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.”
Come Alive
Matty Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm becoming like the rest of the walking dead that I see around me
I think I'm starting to lose my memory
I can't remember the last time that I was on fire for anything
I think it's time I come alive (time to come alive, time to come alive)
I don't always need a reason why (don't need a reason why, don't need a reason why)
I think it's time to break through, break through tonight
I think it's time I come alive, & this time I don't need a reason why
Roll the dice & say goodbye
I'm leaving town with two empty pockets & no alibi
Maybe I think too much but that's alright
I'm not afraid of being paranoid, I'm afraid of losing my mind
I think it's time I come alive (time to come alive, time to come alive)
I don't always need a reason why (don't need a reason why, don't need a reason why)
I think it's time to break through, break through tonight
Take a risk, take a chance for once in my life
I think it's time I come alive, & this time I don't need a reason why
I'm not afraid to die, I'm afraid of losing touch with the meaning of my life
I'm not afraid to die, I just need to come alive!
I think it's time I come alive (time to come alive, time to come alive)
I don't always need a reason why (don't need a reason why, don't need a reason why)
I think it's time to break through, break through tonight
Take a risk, take a chance for once in my life
I think it's time I come alive, & this time I don't need a reason why
In the song "Come Alive" by Matty Mullins, the artist expresses a desire to break out of the monotony of his life and find purpose and meaning. He feels like he is becoming "like the rest of the walking dead" and losing his memory of what it feels like to be passionate about something. Mullins wants to take risks and live for something bigger than himself, stating "I'm leaving town with two empty pockets & no alibi" and "I'm not afraid of being paranoid, I'm afraid of losing my mind" as a way of emphasizing his willingness to take chances and live boldly.
Overall, "Come Alive" is a call to action for listeners to not settle for a mediocre existence but instead find their own purpose and reason to live. Mullins recognizes his own mortality but is more afraid of "losing touch with the meaning of [his] life" than actually dying. The song encourages the listener to embrace life and take chances, breaking out of their comfort zone in order to fully experience everything the world has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I need a change of scenery
I feel stagnant and stuck in my current situation and need to experience something new and refreshing.
I'm becoming like the rest of the walking dead that I see around me
I am starting to lose my passion and drive for life and feel like I'm just going through the motions like those around me.
I think I'm starting to lose my memory
I am struggling to recall the last time I was truly excited and motivated about something.
I can't remember the last time that I was on fire for anything
It's been a long time since I felt a burning desire to pursue something I love and that brings me fulfillment.
Roll the dice & say goodbye
I am ready to take a chance and make a big change, leaving behind what is familiar and comfortable.
I'm leaving town with two empty pockets & no alibi
I am taking a risk and leaving behind everything I have, without any justification or excuse.
Maybe I think too much but that's alright
I tend to overthink and overanalyze things, but I'm okay with that and still determined to make a change.
I'm not afraid of being paranoid, I'm afraid of losing my mind
I am not scared of what others might think of me, but rather of losing my sense of self and purpose.
I'm not afraid to die, I'm afraid of losing touch with the meaning of my life
I am not fearful of death itself, but of dying without having truly lived and fulfilled my purpose.
I think it's time I come alive (time to come alive, time to come alive)
It is time for me to awaken my passions and start living a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
I don't always need a reason why (don't need a reason why, don't need a reason why)
I don't require a logical explanation for everything I do or feel, and it is okay to take risks and follow my heart.
I think it's time to break through, break through tonight
It is time to break free from my old ways and start pursuing my passions and purpose.
Take a risk, take a chance for once in my life
I am willing to take a risk and try something new or pursue a new path, even if it scares me.
I think it's time I come alive, & this time I don't need a reason why
It is time to start living a more meaningful and purposeful existence, and I am determined to do so with or without a logical explanation or justification.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LINDON ROBERTS, ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE, SLY DUNBAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
trash can
Oh my hot pickles. This literally has to be my favorite song off this album. Oh gosh. I swear, Matty is doing such an awesome job. I'm really amazed by his work, and I can't even describe how incredibly proud I am of him. Like, really. He's doing very well, and I just think he should keep doing what he's doing. Love you Matty(:
#mattymullinsarmy ♡
Dustin Nuttall
One of my favorites from the album so far. Very inspirational.
Shauna Garrett
I LOVE this! This album's gonna be great. ♥
ali sheikh
He's really living his dream honestly, and I'm proud of him for sticking to his goals. So damn proud of this dude.
Sharese Stribling
I was pretty much addicted from the first 30 seconds. Then his voice is just... omigod!
Kristýna Adamková
Just great song. I love his voice so much!
trash can
Oh my hot pickles. This literally has to be my favorite song off this album. Oh gosh. I swear, Matty is doing such an awesome job. I'm really amazed by his work, and I can't even describe how incredibly proud I am of him. Like, really. He's doing very well, and I just think he should keep doing what he's doing. Love you Matty(:
#mattymullinsarmy ♡
Holden Williams
Can't wait to hear the rest of the album #mattymullins
Victoria Potter
Fantastic and I really hope that good things like this keep on coming, for the benefit of all of us
Ali Brock
Although I love every song so far, my favorites are definitely "Come Alive" & "Back to Square One". :D
Matty Mullins is my baby. He's my fucking cinnamon apple! xD