Over 2 million fans follow his band on social media. The temptation to use that influence for self-promotion, for vanity, or for profit, is a great burden to anyone blessed with even an ounce of fame. But MATTY MULLINS is putting his unique gift as a singer, songwriter, youth culture ambassador and relatable public figure to work for a purpose much higher than himself.
The powerful frontman whose motivational metalcore commands the crowds at prestigious festivals like Riot Fest (US), Download (UK) and Soundwave (Australia) has crafted a debut solo album harnessing melody, harmony, top-tier pop grooves with a heartfelt, worshipful devotion to his Christian faith. The electrifyingly diverse 11-song record explores a different side of the multitalented singer, as it hearkens even further back than his most cherished heavy music influences like Blindside or Underoath, to the Christian Contemporary rock and pop his mother took him to see as a kid.
“I’m super thankful for everything I’ve gotten to do in Memphis May Fire and everything we’ve done as a band,” Mullins explains. “The musical opportunities for me to share my message came from metalcore and heavier stuff like that. I love playing heavy music; I think I always will. But as long as I’ve been in music, I’ve wanted to make a record like this, too.”
Mullins cites familiar Christian Contemporary Music touchstones like Australian pop-rockers The Newsboys; Grammy winners Audio Adrenaline; multiplatinum hit-makers MercyMe; and 40-year-strong hard rockers Petra. These CCM groups shaped his early childhood, setting the stage for when harder edged sounds would enthrall him as a teenager. His solo album – simply entitled Matty Mullins – shares a deep fellowship with those roots.
“DC Talk is one of the greatest groups of all time,” the singer declares enthusiastically. “I love Tenth Avenue North. I love everything Toby Mac does. And I have so much respect for singers like Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman; musicians who put so much positivity out there.”
From a songwriting and production standpoint, Matty Mullins solo work is refreshingly modern, yet effortlessly timeless in its earnest sensibility. Longtime collaborator Cameron Mizell, the producing maestro behind records from Memphis May Fire contemporaries like Sleeping With Sirens, Capture The Crown and The Word Alive, took on the instrumental and programming portion. His music runs the gamut from dance floor worthy beats to something one might hear from singer/songwriter Phil Wickham.
The duo first got together to hash out an EP. But after blazing through a half dozen tracks in as many days in Seattle, they felt so enlivened by the process they decided to write enough for a full-length album. The rest of the record was made in Nashville, where Mullins and his wife now reside.
“I took the remainder of the recording budget from the EP and had a studio built in my house,” he explains. “I flew Cameron to Nashville. It was literally just he and I writing and recording together. We put together a really solid record that I’m so proud of and I’m so excited to share with the world.”
Mullins was emphatic that their pop songs be free of boundaries. “Cameron has so much talent, it’s crazy. People don’t realize how much of the stuff he co-writes when he produces. He’s got a huge passion for pop music. He made songs that would sound like hip-hop tracks if I weren’t singing over them. It’s all over the place, but just really tasteful from start to finish.”
Lyrically, the album’s declaration of love and devotion is clear from the first song. “See You in Everything” is a shot across the bow at the superficial. Instead of demanding supernatural miracles, the song implores the listener to take comfort in what God is already demonstrating everyday. “A thankful heart and someone that shows a lot of gratitude with everything in their life, I think that that is the ultimate cure for depression,” Mullins explains. “When I stop seeing things through worldly eyes, and allow myself to see the beauty in Creation, that’s when I really start to see God in everything.”
Songs like “99% Soul” follow suit thematically. It’s the singer’s confession that he, like anyone, can get caught up in worldly desires that detract from the soul’s true destination: eternity. It’s one of the most blatantly pop songs on the record, with catchy and easy to remember melodies that put a strong emphasis on the lyrics. “My Dear” is a reminder that the Christian faith isn’t about rules, or earning the way into heavenly rewards. What Jesus offers is free; one must only reach for Him, trust, and commit to Him.
“What God really wants isn’t ‘religion.’ It’s relationship,” Mullins says simply. “The song is basically saying that all God ever wanted is a relationship. The rest will be up to Him. If we just trust Him, he will make sure we feel loved, like we have purpose. He’s there. He’s enough. But the biggest, boldest decision we have to make as human beings is whether we really want to trust God or not. ‘My Dear’ is about trusting in God.”
As the singer for an increasingly popular screamo/metalcore band, the smart “career move” for Mullins would be to shy away from such bold declarations. But that’s the beauty of where he’s found himself at age 26; with a renewed purpose for himself, with the ability to make a solo record in the first place, and with the drive to lay his faith on the line for his fans.
“The thing I’m most excited about with this record is that it’s a blatant representation of my faith. Nothing makes me feel stronger in my faith than sharing it with other people. The world is so hardened, it’s hard to talk about your faith. But the more you speak encouragement into other people’s lives, the more you tell them how Jesus fills the void in your life, that following Him isn’t a ‘task,’ it’s transforming and liberating… This record is blatantly about Jesus and who He is to me and who I know he can be for the world, a world that is hurting and looking for something bigger.”
By My Side
Matty Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care where we're going as long as you're by my side
Right by my side, it's so right
I found the missing piece to my puzzle
The first time I saw those dark brown eyes
Now everything I dream of, you bring to life
I am yours & you are mine
You complete me
I'm completely satisfied as long as you're by my side
The way you make me feel is so hard to describe
It's like I'm living in a picture perfect romance
Every time your lips touch mine
It blows my mind that even after all these years
I still feel like I can take on the world
When I wake up with you by my side
Right by my side, it's so right
I found the missing piece to my puzzle
The first time I saw those dark brown eyes
Now everything I dream of you bring to life
For the rest of time I am yours & you are mine
I'll give you everything I am
Until death do us part, you're my best friend
I'll give you everything that I am
Until death do us part & we meet in heaven again
Right by my side, it's so right
I found the missing piece to my puzzle
The first time I saw those dark brown eyes
Now everything I dream of you bring to life
I am yours & you are mine
Right by my side, it's so right
I found the missing piece to my puzzle
The first time I saw those dark brown eyes
Now everything I dream of you bring to life
For the rest of time I am yours & you are mine
The song "By My Side" by Matty Mullins is a love song about feeling complete when you're with the one you love. The lyrics describe how the singer has found someone who makes him feel whole, and he doesn't care where they are going as long as he's with them. The phrase "right by my side" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of the other person's presence. The singer says that he found the missing piece to his puzzle when he first saw their "dark brown eyes." He feels like he's living in a picture-perfect romance, and every time they kiss, it blows his mind that he still feels this way after all these years. He promises to give everything he is to his partner until death do them part, and even then, they'll meet in heaven again.
The song's message is a tribute to true love that transcends time and circumstances. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and the melody is catchy and upbeat. The song manages to convey a sense of joy and contentment that comes from being in a loving relationship. The singer's voice is emotive and heartfelt, conveying the depth of his emotions. The song can be interpreted as a celebration of finding the one you love and feeling grateful for their presence in your life.
Line by Line Meaning
We take long drives with no destination in mind
We enjoy aimlessly driving around without a specific plan or goal in mind.
I don't care where we're going as long as you're by my side
It doesn't matter where we go as long as we're together.
Right by my side, it's so right
Being together feels perfect and natural.
I found the missing piece to my puzzle
You bring a sense of completion and fulfillment to my life.
The first time I saw those dark brown eyes
I was immediately drawn to your unique features and undeniable beauty.
Now everything I dream of, you bring to life
You help make my dreams a reality and bring them to fruition.
I am yours & you are mine
We belong to each other and have a deep connection.
You complete me
You fill a void in my life and bring me a sense of wholeness.
I'm completely satisfied as long as you're by my side
My happiness and contentment comes from simply being near you.
The way you make me feel is so hard to describe
Your effect on my emotions and well-being is difficult to put into words.
It's like I'm living in a picture perfect romance
Our love story feels like something out of a fairytale or movie.
Every time your lips touch mine
The physical aspect of our relationship is incredibly meaningful and passionate.
It blows my mind that even after all these years
I am still in awe of the depth and strength of our relationship, despite the passage of time.
I still feel like I can take on the world
You give me the confidence and support to tackle any challenge that comes my way.
When I wake up with you by my side
Starting the day next to you gives me a sense of comfort and security.
For the rest of time I am yours & you are mine
Our love is timeless and enduring, and we belong to each other forever.
I'll give you everything I am
I am committed to giving you all of myself and being fully present in our relationship.
Until death do us part, you're my best friend
Our relationship is built on a foundation of friendship and loyalty that will last for the rest of our lives.
Until death do us part & we meet in heaven again
Even in the afterlife, our love will endure and bring us together once more.
Lyrics © MATTY MULLINS MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind