Toronto Singer-Songwriter Matt Von Turns Loss Into A Musical Win With “Still In My Heart”
Penning a tribute to a fallen loved one is an unavoidably personal undertaking. Whether the finished product ends up sounding like a private moment we shouldn’t be eavesdropping on, or like a gift to be shared with all humanity, is entirely up to the quality of the artist.
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Matt Von has taken the latter tack on his affecting new single, “Still in My Heart.” Ostensibly a paean to his mother, who passed away in 2023 after a more than 18-month battle with cancer, the song strikes a universal chord that transcends his own harrowing experience and rockets it straight into the stratosphere of mass catharsis. And in the algebra of popcraft, mass catharsis equals a great song.
It’s a musical send-off that’s neither maudlin nor morbid—just one of the qualities that make it feel like a ready-made hit. The weighty subject matter notwithstanding, “Still in My Heart” remains both uplifting and irresistibly catchy, due in large part to its invigorating, light-headed bounce. Von’s already youthful voice keeps leaping excitedly into falsetto as the rhythm simply skips along beneath him, turning what could be a defeated dirge into a hand-on-heart pledge of eternal gratitude. All the while, the meticulous production by Luca Caracciolo boosts and augments the song’s vocal/guitar core with keyboard accents and other embellishments that are applied tastefully in all the right places.
Most important, the lyrics convey their fond farewells in a way that’s generalized enough to resonate with anyone who’s experiencing grief over just about anything—not just death, but the sad end to a relationship of any kind:
I wanna be with you
After all that we’ve been through
I know that you’re far
But you’re in my heart
We still have forever
And for now, I’ll just settle
It’s been kinda hard
But I won’t fall apart
You’re still in my heart
“It’s always hard losing someone in your life, but I had never imagined I would be without my mom, my best friend, at the age of 25,” Von muses.
The ordeal was so preoccupying that this natural talent—who had been playing music since he was 8—didn’t write any new material the entire time she was sick. But four months after she had passed, he sat down with an acoustic guitar, and the number poured out of him in the course of just about an hour.
“This song came as a blessing to me, which I believe was sent from my mom to me from heaven,” he says.
It wasn’t until he had given the tune a couple of dry runs at shows, however, that he realized he had something truly special on his hands:
“I performed the song live a couple times when it was unreleased, and the reaction that I received from audiences was surreal. I knew I had to record this song and have it released.”
Now it’s the fourth single in Von’s ever-expanding catalog of solo music, joining prior entries like his debut, “Crazy,” and the subsequent “Help with Something,” which he wrote and recorded as a tribute to his parents. Yes, family has always been a big deal to this Toronto kid. From 2018 to 2020, he performed as part of duo, Sarah Jordan and Matt Von, with one of his two sisters. They were a popular recording act and a regular presence at local events and festivals until the day Von decided to strike out on his own. As a solo artist, he’s cultivated a distinctive sound that seeds his pop/acoustic roots with hints of country and gospel.
“Still in My Heart” is the first addition to his released repertoire in three years. And as a proven crowd-pleaser, it’s bound to be a staple of his live sets as he continues his regular schedule of appearances at Ontario-area venues, where he regularly wows the crowd with a winning mixture of originals and covers.
“I want this song to be a tribute to my mom, and how much of an incredible person she was,” he says. “I would not be where I am today without her love, guidance and nurturing heart. She was my biggest fan and best friend. I continue to live my life today through her memory.”
And that isn’t just a promise he’s made to himself.
“I will never forget what my mom said to me just before she passed: ‘Don’t ever stop doing what you love.’ I won’t, Mom. I promise. I love you. You’re still in my heart.”
Matt, care to introduce yourself?
My name is Matt Von and I am a 26-year-old singer/songwriter and guitarist from Vaughan, Ontario! Music has always been part of my life ever since a very young age. I started to learn to play the guitar at the age of 8, and a couple of years later I developed a passion for singing. I have been performing for over 15 years as a solo artist, and alongside my sister Sarah Jordan in our brother/sister duo. I’ve been writing and composing my original material now for over 8 years. In 2020, I decided to go solo and release my own music individually. My sound can be described as a blend of pop/acoustic singer/songwriter background with hints of country and gospel styles. Music has been my passion ever since the age of 8, and I continue to perform every opportunity that I get! The most important thing to me is making an audience feel something when they hear me perform live. This year in March I released my first single in over 3 years titled “Still in my Heart”. I wrote this song for my mom who passed away from cancer in April of 2023. The message in this song can be of relevance to many listeners and audiences worldwide. Having lost someone so close to you is the most difficult part of life, but always remembering that person is with you no matter how far they may be. Follow along on my journey ahead to hear more of my original music and events of where I will be playing next!
Tell us about the process of recording “still in my heart.”
still in my heart is a song that came to me about 4 months after my mom had passed away from cancer. You hear often about loss and tragedy in the outside world, but when it hits home it strikes a feeling inside of you which is unimaginable. My mom was and still is my best friend. She had battled cancer for a year and a half. I had not written any new material in a very long time, and I truly feel that this song was a blessing sent from heaven by my mom. Every lyric came to me so smoothly, and the whole song was written in one night. I performed the song live unreleased at some of my shows, and the reaction that I received from the audience was truly surreal. I knew from that point on that I needed this song to be my next release. I went into the studio with my new producer Luca Caracciolo, whom I connected with this year in January. We really formatted the song so neatly, and he helped me so much in recognizing which parts go where and changing up some of the lyrics. I want to thank him for making my vision come to life with this song. He is definitely someone that I love working with! This song is a tribute to my mom, and how much she means to me. I will never forget what she has done for me as a mother, and I will forever be grateful for that. No matter how far she is, I know that she is still in my heart wherever I go. I love you, Mom.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
The first Canadian artists to blow me away ever since I started music was Justin Bieber. I know that this answer might be a little shocking, especially since our styles do not really cross paths in any way. But the way we songwrite, his stage presence, fashion, and vocal ability are what caught my eye from the start. I have always looked up to Justin and continue to today! Another artist who is an inspiration of mine is Bryan Adams. I have loved his music for a long time, and continues to sing his songs live whenever I play live gigs! His voice and style are closer to mine, and I draw ideas from his music whenever I write!
What’s an album that you have in your collection that would surprise people?
An album that I have in my collection that would surprise people is probably one from a Latin rapper Bad Bunny. I have always been a big fan of Spanish Music, especially in the summertime. He has been one of my favorite rappers for some time now. I drifted away a bit from Latin Music within the past couple of years, but it is still a go-to of mine whenever the summer comes around! Besides Bad Bunny, One Republic’s album “Oh My My” from 2016 is one of my favorites! I have seen them now live 3 times, and they are truly one of my favorite bands of all time!
What are your plans for Spring and Summer?
My plans for the Spring and Summer are to continue playing as many live shows as I can! This is my favorite thing to do in the world. I plan on songwriting and releasing a bunch more of my original music this year too! I really want my music to be heard throughout the world. This summer I am going on my first vacation to Italy with my girlfriend which is super exciting! Travelling has always been a favorite hobby of mine, and seeing different parts of the world is just amazing! Stay tuned for more music from me coming soon and show updates!