Matthew West releases 'Live Before The World Shut Down' EP

Nominated for 4 GMA Dove Awards, 51st annual awards to be held this evening 

The EP, “Live Before The World Shut Down,” from the multi-award-winning artist and songwriter Matthew West, officially released Friday. Recorded earlier this year before the live entertainment industry shut down due to COVID-19, the project features six live recordings, including West's version of the No. 1 hit "Nobody," which was originally recorded by Casting Crowns and West, who also co-wrote the song. Other songs on the new EP are his chart-topping "The God Who Stays," his current radio song "Truth Be Told," as well as "Hope Returns," "Without You," and "Love On The Radio," all of which are on West's latest studio recording, “Brand New.”

West previously shared about the EP, "Among the many things that have been taken away from us in 2020, live music has been pretty much shut down. Our tour buses have been parked, our production placed in storage, and the bands and crews have all been sent home for the most part. It’s made me pretty sentimental lately, missing the beautiful moments that have taken place over the years on stage with audiences across this great country. So, I had this idea to gather some recordings from some of our most recent performances and put out ‘Live Before The World Shut Down.’ Just listening to these recordings gets me excited to once again be able to gather together and, when we do, I have a feeling we will all be singing louder than ever before – giving thanks to the God who stays faithful and brings us through! In the meantime, maybe this little live EP can hold you over until we meet again on the road."

Over the past months, West has continued to engage with his fans by sharing music and encouragement and hosting live streaming events, such as "West Fall Fest" and "West Fest." He also began hosting a weekly “Quarantine Quiet Time” from his home studio with his family and released two new songs that went viral: “Quarantine Life” and “Take Heart." In August, West launched his weekly podcast, "The Matthew West Podcast," which debuted at No. 1 on the Apple Religion & Spirituality chart – and to date has received more than 250,000 downloads. Guests have included Max Lucado, Priscilla Shirer, Emmanuel Acho, and Olympian gymnast Shawn Johnson East and her husband, Andrew. He also just released a new holiday single, "The Hope of Christmas." 

West, a five-time Grammy nominee, is also nominated for four Dove Awards. The winners will be announced tonight on the 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards airing at 8 p.m. ET on TBN. 

He was recently nominated for a 2020 Billboard Music Award and was named ASCAP's Christian Songwriter of the Year, as well as awarded ASCAP Christian Song of the Year for "Nobody." This was the third time in West's career to be named ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year – his fifth for Song of the Year.