His follow up single, 'Drunk Again', went to number one on the Independent Music Network's top 30 Country chart and is currently climbing the Iceman’s top 40 chart which is broadcast to over 140 countries.
When it was time to return to the studio to record his upcoming album, the decision about where to produce the album was easy: Matthew once again collaborated with Jon Raney is a Multi-Grammy nominated engineer for his mixing/mastering, and a third generation engineer, preceded by his grandfather, Wayne Raney (Country Music Hall of Fame) and his father Zindel Raney, both respected engineers and musicians in their own right. Located only one hour from his hometown of Mammoth Spring, the Raney studio feels to Matthew like one of the best kept secrets in the state of Arkansas.
When asked about his fourth album Matthew says: “It has been two years since I released my third album, Give It All I Got, which received multiple awards and contained songs that topped several charts.
I think you all will hear a new direction in my writing, and how I have evolved as a singer/songwriter over the past six years in The Best of Me. To me, it is a much more mature blend of hooks and lyrics.” Matthew continues to draw on the experience of growing up on a thousand acres of family land, where dirt roads twined and mingled their way through the hills of north Arkansas, and reflect his small town roots, in songs about his hometown of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, including 'This Little Town' and 'How We Do Summertime'.
The album also shows of Huff's sexier side with ballads like 'Make Love To Me' and 'Tonight', and it kicks off with a great up tempo anthem entitled, 'That's My Baby'.
The album process was a unique one for Matthew in the extent to which he collaborated with other artists on several of the songs. 'The Best of Me', was written with fellow singer/songwriter Lance Carpenter, and friends Darren Barry, Charles Barnes and Mary Lynne O’Neal. One of the co-written songs is 'This Is Our Home', written in 2014 two days after devastating tornadoes hit several communities in central Arkansas close to his hometown. The songs lyrics reflect the strength and commitment of the community to rebuilding their lives. Ironically Matthew had just driven through the area where the storms hit a few short hours before.
The proceeds of the sale of this song are donated to Disaster Relief for the state of Arkansas.
Matthew is also involved in several charities throughout the year, and supports organizations such as Team-Keegan, All Children's Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He has also created the Matthew Huff Scholarship which gives $1,000 to help a high school senior from his alma mater, Mammoth Spring High, not only dream the dream, but step out and pursue their dream.
Matthew feels very fortunate to be on the verge of releasing his fourth album, and credits his development and continuing success to the many stations that play independent music, as well as his faithful fans, family and friends who donated time, and provided funding and encouragement.
Matthew would like to personally thank them for their support, which has enabled him to purse his love of music for the past six years. "We dream and pursue, and we achieve only after we fall. Life can be a long hard road, but you wake up each day and keep going. God gives us talents and we need to step forward and use them in positive ways."
This is Our Home Official Video
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NB Since this article was written, it has been announced by the Josie Show Awards Matthew Huff has been nominate in six categories!