Chase Matthew is quickly establishing himself as one of country music’s most exciting new voices. A Nashville native, he first gained attention by taking an independent route, building a loyal fanbase with his signature deep twang, high-energy performances, and an unapologetic “country-or-nothing” attitude. His breakout hit ‘County Line' earned RIAA Platinum certification, amassing over 350 million global streams and contributing to his impressive career total of more than one billion streams. With a rapidly growing presence, Matthew has been recognized as an Opry NextStage artist for 2024, included in MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2024, and nominated at the People’s Choice Country Awards.
Following the success of his Gold-certified single ‘Love You Again,' Matthew continues his rise with his latest album CHASE, released today, February 21. His current single ‘Darlin’ is making waves at country radio, while recent collaborations with Flo Rida (‘Floats Your Boat') and Fernando & Sorocaba (‘Cold Blooded') showcase his genre-crossing appeal. Known for selling out venues nationwide on his Come Get Your Memory Tour and its extended run, he is gearing up for an even bigger 2025 World Tour, as well as a highly anticipated trek with Keith Urban. This is the year that Matthew breaks out.
Chase Matthew’s third album, ‘CHASE,' is a bold and emotionally charged statement that cements his place among country music’s rising stars. Packed with themes of love, heartbreak, loss, and longing, the album weaves together big, anthemic country-rock numbers and intimate, reflective ballads. From the hard-hitting, 90s-inspired opener ‘Drives My Truck' to the closer ‘No Way Around It,' Matthew balances raw energy with emotional depth, creating a project that feels both deeply personal and widely relatable.
Kicking off with a bang, ‘Drives My Truck' delivers a classic, rowdy country anthem in the style of artists like Trace Adkins and Toby Keith: celebrating the kind of love that fuels both passion and adrenaline. With pounding drums and electric guitars, it sets the tone for the album’s high-energy moments. On the flip side, tracks like ‘Missing Me Missing You' and ‘Heart Half Empty' explore the push-and-pull of relationships, with the latter featuring a stunning duet with Lauren Alaina. Their back-and-forth vocals bring an added layer of storytelling as Matthew laments, “A glass half full and a heart half empty,” capturing the bittersweet nature of moving on. Think Jason and Kelly, Brad and Carrie for throwback touchstones on this monster duet.
Elsewhere, Matthew embraces a more modern sound, blending country with elements of R&B and rock. ‘I Don’t Wanna Know' stands out as the album’s most genre-blurring moment, featuring rapid-fire, almost spoken-word verses reminiscent of Morgan Wallen’s contemporary style. Meanwhile, ‘Fire in Her Eyes' and ‘You Turn' simmer with tension and desire, showcasing Matthew’s ability to bring both sensuality and heartbreak into his music. The moody production on these tracks enhances their emotional weight, making them standout moments in the album’s storytelling. ‘You Turn,' in particular, channels the album's theme of memory, desire and longing superbly, coming across something akin to Kane Brown jamming with Jason Aldean – yes, it's that good!
The heart of the album, however, lies in its deeply personal explorations of loss and grief. ‘Driving Through My Hometown' and ‘If I Had Wings' offer two perspectives on longing for those who have passed, with the latter’s stripped-down piano arrangement allowing Matthew’s vocals to shine in a raw and moving way. ‘Sunday Clothes,' meanwhile, might be the most poignant moment on the album, painting a vivid picture of grief as Matthew mourns a friend gone too soon. “Saturday’s ain’t meant for Sunday clothes,” he sings, delivering one of the album’s most gut-wrenching lines.
As the album builds toward its conclusion, Matthew leans back into themes of unresolved love and nostalgia. ‘Waiting on You to Call' and ‘Backroads of My Mind' capture the turmoil of relationships that refuse to fade, while ‘No Way Around It' delivers a final, fist-pumping anthem of heartbreak and longing. The high-energy closer ensures the album ends on a powerful, memorable note, reinforcing the themes of passion, regret, and the inescapable pull of the past.
With ‘CHASE' Matthew proves that he’s more than just a country newcomer—he’s an artist with a distinct voice and a talent for crafting deeply relatable songs. Whether he’s delivering a rowdy, radio-ready banger or a soul-stirring ballad, he does so with conviction and authenticity. A qualified mechanic, Matthew brings nods to driving, cars, roads and journeys into so many of his songs, making them feel personal to his own experience and yet relatable enough for them to appeal to a wider audience.
This album marks Chase Matthew's true arrival in the country music big leagues, setting the stage for an even bigger career ahead. An extended run on the Keith Urban with this gem of an album in the locker, patiently waiting to unleash the multiple radio hits that are lurking within its 13 tracks, can only mean one thing. 2025 is Chase Matthew's year.
Tracklist: 1. Drives My Truck 2. Missing Me Missing You 3. Heart Half Empty 4. No Name Roads 5. I Don't Wanna Know 6. Fire in Her Eyes 7. Driving Through My Hometown 8. If I Had Wings 9. You Turn 10. Waiting on You to Call 11. Backroads of My Mind 12. Sunday Clothes 13. No Way Around It Release Date: February 21sy Record Label: Warner Music Nashville Buy ‘Chase' right here.
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