Grammy-nominated and Dove Award nominated artist Elyssa Smith will release her first solo project entitled “Wearing a Blindfold and Running” on March 19th. Known for writing the massive worship song “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)”, Elyssa was born and raised in Borger, Texas and moved to Dallas in 2010 to attend Christ for the Nations Institute. She has been part of UPPERROOM as a writer, worship-leader and artist since 2013, and serving in the prayer room three times a week.

Her debut solo album is a stunning artist expression of songs that are epic in production and reminiscent of Imogen Heap, Sara Bareilles, Amanda Lindsey Cook and even at times the intimacy of a Joni Mitchell or Lauren Daigle. Lyrically, Elyssa’s transparency and honesty pour out with themes of hope in the midst of pain, faith in the most difficult of times, trust that God is not silent and will be there for us - all delivered with earnest passion and fervent prayers and pleas. The title speaks to walking by faith when you can’t always see what’s ahead, yet choosing to run full force with a deep trust in God.

Featured songs include “Catch Me”, “Hey Jesus” and “Lovesick” which both feature vocal collaborations with Steffany Gretzinger (Bethel Music) and the epic closer of the album “Jealous”. The album plays like a deep and intimate conversation with a friend or with God, where you put everything on the table in a safe place yearning for comfort and maybe even a breakthrough. In a world where the tendency is to listen to one song at a time, Elyssa’s entire album invites us to carve out some time to engage the Lord in faith, not rush for the answer or breakthrough we long for, but rather rest in the intimacy of our good Father.

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