Matthews was born William Irvin Matthews on November 5, 1983, in the city of Detroit to a father who was a preacher and a mother who was a choir director.[1] At 12 years old, he moved with his family to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he started honing his acumen as a songwriter.[1] He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 2007, where he was on staff at International House of Prayer.[1] Subsequently, he relocated in 2019 to Redding, California at the request of Kim Walker-Smith, where he met Brian and Jenn Johnson.[1] William joined staff and remained a member of Bethel Church for 8 years.[1]
In 2014, Matthews moved to Los Angeles, citing creative exploration and a desire to move in a new direction.[2] Matthews remained on the Bethel Music label post-departure contributing to the Bethel Music compilation album Have it All (Live).[3] On November 29, 2016, Bethel Music released a statement via their November newsletter and also on their website communicating, "As of June 13, 2016, Bethel Music and William Matthews have agreed that William will no longer be affiliated with Bethel Music, and William will no longer be in leadership within any of the worship communities at Bethel Church."[4] Matthews later explained, "As a worship leader, you have to be all things for all people; you're not an artist... I'd rather be an artist than a worship leader."[5]
