matt ford

I grew up with mother that sang on Lawrence Welk and a drummer for a father who would start most mornings with what he called "Breakfast with the Beatles." Needless to say, My love for music was birthed at a very early age.

I didn't write my first song however until I was 20 years old. I could play the piano and guitar, but songwriting intimidated me. It changed however, when I met Matt Redman.

I was working for a church in England called Soul Survivor, where Matt Redman was the Director of Music at the time. He taught me some of the basics of song-writing and really encouraged me to begin writing. The process began, and by 2002 I had written my first 8 songs and had the priviledge to have them recorded by Matt Weeks at Soul Survivor's studio.

Upon returning home, I was forced back into reality. Life didn't seem as glamorous any more now that I lived in a suburb of Detroit and no longer London England. It was hard to adjust.

A few years later after several very difficult circumstances in my life, my Aunt gave me a phone call. She said she had this dream that I was singing this song called "It's Possible." She said I was singing it before thousands of people. I went up to my room and wrote it that night. The song sparked something in me to keep writing songs with a similar theme. In January of 2005, I began recording "If At First."

As I said earlier, this album was recorded in response to a very difficult year and half of my life. I was searching very hard for hope and redemption in the midst of difficulty. These songs reflect a journey that I went through to try and find it. I wish I could say that I have fully found the hope that I so desperately long for, but in reality it is still a process.

I hope that in similarity to the psalms of lament, you will be able to relate to these songs in this life which seems so difficult and uncertain at times, and that you would find yourself in the unforced rhythms of grace. If at first you dont hear Him...just keep listening.