Hello everyone it’s your host Daniel from Dulaxi, and today I have with me the exceptional artist Matt DeAngelis from Turnersville, New Jersey, United States. And Matt DeAngelis is here to discuss his recent original single “Helpless To The Fire”, which was released on May 22nd, 2026. So, welcome, Matt DeAngelis! But before we begin our interview, to our audience; here is what you need to know about this artist.
Matt DeAngelis is a singer/songwriter from Turnersville, New Jersey, United States, whose music is shaped by a lifelong dedication to songwriting, personal struggle, faith, and a drive to deliver positive perspective within a world often marked by uncertainty and emotional pressure. Beginning his musical journey at the age of 8, he has steadily developed his craft while navigating life with OCD and an anxiety disorder, experiences that have heightened his awareness of time, mortality, and emotional intensity, all of which feed into his songwriting approach rooted in transformation and spiritual grounding. His work is also informed by a strong advocacy for climate change awareness and mental health, alongside a deep fascination with weather that has evolved into storm chasing and national recognition for environmental awareness efforts. Working alongside a studio band composed of Billy Kennedy, Eric Bishop, Cole Herudek, and himself, his collaborative path has been shaped through long-standing studio relationships and live performance experiences across venues including Live Casino in Philadelphia, Conch Island in Rehoboth Beach, Harrah’s Casino, and Hard Rock Casinos in Atlantic City. His original single, “Helpless To The Fire,” released on May 22nd, 2026, reflects a deeply spiritual and existential theme centered on impermanence, the collapse of material value, and the belief that only faith in God remains when worldly possessions fade, using the metaphor of an approaching fire as both judgment and purification of evil. Inspired by early David Bowie’s cinematic lyrical style, the track is designed with strong visual storytelling intent and was recorded at The Gradwell House Studios, associated with The Wonder Years, and Musically Speaking Studios, where his professional recording career began at age 18, ultimately presenting a message that emphasizes hope, resilience, and reliance on higher power as the guiding force through fear and uncertainty.
Having this brief Introduction about Matt DeAngelis, I’m sure new and current fans must be excited about our Interview today.
INTERVIEW SESSION
Daniel: Matt, you’ve been writing songs since the age of eight. Looking back, what first inspired you to pursue songwriting, and how has your purpose as an artist evolved over the years?
Matt DeAngelis: From a very young age, I was inspired by my dad, who is also a professional musician and has been for many years, to pursue music. From there, I began writing songs at an early age initially just for myself as a form of meditation and self-healing. However, over time, songwriting has become not only something I do for myself, but to help others as well. My goal as a songwriter is to spread positivity and make my listeners happier as people through my music.
Daniel: Your studio band has been together through different stages of your career. How have Billy Kennedy, Eric Bishop, and Cole Herudek helped shape the sound and identity of your music?
Matt DeAngelis: I am beyond blessed to have such an incredible group of musicians in the studio to help create the sound of my music you hear today. I believe what has helped to shape this unique sound is the fact that each of these musicians has a different style, so when they are combined, a fascinating sound is being born. Billy Kennedy has a heavy traditional and classic rock background, where Cole Herudek has studied classical and jazz. On the other hand, Eric Bishop is a driving force that can adapt to any style that’s being played, which is what makes him such an amazing bass player.
Daniel: Your advocacy for mental health and climate awareness is a significant part of your story. How do these passions influence the way you approach your music and connect with audiences?
Matt DeAngelis: As an advocate for mental health, I have always included my internal trials and tribulations through my songs and offer light at the end of the tunnel for others. While my goal is to help others by offering my perspective of struggling mentally, I also include a positive message that can be used for optimism and not just relatability. As an advocate for climate awareness, I have become a storm chaser to document some of the most extreme weather seen on Earth, especially severe storms and tornadoes. This has landed me on large news networks such as the Weather Channel, CNN, Fox News, and more. My goal is to spread awareness that we are in the midst of climate change and protecting our planet now is more important than ever.
Daniel: What was the defining moment or realization that inspired you to write “Helpless To The Fire” and explore themes of faith, mortality, and materialism?
Matt DeAngelis: I first began writing this song while on a walk one day, looking around at the world around me and thinking that we will all succom to a fire that destroys our material possessions in the end. This is the reason I feel it is more important to be closer to God and others here on Earth instead of just what you can see or hold in your hand. This song also represents the helplessness I often feel mentally, where the fire overtakes my mind and I am helpless to a defense. However, this is also where my faith becomes tested and therefore stronger through the struggles I face daily.
Daniel: The song suggests that all earthly possessions will eventually disappear and that faith becomes our ultimate refuge. Why was this message important for you to share at this point in your career?
Matt DeAngelis: I feel sharing this message is especially important in the present day because of the frightening world we are currently living in. We are continuously facing war, greed, hunger, and fighting for our lives in a sense. This is why material possessions will no longer mean anything and all that will be left is the faith that one has drawn close to. Without faith, there is nothing.
Daniel: One of the most striking ideas in the song is that we are all “helpless to an impending fire.” What does this fire symbolize for you on both a personal and universal level?
Matt DeAngelis: This fire for me symbolizes my struggle with OCD and mental health difficulties. However, on a universal level, it represents God destroying all the material possessions we have ever known and being drawn towards Him. Faith is a main theme in this song.
Daniel: The track encourages listeners to focus less on what they can hold in their hands and more on what they cannot see. How do you hope audiences interpret that message in their everyday lives?
Matt DeAngelis: I hope I can help others to worry less about day to day struggles and more on the bigger picture in faith. A lot of the time it’s what we can’t see that increases our faith and what we can see, such as what we hold in our hand, that negatively impacts our relationship with God and our faith. I hope my audience can begin to see that it is the closeness with others on Earth and our relationship with God that is all that truly matters in the end.
Daniel: This release offers hope to an anxious world despite uncertainty and fear. What do you think makes hope and faith such powerful tools during difficult times?
Matt DeAngelis: Hope and faith are two things that we cannot necessarily hold in our hands, so this makes it more difficult to be able to believe and have trust. But during the most difficult times, hope and faith are all that can drive you through the tribulations. There is nothing you own that can truly steer you out of the most difficult times.
Daniel: You mentioned that early David Bowie was a major inspiration for this song. Which aspects of Bowie’s songwriting and storytelling influenced the creation of “Helpless To The Fire”?
Matt DeAngelis: David Bowie has been my biggest inspiration from a very young age. Bowie has written around similar themes, especially early in his songwriting career. I have mimicked these themes in the way he contrasted darkness to light. My songs tend to state the obvious about what surrounds me in the world, and how I climb out of the “darkness” into the light of faith and hope to sustain me.
Daniel: Your lyrics often feel cinematic and capable of translating into visual narratives. How did you approach crafting the imagery and storytelling within this track?
Matt DeAngelis: The fire theme paints a vivid picture from the onset. I use poetic euphemisms to create contrasts that reveal deeper emotional truths. I’m not always conscious of the visual, as it pertains to the video, while writing a lyric. That sort of comes as a result of heartfelt lyrics to help explain and enhance the listening experience.
Daniel: The song was recorded at both The Gradwell House Studios and Musically Speaking Studios. How did those recording environments contribute to the final sound and atmosphere of the release?
Matt DeAngelis: Frankly, it’s more about the musicians, and engineers comprehending my concept. The Gradwell House has a great drum booth and piano, but ultimately, it’s about mic placement and the skill of the engineer to fulfill my vision for the track. I tend to “paint,” if you will. By that, I mean that I get the basic concept in the recording of the backing tracks, then layer texture and timbre slowly, while constantly listening to the previous layers, much in the way you would paint a picture and continue to stand back to change your perspective as to what should or shouldn’t be added.
Daniel: Having navigated OCD and anxiety from a young age, how has music helped you transform personal struggles into something positive and meaningful?
Matt DeAngelis: Having an OCD and anxiety disorder has certainly not been easy to navigate through, but music has always been something that has helped. I have been able to use songwriting positively to help others, while benefiting myself as a form of self therapy and self analyzation.
Daniel: Faith appears to be a guiding force throughout your life and songwriting. How has your spiritual journey influenced your growth both as an artist and as a person?
Matt DeAngelis: My faith has been my saving grace throughout my life because of my mental struggles. It has taught me to rely and reach out to God always in good times and bad. I have grown to a state of spiritual maturity that is an ongoing work in progress. My art is an extension of my faith that has made me the person and artist I am today.
Daniel: Storm chasing and climate advocacy are unique experiences that few musicians share. Have those experiences changed the way you view life, time, and the themes you write about?
Matt DeAngelis: Storm chasing is my way of making people aware of the frequency and magnitude of storms as a result of climate change. The slightest warming of the atmosphere has affected us globally. What better a vehicle than music to help spread the word.
Daniel: “Helpless To The Fire” is described as an evolution of a universal concept. In what ways does this song represent a new chapter or creative milestone for you?
Matt DeAngelis: It’s not so much a new creative chapter, but more of a reinvention of earlier concepts. The common thread is about being helpless to what will be, in particular death, and the fire concept is about the return to dust. My evolution as a songwriter is a result of maturing and how your perspective changes as a result of it.
Daniel: From your earliest recordings to performing at venues such as Live Casino Philadelphia and Hard Rock Atlantic City, what lessons have had the greatest impact on your artistic journey?
Matt DeAngelis: I think it’s about being consistent in the way of perfecting my craft as a songwriter and performer. As you mature, in conjunction with hard consistent work, you hone your crafts, as a songwriter, singer, instrumentalist, and performer. The greatest lesson is the lesson of being aware of what works and what doesn’t work, and making adjustments accordingly.
Daniel: What reactions or conversations from listeners have resonated with you most since releasing “Helpless To The Fire”?
Matt DeAngelis: I think I have been taken by how so many people have been able to understand and relate to my lyrics in their own way, and have been inspired to have hope in spite of things for which we have no control, but the wisdom to know the difference.
Daniel: Have any fans shared personal stories about how the song’s themes of faith, hope, and perseverance connected with their own experiences?
Matt DeAngelis: Yes, for sure. In particular, those who are anxious about finances, their health and the future have found hope in the line “It’s true that I control the meager hours in a dayIt’s all the reason to cease light over the dark”
Daniel: As you continue to grow as a songwriter and performer, what creative goals or new challenges are you hoping to pursue next?
Matt DeAngelis: I am hoping to continue to perform consistently and improve as a songwriter and studio musician, as well. I hope to perform more solo shows, as well. My greatest challenge is for my music to touch many more people.
Daniel: Looking ahead, can fans expect new music, upcoming performances, or larger projects that build upon the message and vision behind “Helpless To The Fire”?
Matt DeAngelis: Moving forward, you can definitely expect more singles and music videos to be released. As I said earlier, my themes are all about overcoming and moving forward in a positive light.
Having Had A Close Listen To This Deeply Reflective And Spiritually Grounded Piece Of Art, Here’s My Thought.
Having had a close listen to this deeply reflective piece, “Helpless To The Fire” comes across as a spiritually charged and emotionally layered work that revolves around the idea of impermanence, where every material possession ultimately fades and only God remains as the final source of refuge. The song frames this truth through the metaphor of an all-consuming fire that represents both destruction and purification, stripping life down to its essential meaning while exposing humanity’s vulnerability to forces beyond control. What stands out is how this message is delivered with cinematic, Bowie-inspired lyrical imagery rather than direct explanation, allowing the theme to unfold visually and emotionally rather than rhetorically. Vocally, the performance intensifies this concept through a dynamic shift between restrained, intimate verses and strained, soaring choruses that mirror internal conflict and emotional exhaustion, yet gradually suggest reluctant acceptance and self-reflection. The lyrics deepen this tension by exploring isolation, commodified identity, and the struggle to maintain purpose in a world that feels unstable, while also hinting at courage through uncertainty and spiritual surrender. Instrumentally, the track’s folk-rock foundation, led by steady acoustic guitar and gradually expanding electric textures, reinforces the emotional journey from confinement to openness, with subtle percussion and atmospheric production adding weight and spatial depth. The warm yet gritty sonic palette, shaped through reverb and layered mixing, enhances the feeling of vastness and inner turbulence, making the song feel both grounded and expansive. Overall, the combination of theme, vocal emotion, and atmospheric instrumentation creates a cohesive experience that reflects fear, faith, and transformation as intertwined forces rather than separate ideas.
~ Daniel (Dulaxi Team).
Finally to our audience, I urge you to listen to “Helpless To The Fire”, add it to your playlist and be inspired by it, and on behalf of Dulaxi I like to appreciate you all by saying thank you everyone, See you on our next interview.
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