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Over two thousand years, men and women have responded to God's invitation to grace, all as part of the Body of Christ; the church. To accept the revelation that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of mankind; that He paid the price for all of humanity's transgressions, and that this gift of reconciliation with God is made for all to receive freely through the cross. As part of the body, each person's response is lived in a way as unique as the individual. Yet, despite the distance of time, culture, and ethnic origins, each call is connected in common struggles and themes, chief of which is, as Jesus says in the gospel of Luke, to "pick up his cross and follow me".... to empty oneself and be filled with that beautiful grace. To be 'empty and beautiful.'
For singer/songwriter/worship leader Matt Maher, there is nothing more special about his call than anyone else's, and like those before him, he is trying to live that same call, as his 12-track Essential Records debut album's title says, to be made Empty & Beautiful. Maher breaks open these two simple words on the project, in songs that are both corporate and reflective; driving and soft; each one telling the story from a different perspective. Empty & Beautiful was co-produced by Maher and Jeff Thomas, except for, "As It Is In Heaven," which was produced by Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman, Bethany Dillon).
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, Matt grew up in a strong culture compromised of two elements: music and tradition. "Music is part of the fabric of the culture there, similar to places like Louisiana or the Appalachian mountains; and over the years, not just Celtic music, but music of every kind. "I grew up listening to American Top 40 with Casey Kasem every Saturday, rain or shine. My dad would cook while listening to Willie Nelson or Frank Sinatra. My cousins, who lived next door, listened to everything from Broadway to British Rock, like the Beatles and The Who." Early in life, Matt's parents realized his talent for music and started him in piano lessons. He quickly absorbed as many musical styles as possible, playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in choir, and even playing in a high school garage rock band.
Matt's collegiate years began while he was still in Newfoundland. At this time, life lessons abounded, and most of them were difficult ones. In 1995, Matt's parents divorced. His mother, an American citizen, decided to move back to the United States to be closer to her family. After careful consideration, Matt decided to move with his mom. "I remember realizing in my heart that I was going nowhere, and quickly. I had made some poor decisions during college. I was a very sensitive soul. During those years, it's easy for people and life to break your heart. I knew I needed a new start, so I moved to Arizona with dreams of becoming a film-scorer." Matt assumed a brief stay in Arizona would help him adjust to American life, but God had different plans.
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