There’s a new act on the Christian music scene that’s bound to make waves with emotive melodies and authentic lyrics. Ryan Ellis released his self-titled debut album in the summer of 2022, and we can’t get enough.
We first stumbled across Ellis’ exceptional brand of Christian music by means of his song “Perfect Peace,” in an acoustic session. Everything about the song blew us away, from the sweetly sung melody and lyrics to the song’s exceptional structure.
Ellis opens the tune up with a gently plucked pattern on the guitar that feels symbolic of the “perfect peace” that he finds in God. The first half of the song is practically a lullaby, but it builds to a light strumming pattern that really lets the singer’s higher notes shine. Ellis puts on a show with a flexible vocal range and the seemingly effortless ability to switch in and out of his falsetto.
As a lyricist, Ellis keeps phrases simple and accessible, yet at the same time there’s an almost scriptural quality to them. The pacing and reflective qualities of the text feel as though Ellis were trying to capture the spirit of the Psalms, with modern phrasing:
I cast my cares at Your feet
Knowing You won’t let me down
And I will rest where I belong
Here with You where I am found
This acoustic version may actually be better than his studio release, because the bare-bones arrangement feels more personal and heartfelt. Still, the version released on his debut album is quite good as well. Take a listen below.
Ryan Ellis made his first major release with his self-titled album in July, but he’s been working with religious music for much longer. A husband and father of two, this San Diego native works as a worship pastor in Isla Vista, California. On his official website, Ellis said of his album:
“What I want people to take away from this project is a deep relationship with the Lord,” he says. “I want them to be able to have conversation starters, to be able to jam out in the car but at the same time be thinking about heart stuff. I would love to be able to empower them wherever they feel in life, to empower them to take risks and be creative and go deeper in all relationships. So that’s my heart behind this – it’s to inspire.”
And today we celebrate...