Niall Matter Hits the Right Note in Hallmark Channel’s "Country at Heart"

Country at Heart marks a return to the romance genre that first attracted him to working with the network along with some unexpected old feelings amp8220For me this project separated itself from the others I39ve done for Crown Media because of the musical aspectamp8221 he said in an exclusive interview with MediaVillage amp8220I was excited to be a part of a musical piece as the songs are great and really catchy It was a big departure for me so it was a little stressful and nerveracking but at the same time exciting When I first started acting I would get butterflies and I haven39t felt those in over a decade I guess that happens when you get comfortable in your job so feeling them again was exciting It felt like a fresh start and so awesome stepping out of my comfort zoneamp8220I grew up musical playing the drums and singing country songs with my dadamp8221 he continued amp8220I knew how to play guitar powercords so I could play Nirvana songs but I had to learn how to sing and play Separately it was easy but marrying those two was the hardest thing to do In the timeframe I had I think the only reason I could was because of my drumming background where you have four limbs doing different things at the same time so a lot of that came into playamp8221Another thing that helped make it easier was his Country at Heart costar amp8220Luckily Jesse Schram did a lot of the heavy lifting and I could hide behind her beautiful voice and guitar playingamp8221 he laughed amp8220So it was all good Jesse is a great singersongwriteramp8221One thing he never expected was playing his first concert amp8220We39d gone into the recording studio separately to lay out the tracksamp8221 he recalled amp8220There was no rehearsing together beforehand The first time we actually played together was on set and the playback wasn39t coming through properly so we played live in front of all the extrasamp8220It was my first time playing live in front of anybody amp8211 like 150 people at the bar in townamp8221 he added amp8220The performance of amp8216Big Dealamp8217 was our first day and we went right into it But it was great because it got the nerves out of the way and then I started getting more comfortable It turned out to be a really good way to find the character of Gradyamp8221Since joining the fold in 2016amp8217s Stop the Wedding Matter has amassed an impressive list of 16 Crown Media credits and happily admits to still feeling like a kid in Hallmarkamp8217s toybox amp8220I find that this career keeps me youngamp8221 he shared amp8220When I was younger I39d be described as having amp8216devilish charmamp8217 Now I39ve tapped into my amp8216boyish charmamp8217 I think that has to do with having children so it39s the perfect storm So far Iamp8217ve gotten to hit the ice and coach kids and dance so this was another tool in my toolboxamp8220My working relationship with Hallmark began when my family startedamp8221 he added amp8220Having kids really softened my heart dealing with them and my wife who I love dearly I39m just in a different place in life and these roles I get to play amp8230 I get to live in that space I39m very happy every single day that I get to go to work It39s been a fouryear run almost and it39s a great family I39ve found myself a part of at Crown Media Sixteen projects in four years is phenomenal and I39m very very gratefulamp8220I look at every single person I39ve worked with as a friendamp8221 he continued amp8220That39s rare I know people often say it but I truly feel this is different and everyone from the actors to the executives are family that care about each other I have zero complaints and am a very fortunate guyamp8221 With his roles for the network garnering awards like the Leo Award for Best Lead Performance Male Television Movie for 2018amp8217s Frozen in Love one he described as amp8220really unexpectedamp8221 Matter39s chameleon approach to his work ensures much more Hallmark in his futureAs for a sequel to Country at Heart Heamp8217s all in amp8220My fingers are crossed for a Country at Heart Christmas movie as I39d love to see these characters continue But that would be a wayamp8217s off if it happened and the other Christmas movies are now the priorityamp160We all understand Christmas for Hallmark is the biggest thing and it39s going to be fullblown Christmas so those movies are readyamp8221amp160He just wrapped Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweateramp160costarring Ashley Williams along with Aurora Teagarden Mysteries Reunited and It Feels So Deadly which initially stopped production five days into shooting due to the coronavirus shutdownamp8220Quarantine was a little intenseamp8221 he shared in closing amp8220Having two and threeyearold toddlers it was fullon But you do what you can every day to keep them entertained We recently drove for 13 hours a great way to quarantine to the farm I grew up on Although we did wait weeks to travel anywhere The kids got to run around on the farm so I39m glad we made the trekamp8221Country at Heart will be telecast Saturday October 3 at 9 pm on Hallmark ChannelClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Niall Matter Hits the Right Note in Hallmark Channel’s "Country at Heart"

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Niall Matter Hits the Right Note in Hallmark Channel’s "Country at Heart"

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