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Matt Maher is really shining in the second half of 2022, as he just keeps releasing moving songs with fantastic messages of faith. We’ve already discussed “Only Good Will Grow,” one of the best Catholic songs to come out of 2022, but today we have three more on our radar that are bound to resonate with the faithful. So let’s take a look at the first singles to come from Maher’s upcoming album, The Stories I Tell Myself.
Common Ground
The first track we’re looking at is “Common Ground,” a soulful duet for which Maher is joined by Dee Wilson on vocals. This verse has a very Maher-esque melody that Wilson adds some brilliant flair to with a slick melisma. His smooth voice really complements Maher’s own tenor tones, and this element only gets better as the song goes on.
In this song Maher and Wilson make a case for “tearing down the walls” we put up between each other to leave room for God’s love to unite us. To accomplish this, the pair turn to Jesus for intercession and support. The whole thing culminates in an a cappella section that’s really quite moving on the high notes.
One Heart at a Time
“One Heart at a Time” is a simple song that listeners can sing along with on their first hearing. Here, Maher takes the tune in the style of early American Rock, with the vocals and piano sounding reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis.
The melody and lyrics are so easy that it sounds almost like a schoolyard song and we suspect that Maher figured this out for himself, because the music video revolves around a little girl pantomiming playing instruments and mouthing the lyrics. The kid’s antics make the song all the more heartwarming and encourage viewers to live their faith with the innocence of a child.
The Stories I Tell Myself
This was the most surprising song from Maher’s recent releases, and the title track of his upcoming album. The lilting melody creates an atmosphere that conveys a certain sense of yearning. The singer opens up with more modern stories that present a bleak and lonely perspective. He then lists biblical figures, reminding himself of the struggles that can be overcome with a strong faith and the trust in God.
The song is expertly built to turn that sense of yearning introduced in the opening moments into a glorious song of victory. Every time he reaches the chorus, Maher is thinking of the inspirational tales of the scriptures, in which he finds peace. Of course, the most glorious point in the song is when his focus is drawn to Jesus Christ himself.
Maher’s music is really thriving in 2022 and it has us excited for what comes next. Keep up with all of Matt Maher’s releases on YouTube and Facebook. More info on upcoming releases can be found on his dedicated website.
