Born into and immersed in music, Matthew Hartley, Charleston-based Christian Rock songwriter, embodies the importance of valuing your journey. His own life runs parallel to his creative process, and while he may be curious about the outcome, he’s not concerned by it.
Rather, he’s ignited by the lessons, growth, and opportunities that come from honoring your process and pursuing your passions regardless of your circumstances.
As young as 8 years old, Matthew recalls always having a notebook by his side to write down lyrics anytime they channeled through. He grew up in the era of vinyl records and cassette tapes, jamming to hair bands like Poison, Whitesnake, Van Halen, and Bon Jovi. He was enamored by the power of rock and listened for sheer enjoyment.
Influenced by the genre's raw energy at a young age, we timelapse to Matthew as an adult, where his life experiences led him to rediscover a faith he had always carried within him. While the emotional conviction of rock shaped his guitar playing and songwriting style, it was his life’s journey that naturally integrated Christian themes into his music.
He shares an example of when he wrote his first Christian rock song in 2001 called “Rise Above," which marked a reckoning with his own sins, and an acknowledgment that things had to change. However, while he was growing in character, he recalls that it wasn’t until later in life that he embraced the true blessing of faith when faced with another hardship.
He elaborates on a time he went through a debilitating divorce, and as he navigated the painful disentanglement from the complexities of family separation, he found himself at his lowest point. And in that moment of exhaustion and total breakdown, the lyrics:
When your heart is bawling,
You know that Heaven’s calling …out your name
Represent a pivotal point in his story. In his newest single, “Heaven’s Calling,” Matthew shares that when you’re at your most vulnerable it’s exactly when God speaks the loudest. Heaven is calling your name to show you there is hope and love even in the darkness.
“God is working on you and he will get you through it. You have to have faith through the storm,” he states encouragingly.
Another theme in “Heaven’s Calling,” that Matthew unravels is the humanity that births from devastation. In the May 18th premier of the “Heaven’s Calling” music video, there are images of hurricane damage, flooding, and rescue missions from the disaster.
Hitting close to home, literally and figuratively, Matthew shares that after the destruction of Hurricane Helene in 2024, he witnessed firsthand the valor of those rescuing, the heart of those helping, and the resilience of those who survive a natural disaster.
“Love is powerful; the best of people through devastation is remarkable,” he says.
“And for those, Heaven’s calling [too].”
In conjunction with the hurricane footage and rescue scenes, other parts of the music video feature Matthew performing on rooftops around downtown Charleston with different historic backdrops like St. Michael’s Church, Cannon Park, and the Charleston City Market.
After building a storyboard and scouring the city for permits and approvals to shoot different church features and historic sites, Matthew and his team creatively, and thoughtfully sewed all the pieces together. Part of obtaining those permits involved submitting the song’s lyrics, and it was serendipitous, almost as if the city was equally onboard about spreading his message. With the success of it all, he was able to literally sing from the rooftops that “Heaven’s calling out… your name.”
While reflecting on the development of the project, which he shares was his favorite aspect of it all, he emphasized the gratification of creating something from nothing.
“To do that is such a blessing. It's a process of creation, and you have to be flexible and fluid and enjoy the ride. It’s not about the money or the outcome - it’s about the journey” he says.
He also humbly noted that he couldn’t do it alone. He knew that bringing his vision to fruition required collaboration and the culmination of many parts from key producers and session musicians, to cinematographers and municipalities.
Pulling back the curtain even more, Matthew began writing the song at the beginning of 2025, and with his melody, lyrics, and chord structure in place, he set out to find high-quality professionals to level up his creation.
He gives a shout-out to David Kershenbaum, renowned producer for Tracy Chapman and Duran Duran, who livened Matthew’s vocals and musicality. Excited by the result, Matthew shares that “Heaven’s Calling,” will be the first single in an upcoming EP.
What’s more, Matthew shares that a goal of this is that after learning from his experiences, he wants to share and impart lessons and resources to other musicians embarking on creative endeavors through his production and publishing company, Imagine Peak Studios.
When asked what words of advice he’d like to leave for readers and listeners alike, he reminds us:
“Do not let your circumstances dictate your journey. Age or time is irrelevant, and if you have a passion for something just do it. Praise God. Love your family and neighbors. And, live your life.”
Amen to that.
Connect with Matthew Hartley to follow his journey and catch the release of Heaven's Calling:
Official Website l Imagine Peak Studios l Listen on Spotify l YouTube l Facebook l Instagram l TikTok l X
