In the world of Christian rock, Matt Hammitt is a familiar name. As the former lead singer of Sanctus Real, he stepped away from the touring lifestyle in 2016 to focus on his family. He’s back with a new project, LO CLOUD, alongside Nick DePartee (Kutless) and Jake Rye (formerly of Sanctus Real). In this exclusive interview, Hammitt shares the inspiration behind LO CLOUD, the band's creative process, and the band's future.
   
How did LO CLOUD come together?
 
It started as a joke. Nick and I discussed forming a late 90s/early 2000s cover band for fun last January. That idea quickly became, “Do you miss writing and playing rock music?” And we both realized that we did. So, we started writing songs together, and they turned out great. Before we knew it, we had a body of work that we wanted to record. We brought Jake Rye, a former bandmate from Sanctus Real, to play bass and produce the music. That’s how LO CLOUD was born.
 
The name LO CLOUD is unique. How did you come up with it?
 
Nick’s kids had a list of band names they had made for fun, and Low Cloud was on it. We loved it but discovered that an obscure SoundCloud artist had already taken Low Cloud (spelled with a ‘W’). So, we decided to drop the ‘W’ and go with LO CLOUD. Over time, we found more profound meaning in the name. Sometimes, we look at dreams as these far-off things in the sky, but we realize that God has already placed opportunities within our reach—right here at our fingertips.
 
You left Sanctus Real to focus on your family. Does that mean no touring for LO CLOUD?
 
We’re not ruling it out entirely but taking it season by season. If strong momentum in certain cities or streaming numbers indicate interest in specific areas, we’d consider doing a short run of shows. We’re in talks with Christian music festivals for next summer, so you might see us on some festival stages.
 
Will LO CLOUD stay independent, or are you open to signing with a label?
 
Right now, we’re staying independent. I recently signed a deal with Goatee Records for my solo work, but LO CLOUD is separate. We’re testing the waters to see how much we can grow this project in 2025. However, if the right opportunity with a label comes along, we’d be open to it.
 
Your recent single, “Sleepwalker,” has a powerful message. What’s the story behind it?
 
Nick came up with the concept and the hook, and as we developed the song, we realized it was about not sleepwalking through life. It’s easy to fall into routines where we’re just going through the motions, taking the path of least resistance. But we want to live purposefully, to make the most of every moment God gives us.
 
What’s the release plan for LO CLOUD?
 
We’ve already recorded enough material to release something new every eight weeks. In December, we dropped an acoustic version of “Sleepwalker,” followed by our next single, Live Today, in January. “Dreams Fall” will follow in March.
 
“Dreams Fall” sounds like a deeply personal song. Can you share its meaning?
 
It’s about coming to terms with the fact that some dreams don’t work out the way we planned. That doesn’t mean they were wrong—it just means God had something different in store for us. Jake, our bassist, once told me how he had to let go of his dream of playing in a touring band, only for God to bring that dream back differently. That’s the song's heart—grieving dreams that don’t come true but trusting that God’s plan is better.
 
How does your faith influence LO CLOUD’s music?
 
Even though LO CLOUD isn’t strictly a CCM band, our lyrics still reflect our faith. We’re not trying to fit into any genre boxes—we’re just writing the songs that come naturally to us. One constant is ensuring our lyrics align with our biblical worldview.
 
What can we pray for as you move forward with LO CLOUD?
 
Pray that we use our gifts to honor God and draw people closer to Him. Also, pray for wisdom in making decisions about the band, our schedules, and our families. We want to balance this project to keep our priorities straight.