—not to mention a 2010 Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy equivalent) for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year—Matt has a lot to celebrate in all that has been accomplished so far over the course of his career. With the passage of time inevitably comes change and it is in looking back that Matt is starting to see a new and exciting road ahead.
Matt Brouwer got his start in the music industry while studying music at school in Alberta, Canada. While in college he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW). Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD "Imagerical". The album was released on May 29, 2001 on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released an album titled 'Unlearning' in 2005, 'Where’s Our Revolution' (Universal) in 2009, and 'Till The Sunrise' in 2012. Brouwer's music has been hailed for its relentless vulnerability as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the tragic death of his father) and hope (his Spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.
“I never imagined where this journey would take me”, says Brouwer. “I can remember being 17 or 18 and feeling so compelled to want to shout from the rooftops about the Spiritual awakening I was experiencing. It was like being embraced by the most incredible love and connection to the Lord and the key to unlocking this door to my heart was through music. I was so hungry for that and totally committed and determined to follow it wherever it might lead me. My time in college and the friends I made there, the energy that was driving us, or driving me, to write songs and attempt to share them with the world felt like a humble but passionate expression of a new but relevant faith that was growing like a wildfire at the time. Fifteen years or so later, I still feel that longing. With all the miles travelled and water under the bridge, I still sit down in front or a piano or with a guitar and dream about what could be possible. I believe in the power of God’s love, transforming hearts through music and worship because I’ve experienced it and I’ve seen it happen in sometimes subtle and not so subtle ways. It’s something I believe I’ll be pursuing my entire life.”
That’s not to say that Brouwer believes that all anyone needs to find peace in life is a three minute pop song to solve all of their problems. Growing up in a very devout Christian family, Matt’s mom made sure that he and his siblings were memorizing full chapters of scripture by the time they started kindergarten and spending as much or more time during the week at church gatherings than in front of the tv or devouring any type of pop culture media. “I used to feel embarrassed by how sheltered we were, but now I am so thankful because it gave me an incredible foundation of solid teaching and an education in Biblical theology. But knowledge alone is pretty useless until it makes an emotional connection somehow and finds it’s way into your heart. For me, the music is what connected the two.”
Like so many new beginnings, much of the genesis for this fresh optimism happened when Hannah entered Matt’s life. The two first met while Matt was on a mission trip in Guatemala, where Hannah’s parents serve as medical missionaries. The relationship blossomed and they were engaged in spring 2010 and married later that year. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in September of 2013 and life forever changed. The balance of career and family has been a stretch at times, but it’s something Matt says he is learning to embrace and explore. “It might sounds strange, but I’ve never been less interested in pursuing a music career. Being married and having a family has re-oriented my priorities completely and the career things that used to be so important to me have become less so. In that way it’s been very freeing and has forced me to let go of control and allowed my steps to be directed by opportunities that the Lord brings our way rather than striving and trying to ‘make it’. If ten or ten million people are listening, it really doesn’t matter. Being a great husband, father, and friend are much more important to me right now than striving for some big career that takes me away from these precious gifts of family and community.”
Community and camaraderie has become increasingly more important to the singer and one listen to 'Writing to Remember' reveals this collaborative spirit that is a hallmark of Matt’s musical pallet. Those lending their vocal talents include JJ Heller, Jill Paquette, and even Vince Gill and Amy Grant on a deeply personal and emotional track, 'The Other Side'. 'Writing to Remember' is equally saturated with a spirit of hope, togetherness, and God’s love. The album beautifully bookends this first chapter with a nod to the next waiting to unfold. “These 15 songs truly represent the progression of learning for me and express the joys and struggles of life that has been lived these past 14 years”, says Matt. “It’s been cool to re-discover how relevant these simple truths still are in my life and I believe for all of us.”
Outside Inside
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ground now
Outside, heart is racing from the
Inside, is everything as it should be
Searching through the wreckage
Finding headlights pointing to the
Inside, when outside the walls are
Closing in on me
I lie awake and yet I'm dreaming
Of you, pulling me through the night
It's cold here, the sun is gone,
It's scared, it's hiding
No more shadows we're all
Colliding, is everything as it should be
I lie awake and yet I'm dreaming
Of you, pulling me through the night
I close my eyes and now I'm facing
The truth, holding on to the memory
Of what could be
Hold me, clouds are reaching for the
Ground now
Is everything as it should be?
The lyrics to Matt Brouwer's song "Outside Inside" are reflective of the singer's state of mind. The song opens with the phrase "Hold me, clouds are reaching for the ground now," which immediately sets a tone of unease and anxiety. The singer seems to be experiencing a moment of crisis, as they are caught between the turmoil of the outside world and the chaos of their own inner thoughts. The line "Searching through the wreckage, finding headlights pointing to the inside" suggests that they are trying to navigate through their own thoughts, searching for some sort of clarity or inner peace.
The theme of duality is prevalent throughout the song. The singer is torn between the "outside" world and their "inside" thoughts and emotions. They describe feeling "outside" their own self, as if they are watching their own life from a distance. However, they are also "inside" their own mind, where everything is racing and colliding. The phrase "no more shadows we're all colliding" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the singer's inner turmoil is spilling out into the world around them.
Despite the sense of fear and confusion in the lyrics, there is also a sense of hope. The singer dreams of someone who can pull them through the night, and they hold on to the memory of what could be. The final line, "is everything as it should be?", is both a question and a statement. It suggests that the singer is still unsure of their place in the world, but they are also acknowledging that maybe things will work out in the end.
Overall, "Outside Inside" is a song that explores the complex nature of human emotions and the struggle to find balance in an ever-changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold me, clouds are reaching for the
The singer is feeling small and helpless as the clouds loom over them.
Ground now
The clouds seem to be closing in on the singer, making everything feel more intense and urgent.
Outside, heart is racing from the
Despite the singer's physical stillness, their internal state is in upheaval.
Inside, is everything as it should be
The artist is questioning their circumstances and hoping for reassurance that everything is okay.
Searching through the wreckage
The artist is trying to make sense of a situation that is causing them distress and confusion.
Finding headlights pointing to the
The singer notices signs of hope and guidance that are leading them towards a solution.
Inside, when outside the walls are
Despite the turmoil happening outside of their mind, the singer is focused on reflecting inwardly.
Closing in on me
Outside forces are putting significant pressure on the artist's mental and emotional state.
I lie awake and yet I'm dreaming
The artist's thoughts and emotions are so overwhelming that even when they try to rest, they continue to feel restless and unsettled.
Of you, pulling me through the night
The artist's hope and salvation come from the thought of a supportive and comforting person in their life.
It's cold here, the sun is gone,
The singer is experiencing a dark and isolating state of mind.
It's scared, it's hiding
The artist's fear is causing them to feel paralyzed and in a state of avoidance.
No more shadows we're all
The singer is hoping for a resolution that will bring everyone involved into the open light.
Colliding, is everything as it should be
There are conflicts happening around the singer, and they're wondering if this is how things are meant to be.
I close my eyes and now I'm facing
The singer is attempting to come to terms with reality and confront their fears head-on.
The truth, holding on to the memory
The artist is grappling with the truth of their situation and holding onto memories that give them strength and hope.
Of what could be
The artist is clinging to possibilities for a better future amidst their present turmoil.
Hold me, clouds are reaching for the
The singer's fears continue to linger over them, and they seek comfort.
Ground now
The singer needs grounding and stability in the midst of their internal chaos.
Is everything as it should be?
The artist is still uncertain about the state of their life and environment.
Lyrics © 2012 UNLEARNING MUSIC PUB, Jeffery Armstreet Music
Written by: Jeffery Armstreet, Matt Brouwer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind