South African singer-songwriter Matthew Charles returns with “Home By Now,” the third single from his upcoming debut EP, What’s On Your Mind?.
Known for his emotionally driven writing and vulnerable storytelling, Matthew Charles pours his heart into this track, exploring the ups and downs of navigating a relationship.
“If love was easy, we’d be home by now,” he sings – a line that perfectly captures the metaphor behind the song. Drawing inspiration from the idea of living together as a reflection of a relationship’s state, “Home By Now” is about more than romance; it’s about effort, growth, and choosing each other even when it’s hard.
Originally written as a heartbreak ballad, the song evolved into a more hopeful take on love with co-writers Helena Bowie and Sophia Joelle.
“I absolutely loved the idea from the very beginning and knew it was going to be one of my favourite records,” Matthew Charles shares. “It went through four different versions, and I ended up changing the chorus structure at the last minute because it just felt better.”
Keeping the track intentionally raw and intimate, the production draws on stripped-down country-pop influences. Co-produced by Helena Bowie and Matthew May, “Home By Now” is emotionally textured yet sonically simple, putting Matthew’s voice and lyrics front and centre.
“I didn’t want a big-sounding record because I thought it would take away from the story,” he explains. “We worked hard to make the listener feel something, to let the emotion in the vocals breathe.”
Matthew Charles is Finding His Voice
With each release, Matthew Charles continues to refine his voice — one rooted in honesty, melody, and heart. And for him, this song hits home: “This is my favourite record I’ve done so far. I relate to it deeply, and I think a lot of people will too.”
“Home By Now” is available on Spotify and all other digital platforms.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
Like what you do? Buy us a coffee to enable us to bring your more content like this.
Want to stay in the loop with all things SA Music? Get in the Zone!
Looking for something to do? Check out our Upcoming Events section or the SA Gig Guide.
Want to explore the SA Music Scene? Check out our Artist/Band/Group Profiles section.
Want to discover fresh music? Follow our editor's 2025 playlist on Spotify.
