Idol Chatter & Voice Views

zSeason 5 Voice standout Matthew Schuler has released his debut EP.

“Baby Steps” comes four years after his Top 6 finish on Season 5 of The Voice, which pretty much explains the title.

But Matthew provided further explanation to Voice Views earlier this month when he released “Here’s To You,” his first single in more than two years.

“I really had to find myself within these past two years since releasing music,” he said. “I really had to search my heart and see where I wanted to go with my music.

“(‘Here’s to You’), and this EP as a whole, represents the struggle in finding who you are, what you want to say, what you will do, and what you won’t do. I had to make those decisions and the music reflects that.”

That theme runs through the songs on Matthew’s new EP, especially “Free,” “Take Me As I Am” and “Profits.”

“I feel like a lot of the recording industry is solely motivated by money,” Matthew says in explaining “Profits” on Facebook. “My goal for my career regardless of the monetary outcome in simply to be authentic. I never want to be anyone other than myself.

“This is a song about knowing who you are and using your influence to help others instead of just following the crowd.”

Matthew told Voice Views lead single “Here’s to You” is dedicated to the fans who have stuck by him since The Voice. And be sure to check out “Secret Things.” It’s one of the catchiest post-Voice songs I’ve heard so far in 2018.

Oh, and speaking of helping others, Matthew went on that mission trip with his church and says he’ll be sharing some of his experiences in “beautiful, beautiful Uganda” on Instagram.

And, don’t forget, he’ll be one of the former Voice standouts performing in the Vegas show The Voice: Neon Dreams beginning in June. Tickets are on sale now.

Here’s “Secret Things.” Be sure to check out the rest of Matthew’s six-song “Baby Steps.”