March 12, 2025 • 40 mins
Discover the inspiring story of Michael Matney, a Virginia-born musician who turned his humble beginnings—using “yard-mowing money” to fund his first album—into a career marked by Grammy consideration, international airplay, and an unwavering Christian witness in the music industry.
🔹 Early Beginnings: Started piano at age six and guitar at eight.
🔹 Rare Collector’s Item: His first album is now valued at $1,000 per copy.
🔹 Faith in the Spotlight: Committed to ensuring his rising success amplified his Christian witness.
🔹 Unexpected Reach: His music has played on rock radio stations in Russia.
🔹 Personal Integrity: Maintains strict personal boundaries, including abstaining from alcohol, to uphold his testimony.
🔹 Entrepreneurial Balance: Juggles a thriving music career while running a family insurance business.
🔹 New Music & Collaborations: Currently working on a gospel album with Nashville musicians.
🔹 Overcoming Struggles: Has faced battles with addiction, family loss, and personal hardships.
🔹 Education & Milestones: The first in his family to graduate from college.
🔹 Upcoming Performances: Touring Florida and Texas in the coming months.
🎸 Follow Michael Matney:
📷 Instagram: @MatineeRocks | @MatineeBand
🎥 YouTube: Matinee Music
Connect with Us:
Visit our website at www.gracefilledcommunity.com
Follow us on Facebook: GraceFilled Community
Follow us on Instagram @gracefilledcommunity.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My name is Nicole Cater, your host, founder and
servant leader of GracefieldCommunity.
I want to thank you for tuningin to Gracefield Community
Podcast.
This is a safe space, a placein which we just share stories
of how God has touchedindividuals' lives all across
the world and how they are nowimpacting the kingdom of God.
(00:21):
Thank you for tuning in.
Blessings to you.
Hello Grace Field communitylisteners, I am so excited that
you've chosen to tune into ourpodcast today.
Our goal is that we inspire youthrough our conversation.
We are going to have a nicetime with some organic,
(00:43):
authentic communication todaywith Mr Michael Matney.
Hey Michael, hey Nicole, howare you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Appreciate this.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Absolutely.
I'm so excited to have you ontoday and just to have some
conversation.
I think you have a uniquebackground that I'm so excited
for our listeners to hear about.
So, before we dive into, allthe things we want to talk about
please tell our listeners, giveus some background, tell us a
little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Okay, nicole, my name is Mike Matney and I'm a
musician and I'm from a smalltown in southwest Virginia, a
little rural community calledRichlands.
I've lived here most of my life.
I've lived in Nashville for awhile and mostly here.
When I was a.
When I was a young guy 18, 19 Iworked in a record store around
(01:39):
here and I got the opportunity,had a little small studio in
the back and I got theopportunity, had a little small
studio in the back and I got theopportunity to record an album
just a little four-track albumand saved up my yard, mowing
money and stuff and we had like200-some copies of it, gave them
away, whatever.
Well, fast forward.
About 10 years later I gotcontacted to become a
(02:00):
collector's item.
It was selling for like ahundred and some dollars a copy
and of course I didn't have anycopies left.
But as you flash forward to now, it's like a thousand dollars
for copy.
I've got signed by a couple ofrecord labels and I've been
blessed.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Awesome.
Well, definitely sounds like it.
I mean, let's just start Like I.
You have a talent that I do nothave.
It is a gift for sure.
Cause, to start like I, youhave a talent that I do not have
.
It is a gift for sure.
Because, um, nobody has offeredme any type of labels for any
type of recording for my singingat all.
If anything, when I'm singingin the shower, my family is like
close the door, good well,you're obviously talented well,
(02:43):
thank you, look, you, look, stayat our, stay at our leads right
.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Right, there you go.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Oh well, I'm excited today about our conversation
because I'm all about just likekingdom business, right, and
just talking truths about thegospel.
And so I want to ask you, like,in what you do right.
So you've come from abackground with music.
We know that the music industrycan be a lot said about right,
(03:12):
and then there's this aspect oflike from rock and roll to folk
and then continuing that intobringing into the gospel, like
what are your thoughts abouttaking the gospel in place to
this places that it not usuallyis at right?
It's like not a church setting.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I can't believe.
You said that.
It's the words.
We've used those words for thelast few years.
All right, um, that's the thingabout it.
I, my mom, uh, I grew up inchurch.
My mom played piano in church.
I've been around music my wholelife and, uh, of course, I got,
uh, I grew up in the 70s, 80sI'm an old guy and I was in, you
(03:49):
know, the rock stuff and I wentdown that road and, uh, for me
now being a musician, I meanI've, uh, I just recently
finished the product projectwith stevie salas out of austin.
Uh, stevie's a big-timemusician, so I'm still deeply
into the rock thing and whatthat's allowed me to do is, uh,
(04:11):
it has allowed me to to.
You know, I've went out towardthe country, smaller clubs and
stuff, and I have got a chanceto uh talk to people you know
about about it and take itplaces that it doesn't go, and
and I made the promise a longtime ago and this is going to
sound kind of corny, but but Imade the promise a long time ago
to myself and to him that thebigger that I got, the more
(04:33):
people just want to know I was achristian, and so I'm trying to
stick to that uh.
So now it's kind of gave me theopportunity to to uh break into
my uh to the gospel.
I'm trying to do the gospel onthe side too.
Last year I got considered fora grammy in the rock stuff, so
(04:54):
this year my goal is is to getconsidered for a grammy and the
gospel stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
To get that yes, I love that.
I love it.
You know, one of the things Ithink about is just the great
commission.
Right, like we are to go outand make disciples, and I think
so so often, especially ifyou've been in a Christian
community or raised like in thechurch.
Like you said, you and I bothwere raised in a church, right
(05:22):
we I mean, we used to have thesetracks right, it's like go take
this book and pass this bookout, or go do this versus living
our lives to where it is atestament of the gospel.
And so I love what you're doing, because you are living your
life as a musician.
You're taking the gifts and thetalents that you've been given
but using that to go outside ofthe four walls and to help
(05:46):
disciple, in a sense of bringingthe gospel to others.
Um, you know, I imagine thatthat has to be pretty rewarding
for you, because you get to dothe aspect that you love while
you also see the gospel goingforth.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I'll tell you a cool story.
Um, just just one story thatcomes to mind.
Uh, to mind, I've got, ofcourse, I've got an Instagram
account and stuff too.
And I got a message from a guyand he said that he was the
owner of the largest, I thinkthe only, rock station in the
middle of Russia, right in themiddle of Russia, he said.
(06:21):
He said I like your stuff.
He said I like your songs, hesaid.
He said he said okay, if I playhim.
He said can you send me, youknow, copies of him?
And I was like, sure, sure, Idid.
So.
Uh, an hour or two later I'msitting there thinking I said
okay, so I wrote the guy backand I said, well, uh, you know
(06:43):
the religious music.
And he writes back and he saysI love that.
He said I'll play that.
And so I thought you know, yeah, that's cool.
You know, if I can do that kindof stuff, then that's that
makes me feel.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Absolutely yes.
And the thing is, I mean,scripture tells us, right, like
one may plant a seed, anothermay water, and then another one
will water, and then we'll seeit grow.
Right, and so we never knowwhere those deposits are falling
.
And so kudos to you for even um, I think that's the thing,
right, like looking for theopportunities to bring the
(07:15):
gospel in right.
It's not necessarily walkingaround with Jesus written on my
forehead.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you
Anytime I get an opportunity ina podcast to bring it up or talk
about it, and if I can do apodcast speaking and so forth.
The words personalaccountability.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And so I imagine that means a lot to you, especially,
maybe just even in the musicindustry.
So tell me, you know a littlebit about personal
accountability, Like what isthat for you?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Well, I mean, I feel responsible, you know, for, of
course, my own actions.
I feel responsible, you know,for, uh, of course, my own
actions and, uh, you know, Ithink that the things I do,
because I, I'm a musician,because that I, I I do have, you
know, I mean I am in a position, I mean, you know, I, I have to
(08:23):
be careful about things I sayand things I do and things I act
, because it's a reflection ofyou know you're supposed to be
letting him live through you,right, extremely.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You know it's tough, you know imagine you know, in
your sense, like it has to betough being around, I mean, and
I haven't set in a rock and rolllike behind the scenes
backstage you know environment,we see all these things that you
know, even in news lines, right, you hear about this, you hear
(08:57):
about this person, and so Iimagine that it is heavy listing
of temptation that you have toovercome to keep the, the gospel
inside of you and keep himinside of you, like, keep your
testimony pure, right, um?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
it's easy.
You know, uh, you want toinfluence, you know, but you
have to be careful that you'renot influenced.
You know, you find yourself.
Uh, I'm a guy you know I.
I got some guys in one of thebands I play and you know, you
find yourself.
Uh, I'm a guy, you know I.
I got some guys in one of thebands I play, and you know
they'll, they'll let a a fewcurse words slip here and there
and if I'm not careful, you knowwhat I'm saying yes, yeah, and
(09:36):
it's so easy, right, like tofall into that diverse
temptation, right, it's soeasily to do.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Can I just ask, like, what are some of the boundaries
that you've created foryourself to help you?
Um kind of be accountable, inthat sense?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I don't drink anymore .
Uh, I don't drink.
Uh, you know, when we go outand we play out and stuff, I
mean I'm the uh, I'm uh, I'm thefirst one back to the hotel and
, uh, I don't, don't, I don'tget out and go.
You know, that's probably.
I probably should socializemore at the clubs.
(10:10):
I got I've got chastised forthat and stay out longer than I
do and everything.
Meet more people than I do.
But I'm pretty much at my ageand everything.
I'm ready to go to the houseafter the show, right, and so,
yeah, so that I mean I, I try to, uh, I get tickled.
My bass player, he calls methat, he calls me an oak out on
(10:31):
the road, you know, because Idon't sometimes I don't
participate in some of theirshenanigans yes, okay, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
One of the things that comes to mind, though, is,
um, when you talk about, like,having that aspect of doing
things differently.
I mean, isn't that what theBible communicates is that we're
set apart, and so sometimesthat is a part of our witness of
us.
Our nose, right, it is our nose.
That sometimes is the witness.
(11:01):
I recall there was acircumstance where I had a
family member, and some yearshad gone by, and this family
member like called and was likeI'm so excited.
You know, someone just talkedto me about Jesus.
I've accepted Jesus, and Iremember being super excited for
them and then being like did Iever talk to them about Jesus?
(11:25):
Like, did I ever say do youknow Jesus?
Can I share something with youabout Jesus?
And at first I was feelingpretty guilty, like I was
beating myself up.
Which y'all?
That is my um.
If I was to sit here and saythis is my opposite of
superpower, this is myvulnerability, weakness is like
being harder on myself, right.
(11:45):
And so I was feeling bad in thesense of like man, like I don't
know if I like, why did it takesomebody else to say something
if I didn't say anything?
And I actually told them and Isaid you know, I'm so sorry, I
think I failed you.
I think that, like, could thishave happened sooner if I said
something to you years ago beingthat I knew you and they gave
(12:09):
me one of the greatest responsessticks with me.
And they said one, it wasn'ttime, my heart was not ready to
receive.
And it said two you did witnessto me through all your no's,
through all the times that we'reas a family.
Maybe we're coming togetherdrinking.
You're like no, I'm not doingthat today.
Or maybe we are coming togetherand everybody else is cursing
(12:29):
and you're choosing.
Like I'm not using words likethat.
Or she was like, even in theexample of, like how you treat
people, it was like, how can yoube so kind with this situation?
Like I'm cussing this lady out.
And so there was that thoughtof like that is the witness.
I I never did say jesus name,but all of those deposits, what
(12:50):
led to when that person did come, she had a, a reference point
of what it looks like to live alife with christ that's.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I love it.
That's I'm glad you told methat story.
That's perfect.
That's the perfect example ofthat.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, and I think that, like as you were saying,
like you know I get it I'm theone that's like I'm going home
or I'm not participating in this, or we're in our room when
everybody else is maybe having aquote, unquote good time.
But that is a part of thewitness and it's a part of the
sacrifice, right Like we signedup for this when we signed up to
follow Christ.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Listen, I'll say this I've sit there and I'm making
myself out to be a goody twoshoes, but I have failed
gloriously at times.
So yeah, I'm, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yes, I, you know.
I think too, about a few monthsago I don't know, maybe a year
ago now right, I was just reallysitting and reading some of
Paul's writings and I came to apoint of recognizing the whole
aspect of like.
If eating meat would offend mybrother, right.
And the thought concept of likeeating meat's not wrong, right.
(14:05):
Like it's not wrong.
Nowhere in the Bible does itsay do not do this right.
And what he was essentiallysaying is that if it would cause
them to see my witnessdifferently, then I won't do it
in their presence.
Right.
(14:25):
And so, even when it comes tothe aspect of drinking like, I
was one that let me tell you, Iwas drinking before the age of
21.
I had my college days.
Why, I wouldn't say why myparents let me, but why I even
chose to go to school atUniversity of Nevada, las Vegas,
of all places, right.
So there were definitely daysof like, heavy drinking.
(14:45):
And as I became an adult and asI continued like and started
really diving into my journeywith Christ like, it wasn't
until recently that it was like,wait a minute, I shouldn't do
this.
Not because you say it's wrongNow, yes, you say you should not
get drunk, but you've neversaid it's wrong to have a glass
of wine.
You've never said that it'swrong to partake in this.
(15:08):
But yet if me doing it at arestaurant where others that I,
tomorrow, will be speaking andministering the gospel to is
gonna cause them the question,the gospel that comes forth,
then that means I'm.
I shouldn't be doing this, andso even the recognition of like
hey, there's things that I usedto do and we're daily.
(15:30):
It's a daily choice, right, hismercies are new each day, just
like God makes a choice to giveus new mercies each day.
I need to make a choice to lovehim in my actions each day.
And, like you said, we're goingto drop the ball.
All have said and fallen short.
I'm going to drop the ball attimes and thank the Lord for his
grace that I could come rightback in and say, hey, let me
correct this, right.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I heard somebody say one time that they were
deserving of a double helping ofgrace, so I guess that would be
me.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
I'm'm really, I'm really counting on yes, well,
look, so many of us are, meincluded.
I think there's a reason why Ican talk about like a
grace-filled community, becausethat's what it is right.
We all are in that grace.
Not a grace that says, hey,this is permission to do, but a
(16:20):
grace that says when you havedone is permission to do, but a
grace that says when you havedone, he's still here and loves
you with open arms.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Yeah, there's nothing you know that should separate
you from that.
You're exactly right?
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yes, absolutely so I wouldn't.
We're talking about themusician side, but I recall
seeing something about insurance.
So tell me, what do you do andhow does that come together?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
That kind of pays the bills.
I mean, you know, these days,being a musician, I mean it's
tough.
You know I'm an indie musician,I don't have a gig with a major
label or anything, so you knowit's always about the money and
finances.
You know supporting alwaysabout the money, finances, you
know supporting yourself andstuff.
So my dad, uh, we've had it.
He's had an insurance agencyfor years in town.
(17:08):
So uh, he's 87 now and I comeback I'm running that we both
have farms here and so, uh, it's, uh, I mean it's, it's okay,
it's, it's you get to serve thecommunity and at the same time,
I mean it pays the bills.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yes, I hear that.
Right, pay the bills.
Somebody has to pay the bills.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I got a friend.
I got a friend over in the UK.
It's in a band and recently hetold me he said that he said
several years ago.
Uh, he said he was goingthrough a session.
Both of them passed and hespoke right quickly to him and
asked him, said you know, do youhave any advice for you know
up-and-coming musician,struggling musician?
(17:50):
So mick jagger walked on, hesays yeah, I said never give up.
And he said he got on down thestreet a little bit and turned
around.
You know your day job.
Yeah, so, yeah, so theinsurance agency is by day job.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yes, yeah, okay, great, and I imagine I mean we
were talking about the musicianside.
But, like you said, likeinsurance is a way that you also
interact with people.
You get a chance to be thereeven in times where they're
making hard choices and harddecisions.
Have you found that that alsoleads to a way that you bring
the gospel through?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yes, I mean absolutely, and you know where I
live at.
I mean there's a church everyhundred yards.
I mean I'm writing smackdown inthe middle of the Bible.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Everybody is.
Everybody knows each other, andeverybody knows each other from
church, and I love that aboutmy community, and so that's one
of the good things about gettingto work with the public.
Hey, let's take a quick breakto tell you about Grace-Filled
Community.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Gracefield Community is an organization that focuses
on the primary principles of theChurch of Acts, centered around
building communities thatimpact the Kingdom of God.
We do this through three coreextensions 1.
Gracefield Church Network,where we empower churches and
nonprofits for God's success andgrowth.
We offer tailored growthstrategies rooted in biblical
principles that will help youexpand your reach and impact
(19:32):
your communities.
Just like the early church, wefocus not on attendance and
numbers, but on discipleship,providing leadership teachings
and trainings to today'sministry leaders.
Our second extension is Projectof the Grace Field, where we
provide biblical counseling,mentorship, workshops and events
(19:53):
that are dedicated toencouraging individuals to live
a life filled with grace andpurpose, rooted in the
understanding that all havefallen short and are a working
project.
Let us help the individuals inyour community grow as they walk
with God and experience thefullness of his love.
(20:13):
Our third extension is thegrace-filled business.
Grace-filled business is hereto help small, faith-based
business owners develop theirbusiness in a way that honors
God, that brings increase andallows them to pour back into
His kingdom, through marketplaceministry and financing His
kingdom.
We do this through our 15 yearsof experience of virtual
(20:37):
administrative work, digitalmarketing, business development
and consulting.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I'm looking here and I'm like, oh my gosh, see how
fast time gets the flyer on us,right?
I want to ask another question,though.
You know, when we talk aboutstruggles, I for sure have had
my own share of struggles andhave daily struggles, right?
I think there's a reason why,like I mentioned earlier, like
(21:06):
God's mercies are new every day,I think there's a reason why
we're told to renew our mind.
I think there's a reason whywe're told to meditate on his
word day and night, right,because there are struggles that
we will have.
We have our natural human bodythat carries struggles or fight,
fighting a spiritual warfare.
Then we have this mental aspectthat we have to take care of,
(21:28):
right, for our mental health.
Then then there's the emotionalcomponents and yes, michael,
you are a male, I happen to be afemale that deals with like
these, like perimenopause, andso there's all these emotions
also present.
But when I, when I think aboutstruggles, like it can be easy
(21:49):
to like take those struggles andjust put them behind like a
closed door, or even sometimesputting them behind like the
cross.
So what are, what are yourthoughts when it comes to, like,
the struggles that happen inlife?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh gosh For me.
I mean, I found that thehardest times I've ever faced my
sister overdosed and back about2018 or so, and my mom died,
like a couple years after that,and those things for me, I mean,
those were devastating and butI found and then I struggled
(22:30):
with addiction years ago too.
It's probably, um, it's been 30years ago or so, but I can
remember those times in my lifewhen, uh, I was at my lowest or
whatever struggles that you know, I found comfort and I felt the
closest to him during thosetimes and you know that that for
(22:51):
me, I've just always turned tohim when I hit that point where
I've got to have help.
You know, um, I found thatthat's.
That's the answer for me as faras the struggles go is prayer.
You know a lot of prayer, right?
So I guess what you're askingis that is that kind of what
(23:14):
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah, I mean definitely, like I think
struggling with God on your sideessentially means that you
experience difficult situationsin a different way.
Right, like I say it, I know wehear it all the time Like I
don't know how to do lifewithout God and I'm grateful, as
I'm sure you are being raisedin a church.
(23:35):
Like even when it was at timeswhere I was there because I had
to be there, I was told to bethere.
At times where I was therebecause I had to be there, I was
told to be there.
But there were deposits beingimparted in my spirit, even when
I was there unwillingly rightthere you can't get out.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Take it away from it.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yes, and so when, when I hit difficult times, even
in my season of turning awayfrom God and difficult times it
would be it was, it was like itwas in there and it was like
there's something to hold on to,there's a hope, there's a faith
, even when I was wrestling withdoubt, right, there was still
this aspect of like.
(24:12):
But what if?
Because all of this had beenimparted into me, I had heard
and it had hit into my spirit,and so I like how you said, like
just struggling with God on ourside.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I'm so thankful for that understanding and I'm so
thankful that my parents, likeyou say, I was raised in a home
that was, you know, a churchhome.
You know, church, a church home, you know.
Yeah, you get that once.
You get that in you.
I think that's.
I don't know if you could sayit's the calling or it's, it's,
(24:48):
it's, it's there.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um, I think that's the thingthat I encourage people today,
that especially parents like youknow.
Um, sometimes I go to theseevents and they say like hey,
what would you say to like newparents?
Like I'm having being a mom oftwins, having me a mom of
teenagers now having lost achild.
They say, what would you say toyou know, a new parent?
And my thing I would say iskeep them as close as you can to
(25:18):
community, that a faithcommunity.
Because in all that I've seen,and even in my own life
experience, it's that when youhave them around, community of
like-minded believers, eventhough they may veer off, right,
there's this aspect of like.
Like the Bible says, train up achild in the way that you can
(25:40):
go and he will not depart.
Like, they may veer off, butthey come back home, right.
And it's so much easier whenyou're around community of
like-minded people that canencourage you, that can uplift
you.
You know that you can buildthis faith walk together,
because it's not easy to doalone.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Nicole, I like you, you're a good person, oh look,
thank you, thank you, I like youtoo.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
Look, I'm excited to dive into your music.
Um, you know, I do want to saytoo, as I, as we talk about all
of this, like when it comes toyour music, and um, what aspect
like, how early did you start,how early did you start?
When did you know?
(26:24):
Like, hey, I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Well, my mom, like I said, I grew up with mom being a
piano player in a church andwhen I was six years old, I can
actually remember you got toremember.
The times was different then.
I can remember getting out ofschool at first grade and
walking across the street into aneighborhood and taking lessons
with a lady named Mrs Hubbardand walking back, and that was
(26:49):
in the first grade.
So yeah, I've been at it quitea while yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
So how has your faith affected, like affected your
music?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
uh, well, you know, a lot of times now, when I sit
down to write a song, I'll haveto struggle to write a secular
song, you know, you know, writea faith song, I mean, I think
about it.
I think about it constantly asfar as my music goes, and right
now again, I'm getting ready touh, to go down a road with a
(27:22):
gospel album.
I'll tell you just about itright quick, if I can.
Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I mean I was going to ask, like what's coming up for
you, but please do tell.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I've started on it already and, like a couple of
weeks ago I recorded a couple ofsongs.
Go, I recorded a couple ofsongs.
Uh, my, uh, I got a friend thatruns a recording studio named
jay on in nashville on music brojay's place.
He got some great musicians todo it.
I didn't play on it, I justwrote the songs and, uh, my
brother-in-law sang on it.
(27:54):
Uh, he plays drums for thelittle river band.
He sang on it and a guy namedmichael lusk sang on it, and I'm
really pleased with how it'scoming out.
So my idea is to put out analbum.
Uh, I just want to just writethis stuff and let you know some
other guys do it, some reallygood musicians and uh, and get
it out there.
So I've been trying to think ofhow I can do that and still be
(28:16):
involved by name and stuff on it.
So I'm thinking now I've got abuddy that we make some, uh, we
make some videos for the songsand stuff together.
I sent you a couple of them.
Uh, we've been talking about itwith the new ai and all that
stuff.
Now we're thinking about, uh,making this is gonna sound silly
, okay, but we're thinking aboutmaking a muppet band you know
(28:36):
for the gospel stuff and do thevideos and everything for the
seven yes, well, look, you saidit's gonna sound silly, but in
today's time, as I mentioned, Ihave three teenagers and I don't
know, have you heard of thisskippity toilet thing?
Speaker 1 (28:53):
no, okay, let me tell you, nothing is as silly as
this and this toilet is likeblowing up.
I think it's like skippity-dooI can never say it right
skippity-doo, skippity-doo.
Our listeners if you have teens, you probably know what I'm
talking about but it literallyis is a guy's head coming out of
(29:13):
a toilet singing a song, and ithas gone viral.
There are toys in Walmartrepresenting this.
I mean, mean it is crazy, and Ithey pulled up a video and said
, like mom, this is whatskippity thing is.
And I'm like what am I wastingThree minutes of my life on
right now?
But the reality is it hasreached I can't even say
(29:37):
somebody.
It has reached millions ofpeople.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Um, through the toilet.
I have got a six-year-oldgrandson, five-year-old,
six-year-old grandson.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I'll have to check this out yes, yes, I'm telling
you, um, and I guess there'speople that have also like,
repeated it.
It's become a huge thing.
And I again I was looking atthe video, like am I watching a
head out of a toilet sing a song?
Like, is this what we're doing?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Take the Muppet thing , man.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Yeah.
So all that to say, like Ithink the Muppet is an excellent
idea.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
It's funny.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yes, oh, I love it, I love it.
You know what?
Yes, oh, I love it, I love it.
You know what?
You didn't say some of this,but I feel like I would be doing
a disservice to our audiencenot to just mention some of the
spaces that you've been in,because I know when I was
(30:41):
reading through it and I'm likeI'm just gonna go into it so for
our audience, let me just tellyou, michael started piano
lessons at age six, and when hewas eight he was his music was
on the radio.
music on the radio captivatedhim and he started to play the
guitar.
So he was doing piano at six,guitar starting at eight.
(31:05):
He had moved several times as achild and got accustomed with
having to make new friends, andso that was a constant thing in
his life.
And so one day a friend invitedhim to his basement where his
older brother and some friendswere jamming with the electric
guitar.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I'm going to pause there.
I want you to finish tellingthat story.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I'm like let me pause , because you probably could
tell it better than I can readit.
But I was like wow.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well, this was the 70s, you know, and this is when
music was just rock, was justreally going.
Well, these guys, a friend ofmine, his brother in high school
we were like junior high, sohis brother had a band and we
went to the basement, listenedto him and I was just blown away
.
I mean, at that point, you know, I said that's what I want to
do.
And, uh, really, I never lookedback since then.
(31:49):
I was always from as soon as Igot out of high school, my
parents knew they just sent meto nashville at 18.
I was living in nashville, youknow.
So, uh, deep into it and uh,and that lasted, for I thought I
was going to be big time, andthen that lasted for about a
year and then I was living outof my car and I came back and
(32:11):
that's when I recorded thatalbum.
That you know, my first album,yeah, yes, yeah, and I noticed.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I mean you mentioned living out of your car and I
also read that you saved up yardmowing money.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah, for the first album.
I mean it was the way it workedis.
A friend of mine was an old guy, had a record store in town and
he always wanted to have arecording studio.
So he had a little machine inthe back, a little four-track
recorder, and I worked for him,kept the store open so he'd let
me go in the back of the eveningand record.
(32:43):
He'd record me on hisfour-track machine.
Well, he passed away and I hadrecorded enough songs on that
four-track recorder that I wasable to go to Nashville and get
this pressed up.
You know, with the money thatI'd saved up and, like I said,
(33:06):
we gave them away at shows andgave them away to people.
We had no idea that you know,they would become more something
one day Right.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Crazy to me, right?
Well, I think that's even atestament to our listeners that
are entrepreneurs, our listenersthat have these goals and
dreams, right, like you know, sooften I always say like you see
me on the mountaintop, but youdon't know the story of all I
went through to get to thispoint that you see today and I
love how you acknowledge that.
Like it was mowing yards, itwas living in your car, where
(33:33):
some of the sacrifices that weremade to really invest into this
thing that you want to do, Ididn't even know what was going
on.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I was, I was away from it and I was told that it
had done this over the years,you know.
So it was kind of a shock, butout of that it's come a lot of
great stuff, I mean.
So it's like I said, it's beena blessing.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Well, I just want to say y'all.
So Michael has a music degreeas well.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I do have a degree in recording industry management
from Middle Tennessee StateUniversity, a REM degree.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Awesome.
I went back later in life andgot that, so I'm kind of proud
of that too.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Yeah, well, I can imagine.
So you know, I think thatespecially kind of in all the
resources and things that wehave and don't get me wrong, I
am a YouTube university girlright, I'm like you can go on
YouTube, you can learn anything.
But I commend you for choosingto go back and really get that
I'll say that paper, behind theaspect of the education and
(34:38):
spending the time right the timeand your resources to get that
music degree, especially hearingthe humble beginnings in which
you started from.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
And nobody in my family had ever had a college
degree, so it was I was thefirst one in my family to have
one, so yeah, Awesome.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Well, congratulations to you.
I'm sure that's a huge deal.
And again, it changes thetrajectory for the family, right
?
It's something that breaks aswe talk about, like those
spiritual battles that we fight.
Right, it breaks thosegenerational curses and says,
hey, I'm going to be the one todo this.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
I've got a nephew right now that I'm really
talking to and he's inspired menow.
So he's a young guy, he's goingto take it on, he's going to
the seminary, you know, for fouryears, and so I'm just, you
know, encouraging him.
His mom was the mom I told youabout my sister, you know, for
overdosing.
So that's her boy, and to seehim doing what he's going to do,
(35:33):
she'd be so proud.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Wow, wow, that's so touching, so touching.
Well, michael, I know that ourtime is running short.
There's only so much time weget in these podcasts, but I do
want to say you know, I know youtalked about that you're
working on this.
I mean, you've written thesongs for it, others are singing
(35:55):
it, but tell us a little bitmore about what's coming up next
for you and definitely how wecan stay connected.
How can we follow you, how canwe support you?
How can we get your music?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
All right.
So for the rock band forMatinee, you can find me at
matineerocks and there's videoson YouTube under Matinee Music.
We've got a YouTube channelthere.
It's doing pretty good.
You can find me on Instagram atMatinee Band.
I've got a Facebook page.
We're out there.
Anybody can reach out to me onMessenger anytime.
(36:26):
The band I think we're going tobe in I think we're going to
Florida in May.
We're doing a festival there inOrlando and they get more
information on the website aboutthat, and I know that we got a
thing in Houston in May.
We we're gonna be getting outsome this summer.
We we've not got out.
My band is based in austin andI'm here in virginia, so it's
(36:48):
kind of tough to look back.
We'll probably be getting outthis summer and stuff.
So yeah, check us out pleaseawesome.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
I love it and you know I am a te Texas girl.
I'm right here in Texas, so I'mso excited to hear Austin it's
coming this way.
Houston, I've been the DallasFort worth area, but there's
nothing like hopping in a carand taking a drive for some good
music.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Great, great, yeah, that's.
That's very cool.
Just stay in touch and I'll letyou know when we're going to be
that way Absolutely Well, Ilove it.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Michael, I want to thank you for jumping on being a
part of our podcast, even justsharing your story of how God
has walked with you through lifeand the struggles and impacted
you, and how you are using thatto also just impact others, and
so thank you again for being ontoday, for having me Absolutely,
absolutely, oh, it's been mypleasure.
(37:43):
I look forward to, uh, catchingsome of your music performances
, especially here in texas.
But, listeners, I do want toencourage you um, matney, go
check out matney rocks.
Um, he has some amazing musicthere that you would enjoy, and,
as always, we want to supportthe community that's advancing
the kingdom of God, and so let'sdo what we can to be of support
(38:07):
.
Again, thank you for being on.
Listeners, thank you for tuningin.
As always, you know, gracevilleCommunity is a space where we
desire to inspire and encourageyou to be a part of community
that is doing and learning aboutthe kingdom of God, and so, if
you are looking for communityanywhere throughout the global,
(38:29):
we are here for you.
We do have an online communitybase and we would love to
connect you with a word teachingcommunity near you, and so feel
free to reach outgracefieldcommunitycom.
Take care.
Thanks again, michael.
Bye, nicole.
Thank you for tuning in totoday's episode of Gracefield
(38:52):
Community Podcast.
We would like to invite you tovisit gracefieldcommunitycom.
Gracefield Community is allabout doing church the way
Church of Acts did, using fivemain principles that we see in
the book of Acts Sharingresources, as believers pooled
(39:13):
their possessions and resourcesto support those in need, as we
see in Acts 2.44.
As we see in Acts 2.44.
Through hospitality the earlyChristians practiced hospitality
by opening their homes toothers, as we see in Acts 2.46.
By financial aid the church inAntioch sent financial aid to
(39:36):
believers in Judea during a timeof famine, as described in Acts
11 and 29.
Prayer and encouragement theysupported each other through
prayer and encouragement, as wesee in Acts 4 and 24.
And finally, spiritual guidancethe apostles and elders
(39:57):
provided spiritual guidance andteaching to help strengthen and
build the community, as we seein Acts 15 30.
I would like to encourage you.
If any of those areas are areasin which you are in need or can
contribute, please reach out toGraceville Community.
We are working together acrossthe world with ministries and
(40:21):
individuals alike, to help bringback the Church of Acts.
My name is Nicole Cater, your host, founder and
servant leader of GracefieldCommunity.
I want to thank you for tuningin to Gracefield Community
Podcast.
This is a safe space, a placein which we just share stories
of how God has touchedindividuals' lives all across
the world and how they are nowimpacting the kingdom of God.
(00:21):
Thank you for tuning in.
Blessings to you.
Hello Grace Field communitylisteners, I am so excited that
you've chosen to tune into ourpodcast today.
Our goal is that we inspire youthrough our conversation.
We are going to have a nicetime with some organic,
(00:43):
authentic communication todaywith Mr Michael Matney.
Hey Michael, hey Nicole, howare you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Appreciate this.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Absolutely.
I'm so excited to have you ontoday and just to have some
conversation.
I think you have a uniquebackground that I'm so excited
for our listeners to hear about.
So, before we dive into, allthe things we want to talk about
please tell our listeners, giveus some background, tell us a
little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Okay, nicole, my name is Mike Matney and I'm a
musician and I'm from a smalltown in southwest Virginia, a
little rural community calledRichlands.
I've lived here most of my life.
I've lived in Nashville for awhile and mostly here.
When I was a.
When I was a young guy 18, 19 Iworked in a record store around
(01:39):
here and I got the opportunity,had a little small studio in
the back and I got theopportunity, had a little small
studio in the back and I got theopportunity to record an album
just a little four-track albumand saved up my yard, mowing
money and stuff and we had like200-some copies of it, gave them
away, whatever.
Well, fast forward.
About 10 years later I gotcontacted to become a
(02:00):
collector's item.
It was selling for like ahundred and some dollars a copy
and of course I didn't have anycopies left.
But as you flash forward to now, it's like a thousand dollars
for copy.
I've got signed by a couple ofrecord labels and I've been
blessed.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Awesome.
Well, definitely sounds like it.
I mean, let's just start Like I.
You have a talent that I do nothave.
It is a gift for sure.
Cause, to start like I, youhave a talent that I do not have
.
It is a gift for sure.
Because, um, nobody has offeredme any type of labels for any
type of recording for my singingat all.
If anything, when I'm singingin the shower, my family is like
close the door, good well,you're obviously talented well,
(02:43):
thank you, look, you, look, stayat our, stay at our leads right
.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Right, there you go.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Oh well, I'm excited today about our conversation
because I'm all about just likekingdom business, right, and
just talking truths about thegospel.
And so I want to ask you, like,in what you do right.
So you've come from abackground with music.
We know that the music industrycan be a lot said about right,
(03:12):
and then there's this aspect oflike from rock and roll to folk
and then continuing that intobringing into the gospel, like
what are your thoughts abouttaking the gospel in place to
this places that it not usuallyis at right?
It's like not a church setting.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I can't believe.
You said that.
It's the words.
We've used those words for thelast few years.
All right, um, that's the thingabout it.
I, my mom, uh, I grew up inchurch.
My mom played piano in church.
I've been around music my wholelife and, uh, of course, I got,
uh, I grew up in the 70s, 80sI'm an old guy and I was in, you
(03:49):
know, the rock stuff and I wentdown that road and, uh, for me
now being a musician, I meanI've, uh, I just recently
finished the product projectwith stevie salas out of austin.
Uh, stevie's a big-timemusician, so I'm still deeply
into the rock thing and whatthat's allowed me to do is, uh,
(04:11):
it has allowed me to to.
You know, I've went out towardthe country, smaller clubs and
stuff, and I have got a chanceto uh talk to people you know
about about it and take itplaces that it doesn't go, and
and I made the promise a longtime ago and this is going to
sound kind of corny, but but Imade the promise a long time ago
to myself and to him that thebigger that I got, the more
(04:33):
people just want to know I was achristian, and so I'm trying to
stick to that uh.
So now it's kind of gave me theopportunity to to uh break into
my uh to the gospel.
I'm trying to do the gospel onthe side too.
Last year I got considered fora grammy in the rock stuff, so
(04:54):
this year my goal is is to getconsidered for a grammy and the
gospel stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
To get that yes, I love that.
I love it.
You know, one of the things Ithink about is just the great
commission.
Right, like we are to go outand make disciples, and I think
so so often, especially ifyou've been in a Christian
community or raised like in thechurch.
Like you said, you and I bothwere raised in a church, right
(05:22):
we I mean, we used to have thesetracks right, it's like go take
this book and pass this bookout, or go do this versus living
our lives to where it is atestament of the gospel.
And so I love what you're doing, because you are living your
life as a musician.
You're taking the gifts and thetalents that you've been given
but using that to go outside ofthe four walls and to help
(05:46):
disciple, in a sense of bringingthe gospel to others.
Um, you know, I imagine thatthat has to be pretty rewarding
for you, because you get to dothe aspect that you love while
you also see the gospel goingforth.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I'll tell you a cool story.
Um, just just one story thatcomes to mind.
Uh, to mind, I've got, ofcourse, I've got an Instagram
account and stuff too.
And I got a message from a guyand he said that he was the
owner of the largest, I thinkthe only, rock station in the
middle of Russia, right in themiddle of Russia, he said.
(06:21):
He said I like your stuff.
He said I like your songs, hesaid.
He said he said okay, if I playhim.
He said can you send me, youknow, copies of him?
And I was like, sure, sure, Idid.
So.
Uh, an hour or two later I'msitting there thinking I said
okay, so I wrote the guy backand I said, well, uh, you know
(06:43):
the religious music.
And he writes back and he saysI love that.
He said I'll play that.
And so I thought you know, yeah, that's cool.
You know, if I can do that kindof stuff, then that's that
makes me feel.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Absolutely yes.
And the thing is, I mean,scripture tells us, right, like
one may plant a seed, anothermay water, and then another one
will water, and then we'll seeit grow.
Right, and so we never knowwhere those deposits are falling
.
And so kudos to you for even um, I think that's the thing,
right, like looking for theopportunities to bring the
(07:15):
gospel in right.
It's not necessarily walkingaround with Jesus written on my
forehead.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you
Anytime I get an opportunity ina podcast to bring it up or talk
about it, and if I can do apodcast speaking and so forth.
The words personalaccountability.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And so I imagine that means a lot to you, especially,
maybe just even in the musicindustry.
So tell me, you know a littlebit about personal
accountability, Like what isthat for you?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Well, I mean, I feel responsible, you know, for, of
course, my own actions.
I feel responsible, you know,for, uh, of course, my own
actions and, uh, you know, Ithink that the things I do,
because I, I'm a musician,because that I, I I do have, you
know, I mean I am in a position, I mean, you know, I, I have to
(08:23):
be careful about things I sayand things I do and things I act
, because it's a reflection ofyou know you're supposed to be
letting him live through you,right, extremely.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
You know it's tough, you know imagine you know, in
your sense, like it has to betough being around, I mean, and
I haven't set in a rock and rolllike behind the scenes
backstage you know environment,we see all these things that you
know, even in news lines, right, you hear about this, you hear
(08:57):
about this person, and so Iimagine that it is heavy listing
of temptation that you have toovercome to keep the, the gospel
inside of you and keep himinside of you, like, keep your
testimony pure, right, um?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
it's easy.
You know, uh, you want toinfluence, you know, but you
have to be careful that you'renot influenced.
You know, you find yourself.
Uh, I'm a guy you know I.
I got some guys in one of thebands I play and you know, you
find yourself.
Uh, I'm a guy, you know I.
I got some guys in one of thebands I play, and you know
they'll, they'll let a a fewcurse words slip here and there
and if I'm not careful, you knowwhat I'm saying yes, yeah, and
(09:36):
it's so easy, right, like tofall into that diverse
temptation, right, it's soeasily to do.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Can I just ask, like, what are some of the boundaries
that you've created foryourself to help you?
Um kind of be accountable, inthat sense?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I don't drink anymore .
Uh, I don't drink.
Uh, you know, when we go outand we play out and stuff, I
mean I'm the uh, I'm uh, I'm thefirst one back to the hotel and
, uh, I don't, don't, I don'tget out and go.
You know, that's probably.
I probably should socializemore at the clubs.
(10:10):
I got I've got chastised forthat and stay out longer than I
do and everything.
Meet more people than I do.
But I'm pretty much at my ageand everything.
I'm ready to go to the houseafter the show, right, and so,
yeah, so that I mean I, I try to, uh, I get tickled.
My bass player, he calls methat, he calls me an oak out on
(10:31):
the road, you know, because Idon't sometimes I don't
participate in some of theirshenanigans yes, okay, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
One of the things that comes to mind, though, is,
um, when you talk about, like,having that aspect of doing
things differently.
I mean, isn't that what theBible communicates is that we're
set apart, and so sometimesthat is a part of our witness of
us.
Our nose, right, it is our nose.
That sometimes is the witness.
(11:01):
I recall there was acircumstance where I had a
family member, and some yearshad gone by, and this family
member like called and was likeI'm so excited.
You know, someone just talkedto me about Jesus.
I've accepted Jesus, and Iremember being super excited for
them and then being like did Iever talk to them about Jesus?
(11:25):
Like, did I ever say do youknow Jesus?
Can I share something with youabout Jesus?
And at first I was feelingpretty guilty, like I was
beating myself up.
Which y'all?
That is my um.
If I was to sit here and saythis is my opposite of
superpower, this is myvulnerability, weakness is like
being harder on myself, right.
(11:45):
And so I was feeling bad in thesense of like man, like I don't
know if I like, why did it takesomebody else to say something
if I didn't say anything?
And I actually told them and Isaid you know, I'm so sorry, I
think I failed you.
I think that, like, could thishave happened sooner if I said
something to you years ago beingthat I knew you and they gave
(12:09):
me one of the greatest responsessticks with me.
And they said one, it wasn'ttime, my heart was not ready to
receive.
And it said two you did witnessto me through all your no's,
through all the times that we'reas a family.
Maybe we're coming togetherdrinking.
You're like no, I'm not doingthat today.
Or maybe we are coming togetherand everybody else is cursing
(12:29):
and you're choosing.
Like I'm not using words likethat.
Or she was like, even in theexample of, like how you treat
people, it was like, how can yoube so kind with this situation?
Like I'm cussing this lady out.
And so there was that thoughtof like that is the witness.
I I never did say jesus name,but all of those deposits, what
(12:50):
led to when that person did come, she had a, a reference point
of what it looks like to live alife with christ that's.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I love it.
That's I'm glad you told methat story.
That's perfect.
That's the perfect example ofthat.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah, and I think that, like as you were saying,
like you know I get it I'm theone that's like I'm going home
or I'm not participating in this, or we're in our room when
everybody else is maybe having aquote, unquote good time.
But that is a part of thewitness and it's a part of the
sacrifice, right Like we signedup for this when we signed up to
follow Christ.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Listen, I'll say this I've sit there and I'm making
myself out to be a goody twoshoes, but I have failed
gloriously at times.
So yeah, I'm, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yes, I, you know.
I think too, about a few monthsago I don't know, maybe a year
ago now right, I was just reallysitting and reading some of
Paul's writings and I came to apoint of recognizing the whole
aspect of like.
If eating meat would offend mybrother, right.
And the thought concept of likeeating meat's not wrong, right.
(14:05):
Like it's not wrong.
Nowhere in the Bible does itsay do not do this right.
And what he was essentiallysaying is that if it would cause
them to see my witnessdifferently, then I won't do it
in their presence.
Right.
(14:25):
And so, even when it comes tothe aspect of drinking like, I
was one that let me tell you, Iwas drinking before the age of
21.
I had my college days.
Why, I wouldn't say why myparents let me, but why I even
chose to go to school atUniversity of Nevada, las Vegas,
of all places, right.
So there were definitely daysof like, heavy drinking.
(14:45):
And as I became an adult and asI continued like and started
really diving into my journeywith Christ like, it wasn't
until recently that it was like,wait a minute, I shouldn't do
this.
Not because you say it's wrongNow, yes, you say you should not
get drunk, but you've neversaid it's wrong to have a glass
of wine.
You've never said that it'swrong to partake in this.
(15:08):
But yet if me doing it at arestaurant where others that I,
tomorrow, will be speaking andministering the gospel to is
gonna cause them the question,the gospel that comes forth,
then that means I'm.
I shouldn't be doing this, andso even the recognition of like
hey, there's things that I usedto do and we're daily.
(15:30):
It's a daily choice, right, hismercies are new each day, just
like God makes a choice to giveus new mercies each day.
I need to make a choice to lovehim in my actions each day.
And, like you said, we're goingto drop the ball.
All have said and fallen short.
I'm going to drop the ball attimes and thank the Lord for his
grace that I could come rightback in and say, hey, let me
correct this, right.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I heard somebody say one time that they were
deserving of a double helping ofgrace, so I guess that would be
me.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
I'm'm really, I'm really counting on yes, well,
look, so many of us are, meincluded.
I think there's a reason why Ican talk about like a
grace-filled community, becausethat's what it is right.
We all are in that grace.
Not a grace that says, hey,this is permission to do, but a
(16:20):
grace that says when you havedone is permission to do, but a
grace that says when you havedone, he's still here and loves
you with open arms.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Yeah, there's nothing you know that should separate
you from that.
You're exactly right?
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yes, absolutely so I wouldn't.
We're talking about themusician side, but I recall
seeing something about insurance.
So tell me, what do you do andhow does that come together?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
That kind of pays the bills.
I mean, you know, these days,being a musician, I mean it's
tough.
You know I'm an indie musician,I don't have a gig with a major
label or anything, so you knowit's always about the money and
finances.
You know supporting alwaysabout the money, finances, you
know supporting yourself andstuff.
So my dad, uh, we've had it.
He's had an insurance agencyfor years in town.
(17:08):
So uh, he's 87 now and I comeback I'm running that we both
have farms here and so, uh, it's, uh, I mean it's, it's okay,
it's, it's you get to serve thecommunity and at the same time,
I mean it pays the bills.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yes, I hear that.
Right, pay the bills.
Somebody has to pay the bills.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I got a friend.
I got a friend over in the UK.
It's in a band and recently hetold me he said that he said
several years ago.
Uh, he said he was goingthrough a session.
Both of them passed and hespoke right quickly to him and
asked him, said you know, do youhave any advice for you know
up-and-coming musician,struggling musician?
(17:50):
So mick jagger walked on, hesays yeah, I said never give up.
And he said he got on down thestreet a little bit and turned
around.
You know your day job.
Yeah, so, yeah, so theinsurance agency is by day job.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yes, yeah, okay, great, and I imagine I mean we
were talking about the musicianside.
But, like you said, likeinsurance is a way that you also
interact with people.
You get a chance to be thereeven in times where they're
making hard choices and harddecisions.
Have you found that that alsoleads to a way that you bring
the gospel through?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Yes, I mean absolutely, and you know where I
live at.
I mean there's a church everyhundred yards.
I mean I'm writing smackdown inthe middle of the Bible.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Everybody is.
Everybody knows each other, andeverybody knows each other from
church, and I love that aboutmy community, and so that's one
of the good things about gettingto work with the public.
Hey, let's take a quick breakto tell you about Grace-Filled
Community.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Gracefield Community is an organization that focuses
on the primary principles of theChurch of Acts, centered around
building communities thatimpact the Kingdom of God.
We do this through three coreextensions 1.
Gracefield Church Network,where we empower churches and
nonprofits for God's success andgrowth.
We offer tailored growthstrategies rooted in biblical
principles that will help youexpand your reach and impact
(19:32):
your communities.
Just like the early church, wefocus not on attendance and
numbers, but on discipleship,providing leadership teachings
and trainings to today'sministry leaders.
Our second extension is Projectof the Grace Field, where we
provide biblical counseling,mentorship, workshops and events
(19:53):
that are dedicated toencouraging individuals to live
a life filled with grace andpurpose, rooted in the
understanding that all havefallen short and are a working
project.
Let us help the individuals inyour community grow as they walk
with God and experience thefullness of his love.
(20:13):
Our third extension is thegrace-filled business.
Grace-filled business is hereto help small, faith-based
business owners develop theirbusiness in a way that honors
God, that brings increase andallows them to pour back into
His kingdom, through marketplaceministry and financing His
kingdom.
We do this through our 15 yearsof experience of virtual
(20:37):
administrative work, digitalmarketing, business development
and consulting.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Welcome back.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I'm looking here and I'm like, oh my gosh, see how
fast time gets the flyer on us,right?
I want to ask another question,though.
You know, when we talk aboutstruggles, I for sure have had
my own share of struggles andhave daily struggles, right?
I think there's a reason why,like I mentioned earlier, like
(21:06):
God's mercies are new every day,I think there's a reason why
we're told to renew our mind.
I think there's a reason whywe're told to meditate on his
word day and night, right,because there are struggles that
we will have.
We have our natural human bodythat carries struggles or fight,
fighting a spiritual warfare.
Then we have this mental aspectthat we have to take care of,
(21:28):
right, for our mental health.
Then then there's the emotionalcomponents and yes, michael,
you are a male, I happen to be afemale that deals with like
these, like perimenopause, andso there's all these emotions
also present.
But when I, when I think aboutstruggles, like it can be easy
(21:49):
to like take those struggles andjust put them behind like a
closed door, or even sometimesputting them behind like the
cross.
So what are, what are yourthoughts when it comes to, like,
the struggles that happen inlife?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Oh gosh For me.
I mean, I found that thehardest times I've ever faced my
sister overdosed and back about2018 or so, and my mom died,
like a couple years after that,and those things for me, I mean,
those were devastating and butI found and then I struggled
(22:30):
with addiction years ago too.
It's probably, um, it's been 30years ago or so, but I can
remember those times in my lifewhen, uh, I was at my lowest or
whatever struggles that you know, I found comfort and I felt the
closest to him during thosetimes and you know that that for
(22:51):
me, I've just always turned tohim when I hit that point where
I've got to have help.
You know, um, I found thatthat's.
That's the answer for me as faras the struggles go is prayer.
You know a lot of prayer, right?
So I guess what you're askingis that is that kind of what
(23:14):
you're saying.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Yeah, I mean definitely, like I think
struggling with God on your sideessentially means that you
experience difficult situationsin a different way.
Right, like I say it, I know wehear it all the time Like I
don't know how to do lifewithout God and I'm grateful, as
I'm sure you are being raisedin a church.
(23:35):
Like even when it was at timeswhere I was there because I had
to be there, I was told to bethere.
At times where I was therebecause I had to be there, I was
told to be there.
But there were deposits beingimparted in my spirit, even when
I was there unwillingly rightthere you can't get out.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Take it away from it.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yes, and so when, when I hit difficult times, even
in my season of turning awayfrom God and difficult times it
would be it was, it was like itwas in there and it was like
there's something to hold on to,there's a hope, there's a faith
, even when I was wrestling withdoubt, right, there was still
this aspect of like.
(24:12):
But what if?
Because all of this had beenimparted into me, I had heard
and it had hit into my spirit,and so I like how you said, like
just struggling with God on ourside.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I'm so thankful for that understanding and I'm so
thankful that my parents, likeyou say, I was raised in a home
that was, you know, a churchhome.
You know, church, a church home, you know.
Yeah, you get that once.
You get that in you.
I think that's.
I don't know if you could sayit's the calling or it's, it's,
(24:48):
it's, it's there.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, absolutely.
Um, I think that's the thingthat I encourage people today,
that especially parents like youknow.
Um, sometimes I go to theseevents and they say like hey,
what would you say to like newparents?
Like I'm having being a mom oftwins, having me a mom of
teenagers now having lost achild.
They say, what would you say toyou know, a new parent?
And my thing I would say iskeep them as close as you can to
(25:18):
community, that a faithcommunity.
Because in all that I've seen,and even in my own life
experience, it's that when youhave them around, community of
like-minded believers, eventhough they may veer off, right,
there's this aspect of like.
Like the Bible says, train up achild in the way that you can
(25:40):
go and he will not depart.
Like, they may veer off, butthey come back home, right.
And it's so much easier whenyou're around community of
like-minded people that canencourage you, that can uplift
you.
You know that you can buildthis faith walk together,
because it's not easy to doalone.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Nicole, I like you, you're a good person, oh look,
thank you, thank you, I like youtoo.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
Look, I'm excited to dive into your music.
Um, you know, I do want to saytoo, as I, as we talk about all
of this, like when it comes toyour music, and um, what aspect
like, how early did you start,how early did you start?
When did you know?
(26:24):
Like, hey, I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Well, my mom, like I said, I grew up with mom being a
piano player in a church andwhen I was six years old, I can
actually remember you got toremember.
The times was different then.
I can remember getting out ofschool at first grade and
walking across the street into aneighborhood and taking lessons
with a lady named Mrs Hubbardand walking back, and that was
(26:49):
in the first grade.
So yeah, I've been at it quitea while yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
So how has your faith affected, like affected your
music?
Speaker 2 (27:01):
uh, well, you know, a lot of times now, when I sit
down to write a song, I'll haveto struggle to write a secular
song, you know, you know, writea faith song, I mean, I think
about it.
I think about it constantly asfar as my music goes, and right
now again, I'm getting ready touh, to go down a road with a
(27:22):
gospel album.
I'll tell you just about itright quick, if I can.
Yeah, of course.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I mean I was going to ask, like what's coming up for
you, but please do tell.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I've started on it already and, like a couple of
weeks ago I recorded a couple ofsongs.
Go, I recorded a couple ofsongs.
Uh, my, uh, I got a friend thatruns a recording studio named
jay on in nashville on music brojay's place.
He got some great musicians todo it.
I didn't play on it, I justwrote the songs and, uh, my
brother-in-law sang on it.
(27:54):
Uh, he plays drums for thelittle river band.
He sang on it and a guy namedmichael lusk sang on it, and I'm
really pleased with how it'scoming out.
So my idea is to put out analbum.
Uh, I just want to just writethis stuff and let you know some
other guys do it, some reallygood musicians and uh, and get
it out there.
So I've been trying to think ofhow I can do that and still be
(28:16):
involved by name and stuff on it.
So I'm thinking now I've got abuddy that we make some, uh, we
make some videos for the songsand stuff together.
I sent you a couple of them.
Uh, we've been talking about itwith the new ai and all that
stuff.
Now we're thinking about, uh,making this is gonna sound silly
, okay, but we're thinking aboutmaking a muppet band you know
(28:36):
for the gospel stuff and do thevideos and everything for the
seven yes, well, look, you saidit's gonna sound silly, but in
today's time, as I mentioned, Ihave three teenagers and I don't
know, have you heard of thisskippity toilet thing?
Speaker 1 (28:53):
no, okay, let me tell you, nothing is as silly as
this and this toilet is likeblowing up.
I think it's like skippity-dooI can never say it right
skippity-doo, skippity-doo.
Our listeners if you have teens, you probably know what I'm
talking about but it literallyis is a guy's head coming out of
(29:13):
a toilet singing a song, and ithas gone viral.
There are toys in Walmartrepresenting this.
I mean, mean it is crazy, and Ithey pulled up a video and said
, like mom, this is whatskippity thing is.
And I'm like what am I wastingThree minutes of my life on
right now?
But the reality is it hasreached I can't even say
(29:37):
somebody.
It has reached millions ofpeople.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Um, through the toilet.
I have got a six-year-oldgrandson, five-year-old,
six-year-old grandson.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I'll have to check this out yes, yes, I'm telling
you, um, and I guess there'speople that have also like,
repeated it.
It's become a huge thing.
And I again I was looking atthe video, like am I watching a
head out of a toilet sing a song?
Like, is this what we're doing?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Take the Muppet thing , man.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
Yeah.
So all that to say, like Ithink the Muppet is an excellent
idea.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
It's funny.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Yes, oh, I love it, I love it.
You know what?
Yes, oh, I love it, I love it.
You know what?
You didn't say some of this,but I feel like I would be doing
a disservice to our audiencenot to just mention some of the
spaces that you've been in,because I know when I was
(30:41):
reading through it and I'm likeI'm just gonna go into it so for
our audience, let me just tellyou, michael started piano
lessons at age six, and when hewas eight he was his music was
on the radio.
music on the radio captivatedhim and he started to play the
guitar.
So he was doing piano at six,guitar starting at eight.
(31:05):
He had moved several times as achild and got accustomed with
having to make new friends, andso that was a constant thing in
his life.
And so one day a friend invitedhim to his basement where his
older brother and some friendswere jamming with the electric
guitar.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I'm going to pause there.
I want you to finish tellingthat story.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I'm like let me pause , because you probably could
tell it better than I can readit.
But I was like wow.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Well, this was the 70s, you know, and this is when
music was just rock, was justreally going.
Well, these guys, a friend ofmine, his brother in high school
we were like junior high, sohis brother had a band and we
went to the basement, listenedto him and I was just blown away
.
I mean, at that point, you know, I said that's what I want to
do.
And, uh, really, I never lookedback since then.
(31:49):
I was always from as soon as Igot out of high school, my
parents knew they just sent meto nashville at 18.
I was living in nashville, youknow.
So, uh, deep into it and uh,and that lasted, for I thought I
was going to be big time, andthen that lasted for about a
year and then I was living outof my car and I came back and
(32:11):
that's when I recorded thatalbum.
That you know, my first album,yeah, yes, yeah, and I noticed.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I mean you mentioned living out of your car and I
also read that you saved up yardmowing money.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Yeah, for the first album.
I mean it was the way it workedis.
A friend of mine was an old guy, had a record store in town and
he always wanted to have arecording studio.
So he had a little machine inthe back, a little four-track
recorder, and I worked for him,kept the store open so he'd let
me go in the back of the eveningand record.
(32:43):
He'd record me on hisfour-track machine.
Well, he passed away and I hadrecorded enough songs on that
four-track recorder that I wasable to go to Nashville and get
this pressed up.
You know, with the money thatI'd saved up and, like I said,
(33:06):
we gave them away at shows andgave them away to people.
We had no idea that you know,they would become more something
one day Right.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Crazy to me, right?
Well, I think that's even atestament to our listeners that
are entrepreneurs, our listenersthat have these goals and
dreams, right, like you know, sooften I always say like you see
me on the mountaintop, but youdon't know the story of all I
went through to get to thispoint that you see today and I
love how you acknowledge that.
Like it was mowing yards, itwas living in your car, where
(33:33):
some of the sacrifices that weremade to really invest into this
thing that you want to do, Ididn't even know what was going
on.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
I was, I was away from it and I was told that it
had done this over the years,you know.
So it was kind of a shock, butout of that it's come a lot of
great stuff, I mean.
So it's like I said, it's beena blessing.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Well, I just want to say y'all.
So Michael has a music degreeas well.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I do have a degree in recording industry management
from Middle Tennessee StateUniversity, a REM degree.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Awesome.
I went back later in life andgot that, so I'm kind of proud
of that too.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Yeah, well, I can imagine.
So you know, I think thatespecially kind of in all the
resources and things that wehave and don't get me wrong, I
am a YouTube university girlright, I'm like you can go on
YouTube, you can learn anything.
But I commend you for choosingto go back and really get that
I'll say that paper, behind theaspect of the education and
(34:38):
spending the time right the timeand your resources to get that
music degree, especially hearingthe humble beginnings in which
you started from.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
And nobody in my family had ever had a college
degree, so it was I was thefirst one in my family to have
one, so yeah, Awesome.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Well, congratulations to you.
I'm sure that's a huge deal.
And again, it changes thetrajectory for the family, right
?
It's something that breaks aswe talk about, like those
spiritual battles that we fight.
Right, it breaks thosegenerational curses and says,
hey, I'm going to be the one todo this.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
I've got a nephew right now that I'm really
talking to and he's inspired menow.
So he's a young guy, he's goingto take it on, he's going to
the seminary, you know, for fouryears, and so I'm just, you
know, encouraging him.
His mom was the mom I told youabout my sister, you know, for
overdosing.
So that's her boy, and to seehim doing what he's going to do,
(35:33):
she'd be so proud.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Wow, wow, that's so touching, so touching.
Well, michael, I know that ourtime is running short.
There's only so much time weget in these podcasts, but I do
want to say you know, I know youtalked about that you're
working on this.
I mean, you've written thesongs for it, others are singing
(35:55):
it, but tell us a little bitmore about what's coming up next
for you and definitely how wecan stay connected.
How can we follow you, how canwe support you?
How can we get your music?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
All right.
So for the rock band forMatinee, you can find me at
matineerocks and there's videoson YouTube under Matinee Music.
We've got a YouTube channelthere.
It's doing pretty good.
You can find me on Instagram atMatinee Band.
I've got a Facebook page.
We're out there.
Anybody can reach out to me onMessenger anytime.
(36:26):
The band I think we're going tobe in I think we're going to
Florida in May.
We're doing a festival there inOrlando and they get more
information on the website aboutthat, and I know that we got a
thing in Houston in May.
We we're gonna be getting outsome this summer.
We we've not got out.
My band is based in austin andI'm here in virginia, so it's
(36:48):
kind of tough to look back.
We'll probably be getting outthis summer and stuff.
So yeah, check us out pleaseawesome.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
I love it and you know I am a te Texas girl.
I'm right here in Texas, so I'mso excited to hear Austin it's
coming this way.
Houston, I've been the DallasFort worth area, but there's
nothing like hopping in a carand taking a drive for some good
music.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
Great, great, yeah, that's.
That's very cool.
Just stay in touch and I'll letyou know when we're going to be
that way Absolutely Well, Ilove it.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Michael, I want to thank you for jumping on being a
part of our podcast, even justsharing your story of how God
has walked with you through lifeand the struggles and impacted
you, and how you are using thatto also just impact others, and
so thank you again for being ontoday, for having me Absolutely,
absolutely, oh, it's been mypleasure.
(37:43):
I look forward to, uh, catchingsome of your music performances
, especially here in texas.
But, listeners, I do want toencourage you um, matney, go
check out matney rocks.
Um, he has some amazing musicthere that you would enjoy, and,
as always, we want to supportthe community that's advancing
the kingdom of God, and so let'sdo what we can to be of support
(38:07):
.
Again, thank you for being on.
Listeners, thank you for tuningin.
As always, you know, gracevilleCommunity is a space where we
desire to inspire and encourageyou to be a part of community
that is doing and learning aboutthe kingdom of God, and so, if
you are looking for communityanywhere throughout the global,
(38:29):
we are here for you.
We do have an online communitybase and we would love to
connect you with a word teachingcommunity near you, and so feel
free to reach outgracefieldcommunitycom.
Take care.
Thanks again, michael.
Bye, nicole.
Thank you for tuning in totoday's episode of Gracefield
(38:52):
Community Podcast.
We would like to invite you tovisit gracefieldcommunitycom.
Gracefield Community is allabout doing church the way
Church of Acts did, using fivemain principles that we see in
the book of Acts Sharingresources, as believers pooled
(39:13):
their possessions and resourcesto support those in need, as we
see in Acts 2.44.
As we see in Acts 2.44.
Through hospitality the earlyChristians practiced hospitality
by opening their homes toothers, as we see in Acts 2.46.
By financial aid the church inAntioch sent financial aid to
(39:36):
believers in Judea during a timeof famine, as described in Acts
11 and 29.
Prayer and encouragement theysupported each other through
prayer and encouragement, as wesee in Acts 4 and 24.
And finally, spiritual guidancethe apostles and elders
(39:57):
provided spiritual guidance andteaching to help strengthen and
build the community, as we seein Acts 15 30.
I would like to encourage you.
If any of those areas are areasin which you are in need or can
contribute, please reach out toGraceville Community.
We are working together acrossthe world with ministries and
(40:21):
individuals alike, to help bringback the Church of Acts.
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