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Charleston, S. — In the modern sea of Christian music, few voices cut through with both conviction and vulnerability like Matthew Hartley’s. The Charleston-based Christian rock artist channels his life’s trials and transformations into music that isn’t just heard—it confronts, convicts, and ultimately calls. His latest track, “Heaven’s Calling,” is not only a standout in sound but in spiritual urgency, a thunderous reminder to believers: it’s time to get right with God.

When asked what place he was in when writing “Heaven’s Calling,” Hartley doesn’t hold back. “There’s a pretty strong message to it,” he admits, referencing a long and sometimes painful journey of personal growth and spiritual awakening. “I went through some difficult times,” he shares, “but through all of that, I realized heaven was calling out—loudly—and had been for some time.” The track, layered in guitar riffs and raw emotion, was born from that revelation, fusing his rock roots with the undeniable pull of divine grace.

Hartley’s creative process is both organic and spiritual. He describes it as “free association,” picking up a guitar, playing for days, and allowing the music and lyrics to flow—first as abstract melodies, then slowly forming into structured truth. In this case, it started with a moment: him watching news coverage of wildfires and hurricanes while grappling with inner turmoil. “I hit this lick, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is cool,’ and then the words, times are calling, just kinda came out,” he recalls. “Between the disasters and my own life, I thought—man, heaven’s calling. We gotta get it right.”

The song’s message is twofold: personal repentance and collective awareness. Hartley ties natural disasters to a broader spiritual metaphor, not claiming they’re divine punishment, but a vivid reminder of life’s fragility. “You don’t know when something’s gonna come down,” he says. “And that’s not God—that’s just life. But it should make us think.”

For Hartley, music is not a product of perfection, but of honesty. “I'm not perfect,” he says. “I still think about the things I shouldn’t do… but somehow, God’s given me grace through some of those decisions.” It’s that grace—and the awe of it—that fuels “Heaven’s Calling.” Not content with a sanitized version of faith, Hartley leans into the uncomfortable truths of spiritual growth: poor decisions, second chances, and the ongoing struggle to live a life aligned with God's call.

Producing the track alongside industry veteran David Kershenbaum (known for work with Tracy Chapman), Hartley found not just a musical partner, but a vehicle for bringing this deeply personal anthem to life. “That was the fun part,” he says. “To see something that started on my iPhone turn into this powerful track—it’s amazing.”

But “Heaven’s Calling” is more than just a song; it's a marker in Hartley’s spiritual walk. When asked if the song reflects the artist he’s becoming, he reflects, “I think I’ve always written like this. Even one of my earliest songs, Rise Above, started with the lyric, ‘Forgive me, Jesus, for I have sinned.’ It’s the same heart.”

In a world saturated with surface-level spirituality, Matthew Hartley is carving out space for unfiltered faith. His vulnerability isn’t a brand—it’s a witness. And “Heaven’s Calling” is a plea not from a preacher’s pulpit, but from a fellow wanderer on the narrow path, urging others to listen.

“I hope people find truth,” he says simply. “Not in me—in what they hear. If it helps even a few people turn their hearts, then I’ve done what I’m supposed to do.”

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the sound of heaven calling.

Check out “Heaven’s Calling” and follow Matthew on his socials.

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Marla Lewis might not be a name that everyone immediately recognizes, but she has spent years building a remarkable career that has earned her a loyal global fan base, countless streams, and even a Grammy Award for Best Children’s CD. Today, Music-News had the chance to talk with Marla about her new single “Kill The Lights,” a smooth, feel-good jazz track that captures the magic of walking through New York City in winter with a warm smile on your face.




Tell us about Marla Lewis?
Born in New Jersey, wrote my first song at the tender age of 12 called “Hopeless Love” (LOL). From the time I could talk, music has always been my closest friend. I sang and played guitar in clubs, got disenchanted, went back to school for my Masters, and became an English as a Second Language teacher in a Harlem elementary school for 23 years. That’s when I started writing songs for kids, to help them learn English. I released two children’s albums, WE ALL LAUGH IN THE SAME LANGUAGE and I LOVE TO TALK TO PLANTS. One tune from PLANTS, called “Leap of Faith,” appears on a Grammy-winning Children’s CD called ALL ABOUT BULLIES... BIG AND SMALL, with my incredible friend and producer, Bob Stander.

Who are some of your musical influences? What else inspires you?
Ella Fitzgerald, the Beatles, Michael Franks, Phoebe Snow, Carole King, to name a few. My mom aspired to be a jazz singer, so we had lots of Big Band music playing in the house. Besides music, the rhythm of conversation inspires me.

Congrats on the release of “Kill the Lights”! We love it. What’s the story behind the song?
Thanks so much! Bob (my producer) said to me, “We need another R&B flavored song with a catchy chorus.” So, I played around with a new idea about love on the rebound. I wrote the lyrics first, a very rough draft, and put music to it - that’s how songs usually evolve for me. I was really “in the zone” when I was working on this one, fiddling around with it until it felt complete. The song went through many incarnations before I got the “actors in a play” metaphor right. I don’t think it’s autobiographical – unless it’s about an affair that I’ve totally forgotten about!

Who is one artist you’d love to tour with?
Nora Jones! Oh, yes!

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not doing music?
Walking the dogs, hanging out with friends, watching a great TV series.

What's the 2022 plans for your musical journey?
I want to continue live streaming - it’s fun! My show is called “Marla in La La Land.” You can tune in every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM Eastern. I already have enough songs for my next smooth jazz album, and I’m calling it, “Livin’ the Dream.” The songs are very socially conscious – I can’t write in a bubble any longer, with what’s going on in the world. I hope to record and release that album in 2022. And perhaps, I’ll muster the courage to do live shows!

How can our readers find you online?
Lots of places! First, my website: www.marlalewis.com
My Facebook group: MarlaTheMuse
My YouTube channels: Smooth Jazz I Children’s

Twitch I LinkedIn I Twitter I Instagram I Spotify I Apple Music
 
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