Matthew Stemme Song Review
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Matthew Stemme is a singer/songwriter from Valencia, California. He’s also a pastor at NorthPark Com...Matthew Stemme is a singer/songwriter from Valencia, California. He’s also a pastor at NorthPark Community Church, a husband and father. Stemme isn’t big on the biographical information on his website, but he sent us a self-titled EP for review. We’ll follow Stemme’s lead and get right to the songs.
Stemme opens with "God's Big Backyard (Jack's Song)", a musical representation of a young child's view of Heaven. Stemme's musical vision here is sweet, and delivers a message of faith in sentimental terms that eschew the hyperactive delivery that envelops so much of contemporary Christian pop. His mild country-style delivery is also quite apt in the moment. "Laughter In The Hallway" is a sentimental look back at family life once the children have grown. Written from the perspective of a dad who dwells happily in the members his family made, it's a heartfelt tribute to love and family, and all the gifts and trials they can bring. "She's On Her Own" pays tribute to his little girl on the day she heads out on her own. It's a song of hope and sorrow; hope for her future and sorrow for the childhood she's outgrown. Stemme closes with "Mooly Cow Lullaby", a take on a children's rhyme that is sweetly sung by an uncredited female vocalist. As Stemme's EP is all about family "Mooly Cow Lullaby" is both a fitting and touching closing number.
Matthew Stemme draws forth from a well of life and love-inspired emotion on his self-titled EP. There's a strong Judeo-Christian ethic at work here, even if it only openly appears on the first track. Rather than beat you about the head with his beliefs, Stemme simply tells you who he is on four wonderfully well-crafted songs. His personality and beliefs run deep in the veins of each song, serving as an inspirational and touching testament to a life lived in service to the ones Stemme loves. With that said, Stemme's EP doesn't drip with gooey emotion; it's simply an honest exposition of the heart with no sugar added and no saccharine aftertaste. Matthew Stemme will appeal to the Delilah and Lifetime Movies for Women crowd, but also will appeal to anyone who likes honest emotion and thought in a songwriter. Stemme will leave you wanting more.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)
Tennessee Concerts
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Matthew Stemme
In His Own Words
I like to say this about myself: "I write from the heart of ho...Matthew Stemme
In His Own Words
I like to say this about myself: "I write from the heart of home". Once I finish a few more songs, I will place them on a CD and
call it "Songs from Home".
Song lyric with deep and sensitive tones have always inspired me. There is something about a song that becomes filtered by
realness and humility. The heart knows when it hears it.
I believe this type of song is cultivated through the elements of grace truth, and time--As my kids have grown. As I have loved
the wife of my youth. As I have known and as I have been known.
This blessing of time and routine has built up a repository of song that I feel must be played. These songs humbly seek
recognition and are good for the soul. They are family albums put to music.
My armature songwriting comes from this place and I truly enjoy the journey as well as the process. I write my songs to strike a
chord--first in me, and then to share. I am just beginning to release the tones and words of a thankful life--not a perfect life,
but a life that is on a journey, awaiting the next vista.
Matthew Stemme makes no bones about the fact that he is a new comer and wants to be considered a beginner. I have
awarded him this status so he has a starting point. Matt is a songwriter, and arranger that hasn't gotten up the nerve to sing
his own tunes yet. Jimi Hendrix had no intentions of singing his own songs. He planned to hire Rod Stewart.
His music collaboration with David Spires of nashvillesongdemos.com in Music City has been not only productive, but a great
fit for Matthew. He is very happy with the end product, with two new songs in production as I type. She's Own Her Own was
written after Matthew dropped off his daughter at LAX, leaving for college. Mooley Cow Lullaby, was a family song they sang to
their babies. Awaiting production is a new tune called Think Of Home.
Matthew was a top runnerup in my Sonicbids International Competition, The Best Song In The World Contest! Laughter In the
Hallway and God's Big Backyard, written with good friend and composer/arranger, Chris Van Duyn, ranked him high and dry.
The ranking song is passionate and pensive. David Spires voice is warm, personable, and precisely phrased.
God's Big Backyard could be the next James Taylor single, and I am a huge fan of Sweet Baby James. The lyrics strike home
and the words have personal meaning to the listener as well. Matt delivers a warmth and comfort in his songs that brings to
mind a Canadian troubador, Gordon Lightfoot, another personal favorite of mine.
The song was written after Matthew was called to the hospital because four and a half year old Jack, was on life support from
an accident playing. His mother had to tell Jack's sister (6 years old) that Jack would not be coming home and that Jack was in
heaven. The sister replied "Oh, then he will get to be with great grandma, and don't worry mommy, God has a big backyard
and a house with lots of room. and Jack won't have to wait in line for his turn on the swing. Chris Van Duyn is a close friend
,quality musician and family friend. They put the song together and performed it at Jack's funeral--all were touched.)
Matthew's songs have been placed in 3 music licensing song catalogs for media placement AudioSocket, Carlson
Entertainment, and Noteborn Music. Laughter in the Hallway was positively critiqued by NSAI. All of his songs are currently
listed on http://startmysong.com/songwriter/4044-Matthew-Stemme
Little Richard says," I got rock & roll and the rock of ages", and so does Matthew. He does the Lord's work as well as associate pastor at NorthPark Community Church in Santa Clarita, Ca.
Gary Allen (The Charlie Daniels Band/JJ Cale/Stonewall Jackson)
