Matt Brouwer

Matt Brouwer (born February 28, 1976) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. While in college, he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW). Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD Imagerical. The album was released on May 29, 2001, on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released albums titled Unlearning in 2005, Where's Our Revolution (Universal) in 2009, and Till The Sunrise in 2012. Brouwer's music is known for its Contemporary Christian message as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the death of his father) and hope (his spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.
Early years
Matthew Paul Brouwer was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. His dad ran a dairy farm and his mother worked as a teacher. When Brouwer was three years old his father was killed in a car accident. Brouwer is one of 7 siblings.
While attending college, Brouwer co-founded a group known as Monday Night Worship (MNW). "It started with a conversation a group of us (students) had about our hunger to not only know about God, but to begin a journey of actually knowing Him," said Brouwer. MNW released two independent CDs featuring songs written and sung by Brouwer, many of which were also featured on his solo debut CD, Imagerical. Brouwer and other members of the college group eventually parted ways or were signed to Provident Label Group as separate acts.
Musical career
Matt Brouwer's first single, "Water", was a hit on CCM radio's CHR chart, reaching No. 2 on R&R in 2001. The follow-up singles, "A New Song", and "Sanity", were top 20 and top 10 hits respectively as well. Brouwer hit the airwaves again with a cover of Sheryl Crow's "I Shall Believe", which graced Billboards Christian chart in 2005. The hit "Sometimes" from Where's Our Revolution did even better, charting in the top 20 on Billboard in 2010. An acoustic cover version of the Goo Goo Dolls song, "Better Days", also charted for Brouwer on the Billboard chart in 2011. Brouwer's CD Imagerical was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2002 Canadian JUNO Awards. He won a JUNO Award in 2010 for the album Where's Our Revolution; it was named best Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year. He has been nominated for 15 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, winning three. His songs have been featured in the Canadian produced hit teen television drama Degrassi.
Personal life
Matt Brouwer married Hannah Dawn Ficker on August 29, 2010, in Houston, Texas. The couple met during a trip Brouwer took to Guatemala, where Hannah's family serves in medical missions. The couple has 3 children.
Discography
Albums
Imagerical (Reunion Records, 2001, review) OCLC: 47203906.
Unlearning (Black Shoe Records, 2005, review) OCLC: 137341514.
The B-Sides Recording, Vol. 1 (Black Shoe Records, 2006)
Where's Our Revolution (Black Shoe Records, 2009, review) OCLC: 316822224.
A Merry Little Christmas (Matt Brouwer) (Black Shoe Records, 2010, review OCLC: 881658967.
Till The Sunrise (Black Shoe Records, 2012, review) OCLC: 828529155.
Writing to Remember (Black Shoe Records, 2014, review)
Notable appearances
Vocals on Jill Paquette's debut album Jill Paquette (Reunion, 2003)
"Better Days" appeared on the TV show Jericho, Episode 1 (Pilot)
Songs on compilations
Rock on Worship, "Water" (Madacy, 2002)
Sea to Sea: I See The Cross, "Home" (CMC, 2005)
Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation, "Your Name" (CMC, 2007)
GMA Canada presents 30th Anniversary Collection, "Water" (CMC, 2008)
Sea to Sea: Christmas, "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (Lakeside, 2009)
Awards and recognition
GMA Canada Covenant Awards
2007 nominee, Praise And Worship Album of the Year: The B-Sides Recording, Volume 1
2008 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
2008 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year: Beautiful Now
2009 Folk/Roots Song of the Year: The Other Side (with Amy Grant and Vince Gill)
2009 GMA Canada/Blessings Christian Marketplace Fan's Choice Award *won
2009 nominee, Male Vocalist of the Year
2009 nominee, Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
2009 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
2009 nominee, Recorded Song of the Year: "Come Back Around"
2009 nominee, Music Video of the Year: "I Shall Believe"
2012 nominee, Pop/Contemporary Album Of The Year: Till The Sunrise
2012 Inspirational Song of the Year: "Ocean"
2013 nominee, Inspirational Song of the Year: "Love Can Find A Way"
2014 nominee, Recorded Song of the Year: "Tonight"
2015 nominee, Song of the Year: "Waking Up"
East Coast Music Awards
2010 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
2013 nominee, Gospel Recording of the Year: Till The Sunrise
Independent Music Awards
2010 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Song of the Year: "Sometimes"
2010 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
2013 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Till The Sunrise
Juno Awards
2002 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Imagerical
2010, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Where's Our Revolution
Shai Awards (formerly the Vibe Awards)
2002 Male Vocalist of the Year
2002 Worship Album of the Year: Imagerical
References
External links
Matt Brouwer official website
[ Bio at Billboard magazine]
[ Billboard 2010 chart]
1976 births
Canadian male singer-songwriters
Canadian singer-songwriters
Canadian people of German descent
Canadian performers of Christian music
Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year winners
Living people
Musicians from Nova Scotia
People from Truro, Nova Scotia
21st-century Canadian male singers
21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters