Crys Matthews blends Americana, folk, country, rock, blues and gospel for an exciting listen. Her music is relatable yet hard-hitting, delivering the messages we all need to hear. Her latest single is entitled “Forged In Fire” and is the first release with Shamus Records (Woody Guthrie’s Woody at Home, Vol. 1 & 2, Flamy Grant’s CHURCH, and Sam Robbins’ So Much I Still Don’t See).
“Forged In Fire” was released on No Kings Day, a special day in which Americans unite to tell the world we are not ok with the current administration and dictatorship. Crys shares, “The song was written just a few short months into a precarious interpretation of American democracy courtesy of the second Trump administration. The headlines that week were: U.S. Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Ban, Allows Class-Action Lawsuit to Proceed; Protesters Confront Feds in Camarillo, CA, as Agents Target Farmworkers; CPJ Calls for Release of Journalist Mario Guevara; Trump Admin Withdraws Head Start Services for Undocumented Children; CUNY Targets Pro-Palestinian Students and Staff in Latest Crackdown; and countless others about everything from tariffs to deadly floods in Texas. While this song was born out of the chaos of a particular week, almost a year later, in the wake of the turmoil this administration’s disdain for democracy has wrought in Minneapolis and in so many other American cities, “Forged In Fire” feels like a rallying cry from those who withstood similar conditions during the Civil Rights movement.”
The track takes listeners on a journey of rebellion and hope, with powerful vocals from not only Crys Matthews but also Kyshona, Kiley Phillips, Nickie Conley, Wil Merrell, and Jason Eskridge. Seth Glier lends his hand in production that amplifies the vocals, while adding dynamic percussion.
Crys Matthews has been steadily gaining traction building a strong fanbase as well as widespread industry recognition. She continues to amplify the voices of the unheard, shed light on the unseen, and remain a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.
