ON THE RISE
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.
ON THE RISE
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IPSWICH, Mass. — Nov. 10, 2026 – For composer, producer, and musician Chris Florio, making music has always been a process of exploration. More than four decades into his career, the Ipswich, Massachusetts-based artist continues to approach each project with the curiosity of someone discovering new possibilities. His contemporary track “Twinkle” reflects that outlook, bringing together spontaneous songwriting, distinct musical backgrounds, and a collaborative recording process that allowed the song to develop organically.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has built a diverse body of work spanning orchestral music, improvisation, and contemporary forms. His career includes more than 40 orchestral compositions, multimedia collaborations, and 12 albums released through Passion Records. While his formal education helped shape his musicianship, he credits a much wider range of experiences with informing his work.
“Every gig, every musician that you play with, you learn things from,” Florio explained. “I try and play with the best musicians I can, so basically everybody I play with is my teacher.”
That willingness to learn from others was central to the creation of “Twinkle.” The project began with five musicians entering the studio and improvising together throughout the day. During the session, vocalist Aliel and violinist Rob began developing lyrics after discussing a person they both had in mind. They brought their ideas back to the group, and the musicians built the music around the words.
The result brings together Florio's rock influences, Rob's classically trained violin playing, and the rhythmic foundation laid down by Ken and Wes. A violin solo with a rock sensibility adds another dimension to the arrangement, while the song gradually moves from a quiet, stripped-back opening into a fuller, more electric sound.
Rather than having that progression mapped out from the beginning, the musicians found it as the song took shape. As Florio put it, “We started with nothing, and then we improvised and developed it.”
For Florio, the value of working with other musicians lies in what they bring that he might not have imagined on his own. “The joy of making music is interacting with other people,” he said. “I want to hear what they bring to it.”
That philosophy extends beyond familiar musical styles. Florio recently worked with Cambodian musicians and dancers in Ipswich, adapting to different approaches to rhythm, performance, and communication. A trip to China is also in the works for the coming spring to collaborate with local musicians and participate in workshops at music schools in Beijing and Qingdao.
Even after decades of composing and performing, Florio says his appetite for discovery has only grown. “The more music I learn, the more I feel like, 'Wow, I don't know anything,' and there's so much to learn,” he said. “And it gets more exciting, not less exciting.”
Originally conceived as a one-off studio project, the group behind “Twinkle” has since performed and toured together, with hopes of continuing to make music as a band. For Florio, the experience is another reminder of what can happen when musicians bring their individual perspectives into the same room.
Listen to “Twinkle,” which received promotional support from Starlight PR.
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About Chris Florio
Chris Florio is an adventurous and imaginative composer, producer, and musician based in Ipswich, Massachusetts. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has explored orchestral composition, improvisation, and contemporary musical forms. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has written more than 40 orchestral compositions, participated in multimedia collaborations, and released 12 albums through Passion Records. His work reflects an ongoing interest in bringing different musical traditions and artistic perspectives together.
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