Crys Matthews
Truth-telling with a dose of hope
Already being hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” DC resident Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. Holly Near said, “Crys Matthews offers up a collection of fiery sermons, truth telling journalism and rally cries…sung to us with her compassionate voice full of heartbreak, indignation, encounter, uprising, and revolution.”
“I believe in hope,” Matthews says. “As a social-justice songwriter, it is my duty to keep breathing that hope and encouragement into the people who listen to my music.”
Matthews was born and raised in a small town in southeastern North Carolina by an A.M.E. preacher. She witnessed the power of music from an early age. A former drum major and classically trained clarinetist turned folk singer, Matthews is using her voice to answer Dr. Martin Luther King's call to be "a drum major for justice."
She blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies and punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She finds inspiration in her surroundings, from driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the compelling and heart-breaking love story of Richard and Mildred Loving. Her music is thoughtful, realistic and emotional, reminding us why music indeed soothes the soul.
Matthews began performing in 2010 but cemented her acclaim at Lincoln Center as the 2017 New Song Music and Performance Competition grand prize winner. That year she also released two new projects—her album of thoughtful songs on love and life called The Imagineers, and her EP called Battle Hymn for an Army of Lovers, which tackles social justice themes. Matthews also won the People’s Music Network’s Social Justice Songs contest at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. Changemakers, Matthew’s latest effort delves into heavy topics such as immigration, the opioid crisis, Black Lives Matter, and gun safety. But it’s also about hope. The title track, garnered song of the year honors at the 2022 International Folk Music Awards,
A passionate and powerful blend of infectious Americana melodies and folky instrumentation, Matthews delivers her honest songwriting through a beautifully raw and unfiltered lens. Oozing soul, her voice bleeds with emotion and gratitude, while simple piano melodies and upbeat percussion fill you with appreciation and love for the people around us who fight for change. —Ear Milk
Her songs encourage confrontation with tough issues. In the great tradition of folk music, Matthews brings listeners in with sweet sounds that grab them by the heart, and just as they are cradled in her soulful voice and her deft handling of an acoustic guitar it’s as if Matthews says, “Now that you’re here, we’ve got some things to talk about. — Pride Source