Matt Brouwer(born February 28, 1976[1]) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. While in college, he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW).[2]Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CDImagerical.The album was released on May 29, 2001, onReunion Records.He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released albums titledUnlearningin 2005,Where's Our Revolution(Universal) in 2009, andTill The Sunrisein 2012.[3]Brouwer's music is known for its Contemporary Christian message as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the death of his father) and hope (his spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.[4]
Matt Brouwer | |
|---|---|
 Matt Brouwer at the 2010 Juno Awards in St. John's, Newfoundland | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 28, 1976 Truro, Nova Scotia,Canada |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee,U.S. |
| Genres | CCM,pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Reunion,Black Shoe |
| Website | mattbrouwer |
Early years
editMatthew Paul Brouwer was born inTruro, Nova Scotia,Canada. His dad ran a dairy farm and his mother worked as a teacher. When Brouwer was three years old his father was killed in a car accident. Brouwer is one of 7 siblings.
While attending college, Brouwer co-founded a group known as Monday Night Worship (MNW). "It started with a conversation a group of us (students) had about our hunger to not only know about God, but to begin a journey of actually knowing Him," said Brouwer. MNW released two independent CDs featuring songs written and sung by Brouwer, many of which were also featured on his solo debut CD,Imagerical.Brouwer and other members of the college group eventually parted ways or were signed toProvident Label Groupas separate acts.[5]
Musical career
editMatt Brouwer's first single, "Water", was a hit on CCM radio's CHR chart, reaching No. 2 on R&R in 2001. The follow-up singles, "A New Song", and "Sanity", were top 20 and top 10 hits respectively as well. Brouwer hit the airwaves again with a cover ofSheryl Crow's "I Shall Believe", which gracedBillboard's Christian chart in 2005.[6]The hit "Sometimes" fromWhere's Our Revolutiondid even better, charting in the top 20 onBillboardin 2010. An acoustic cover version of theGoo Goo Dollssong, "Better Days", also charted for Brouwer on theBillboardchart in 2011.[7]Brouwer's CDImagericalwas nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2002 CanadianJUNO Awards.[8]He won a JUNO Award in 2010 for the albumWhere's Our Revolution;it was named best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year.[9]He has been nominated for 15GMA CanadaCovenant Awards,winning three. His songs have been featured in the Canadian produced hit teen television dramaDegrassi.[10]
Personal life
editMatt Brouwer married Hannah Dawn Ficker on August 29, 2010, in Houston, Texas. The couple met during a trip Brouwer took to Guatemala, where Hannah's family serves in medical missions.[11]The couple has 3 children.[12]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Imagerical(Reunion Records, 2001, review[13])OCLC: 47203906.
- Unlearning(Black Shoe Records, 2005, review[14])OCLC: 137341514.
- The B-Sides Recording, Vol. 1(Black Shoe Records, 2006)
- Where's Our Revolution(Black Shoe Records, 2009, review[15])OCLC: 316822224.
- A Merry Little Christmas (Matt Brouwer)(Black Shoe Records, 2010, review[16]OCLC: 881658967.
- Till The Sunrise(Black Shoe Records, 2012, review[17])OCLC: 828529155.
- Writing to Remember(Black Shoe Records, 2014, review[18])
- Best Days Ahead(Matt Brouwer Productions, 2024)
Notable appearances
edit- Vocals onJill Paquette's debut albumJill Paquette(Reunion, 2003)
- "Better Days" appeared on the TV showJericho,Episode 1 (Pilot)
Songs on compilations
edit- Rock on Worship,"Water" (Madacy, 2002)
- Sea to Sea: I See The Cross,"Home" (CMC, 2005)
- Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation,"Your Name" (CMC, 2007)
- GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection,"Water" (CMC, 2008)
- Sea to Sea: Christmas,"A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Lakeside, 2009)
Awards and recognition
edit- 2007 nominee, Praise And Worship Album of the Year:The B-Sides Recording, Volume 1
- 2008 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2008 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year:Beautiful Now
- 2009 Folk/Roots Song of the Year:The Other Side(withAmy GrantandVince Gill)
- 2009 GMA Canada/Blessings Christian Marketplace Fan's Choice Award *won[19]
- 2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2009 nominee, Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution
- 2009 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution
- 2009 nominee, Recorded Song of the Year: "Come Back Around"
- 2009 nominee, Music Video of the Year: "I Shall Believe"
- 2012 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Album Of The Year:Till The Sunrise
- 2012 Inspirational Song of the Year: "Ocean"
- 2013 nominee, Inspirational Song of the Year: "Love Can Find A Way"
- 2014 nominee, Recorded Song of the Year: "Tonight"
- 2015 nominee, Song of the Year: "Waking Up"
- 2010 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year:Where's Our Revolution[20]
- 2013 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year:Till The Sunrise[21]
- Independent Music Awards
- 2010 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Song of the Year: "Sometimes"
- 2010 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution[22]
- 2013 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year:Till The Sunrise[23]
- 2002 nominee,Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year:Imagerical
- 2010,Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution
- Shai Awards (formerly the Vibe Awards)
- 2002 Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2002 Worship Album of the Year:Imagerical
References
edit- ^"Matt Brouwer – Singer-Songwriter – BIO".Matt Brouwer – Singer-Songwriter.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^Kittle, Ashleigh."Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedMay 10,2009.
- ^"Artist Biography - allmusic.com".www.allmusic.com.RetrievedOctober 10,2018..
- ^Kathy Douglas (c/o Extreme Dreams Management)ArchivedJuly 5, 2008, at theWayback Machine.
- ^"Christian Music Artist Index - Christianbook.com".www.christianbook.com.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^Billboard Magazine,2005.
- ^[1]
- ^Juno Awards archiveArchivedFebruary 24, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Winners + Nominees".
- ^TV.com."All Communities Feed - TV.com".www.tv.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2011.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^"Love story: From geographically undesirable to inseparable".Chron.February 6, 2011.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^"Matt Brouwer Blog Post - mattbrouwer.com".Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedOctober 2,2018.
- ^Losey, Stephen Douglas."(Review)Imagerical".Billboard. Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 15,2009.
- ^Chapman, Jackie."Unlearning Review".allmusic.com.RetrievedJuly 27,2015.
- ^Ross, C.W."(Review)Where's Our Revolution".Breathecast.RetrievedMarch 6,2010.[dead link]
- ^Breimeier, Russ."Christmas Music Wrap Up".crosswalk.com. Archived fromthe originalon November 4, 2016.RetrievedDecember 1,2015.
- ^Williams, Lindsey."Faith, Marriage Inspire" Till The Sunrise "".crosswalk.com.RetrievedOctober 28,2012.
- ^"Writing To Remember".crossrhythms.co.uk.com.RetrievedJanuary 13,2015.
- ^Brouwer also received five GMAC nominations in 2009, for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution,Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year:Where's Our Revolution,Recorded Song of the Year: "Come Back Around", and Video of the Year: "I Shall Believe".GMAC 2009 Covenant Award NomineesArchivedJune 28, 2009, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- ^East Coast Music Awards official siteArchivedJuly 10, 2011, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^East Coast Music Awards Official siteArchivedJuly 8, 2013, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved February 19, 2013
- ^Independent Music Awards official site.Retrieved December 3, 2009.
- ^Independent Music Awards official siteArchivedMarch 26, 2013, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved 2013-19-03.