Singer/Songwriter Ali Matthews
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Stratford's Ali Matthews has been a performing songwriter since her teens and has built a strong following across Canada and beyond. As a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, where she studied English and Drama, songwriting is her natural passion. Writing and performing on both piano and acoustic guitar, she blends mature and sensitive lyrics with evocative, compelling melodies.
In 2000, she released her independent debut CD "Patchwork", a collection of 13 originals. The disc received glowing reviews from critics and listeners alike. Her piano ballad, "Time Will Never Tell" was a winner with Toronto's Mix 99.9 in the regional finals of the 2000 Canadian National Songwriting Contest. She was a featured artist with Taylor Guitars’ “Discover the Indies”, establishing an international profile which has continued to bloom.
In the fall of 2001, she released "On Angels' Wings" a collection of timeless Christmas songs with an acoustic jazz flavour and featuring three beautiful originals. It continues to be a perennial favorite, with sales in the thousands each Holiday season.
On stage, Matthews has teamed up with producer/guitar player, Rick Francis creating a slick acoustic duo with a captivating sound. Exploring a wide range of musical styles, including elements of folk, pop, rock, jazz and country, the duo has delivered over 500 performances in four years for a variety of corporate events, house concerts, live television and radio appearances, churches, weddings and folk festivals. They are working on current material with their recently formed six-piece band. Matthews has been invited twice to perform the National Anthems at Sky Dome for the Toronto Blue Jays. Her music has been featured on CBC Radio as well as dozens of local radio stations across Canada.
In 2004 she released "Where You Remain", a haunting collection of traditional hymns and contemporary sacred songs. The CD's single "To Know You" is featured as the soundtrack for a (Crossroads Communications) promotional DVD documentary for Save the Mothers, an international organization working to assist women in poor countries around the world. “Where You Remain” received an impressive five nominations at the 2004 Canadian Gospel Music Association Covenant Awards, winning both Inspirational Album of the Year and Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year for her single, “Hunger Mountain”. The CD was also nominated for three Vibe Gospel Music 2005 Shai Awards in the Folk, Country and Inspirational categories.
“I desire to write songs that connect us with each other; songs that tap into our hopes and heartaches, our passions and fears, the things that make us
vulnerable, the things that tell us we are alive. I see a dark, broken world in desperate need of mercy and compassion and I am compelled to create music that will draw us closer to grace, to each other and to our Creator. I am not a preacher - just a fellow-traveller on this fascinating ride …and I don’t mind being transparent.“
"Window of Light" her new CD of original material is expected to be released in early 2005.
©2004 Copyright Ali Matthews