Matt Thiessen

Guitar player, piano player, and singer Matt Thiessen came into the world on August 12, 1980 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Like most people, Matt went through ups and downs. Sadly, at age six, his parents divorced, leaving little Matt fatherless. Later, his mother remarried and the family moved to Bolivar, Ohio. Overall, Matt experienced life as a normal boy until 1998. That year he founded a band, Relient K, with best friends, Matt Hoopes and Brian Pittman. Despite some difficult circumstances throughout his life, Matt Thiessen emerged as the lead singer for my favorite band.

The beginning of a new century became the beginning of a new hit band when Relient K released their first album, Relient K, in 2000. This album consisted mostly of silly songs about girlfriends, magazines, and old TV shows. As the band matured, Matt Thiessen launched into writing more serious songs about life and his salvation. The band ultimately made six albums since they formed in 1998, all of which earned high acclaim in the Christian music ministry. Although they often perform alongside secular bands, Relient K’s lyrics praise God as well as share the gospel with many unbelievers. Some of my favorite songs by Relienk K include “My Girl’s Ex-Boyfriend”, “Getting Into You”, and “Deathbed”.

With his God-centered lyrics, Matt Thiessen impacted my life with his music. One song of significance to me is “Deathbed”, which depicts the life of a man who drank, smoked, and ignored God. Upon his deathbed, he came to terms with his pathetic state and realized how much he needed Jesus to come into his life. He uttered a single humbling prayer, asking forgiveness from the only One who would listen. Even after all he had done, God still lovingly took him and accepted him into His kingdom. These lyrics by Matt Thiessen showed me that despite my mistakes in life, God will always exonerate me and allow me to come to Him.