Matthew Messore - everything
Cathedral Bells is the dream-pop project of Florida musician Matthew Messore, born in 2018 out of the quiet, wooded neighborhoods of Cassadaga and the suburban sprawl of Orlando. What began as a solitary bedroom endeavor—built on hazy guitars, warm analog synths, and softly melancholic vocals—quickly evolved into a fully realized creative world. Messore’s early recordings captured a sense of longing, distance, and memory that resonated with listeners looking for a modern take on shoegaze and dream-pop.
Following the release of the self-titled EP in 2019, Cathedral Bells introduced a sound often described as “dream-gaze,” blending reverb-drenched textures with melodic clarity. This foundation set the stage for the project’s debut album Velvet Spirit (2020), a shimmering and cinematic collection that drew comparisons to The Cure, Chromatics, and DIIV. The project deepened with Ether (2021), which explored darker hues, pulsing rhythms, and themes of isolation—marking a shift toward a more emotionally expansive sound.
In 2023, Cathedral Bells released its third full-length album, Everything At Once, a record that brought newfound brightness and immediacy to Messore’s songwriting while maintaining the project’s signature atmospheric haze. The momentum continued with the Another Lifetime EP in 2024, which embraced widescreen production, layered synth work, and introspective lyricism, pushing the dream-pop palette into more dynamic territory.
Now performing as a full band, Cathedral Bells translates its immersive studio sound into vibrant, enveloping live performances. The group’s shows amplify Messore’s blend of nostalgia, cinematic textures, and emotive songwriting, creating an atmosphere where memory and melody intersect.
Across every release, Cathedral Bells remains anchored by the qualities that sparked the project from the beginning: a sense of quiet beauty, a pull toward the past, and the shimmering, dreamlike spaces where emotion and sound blur together.