AwardWinning Songwriter of Natalie Grants Held Christa WellsReleases...

Christa Wells (http://www.reverbnation.com/christawells), known for writing Natalie Grant'ss emotional hit, Held, announces the independent release of her debut solo album, Frame the Clouds. Wells has been a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, for 12 years, commuting to Nashville, Tennessee, to collaborate with other musicians and artists. She was named GMA Songwriter of the Year in 2006, and fans of her writing have eagerly awaited an album featuring both Christa'ss poignant songwriting and her own unique voice and delivery. As of June 22, the 11-song album, featuring guest performances by several accomplished recording artists and musicians, is available through a storefront on her blog site (http://www.christawells.net).

According to Wells, her first thoughts of embarking on a recording project came in the summer of 2008, when she was playing piano and singing with her sister, Mandy Rogers Horton of Nashville, Tennessee. Mandy said suddenly, 'sYou need to make a record with just you and the piano and all these songs.'s

At the time, Wells dismissed the idea, but as she continued to write a body of music that was especially close to her heart, the idea became a longing. As she puts it, I'sm intimate with the stories and the inspirations behind each song. They are more real to me than they could possibly be to another artist. I want to tell these stories.

So, why now

Something has drastically changed inside me. I used to join bands, but actually loathe being on the stage, or having to talk especially. But now, what I see when I get up there are the faces of the people who have come to listen. And I just want to say something that is true and that matters to them. That matters to both of us.

Held (performed by Natalie Grant (http://www.myspace.com/nataliegrant)) was such a song. Despite its hard-hitting honesty about the death of an infant, it climbed the gospel charts, crossed into mainstream, and became a reference point for Nashville songwriters, regarding lyrics and format that step outside the usual parameters of both faith-based songwriting and radio play formula.

Wells says, 'sHeld's took on a life of its own. It defied odds and expectations, and I hear new stories to this day of what it has meant to people, which is really very humbling. I recently had a man write to me about his wife who has been sentenced to several years in prison, asking me to write to her with the lyrics to 'sHeld.'s I'sm sure Natalie'ss heard even more. It'ss awesome to get to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Read about the inspiration of Held here (http://www.christawells.net/what-it-means-to-be-held.html).

With 11 songs written in her signature transparent and poetic style, Frame the Clouds carries themes of forgiveness, love, loss, faith and hope, as well as marriage, parenthood and the passage of time. A listener in Minnesota, describes Christa'ss musical style as like coming home after a long trip.

Making guest appearances on the album are Sara Groves (INO recording artist), Michael O'sMartian (songwriter, pianist, producer), Tiffany Arbuckle Lee (Plumb--Curb recording artist), Todd Smith (Selah--Curb recording artist), Nicole Witt (Curb Records writer), and Ben Trimble (Fly Golden Eagle--indie artist). For production, Christa chose to work with Zodlounge Music--a Nashville production team, made up of Tom Michael, Todd Shay, Brett Vargason, and Brian Unger--with whom she has enjoyed working in the past.

For additional information on Christa Wells or the release of Frame the Clouds (or for a promotional copy), contact Toby Wells or visit Christa'ss blog site (http://www.christawells.net). The album is currently available through storefronts on Christa'ss websites and will soon be at Amazon and iTunes. Selected songs are available free at Noisetrade (http://www.noisetrade.com/christawells), a website which allows listeners to download for free in exchange for spreading the word to five friends.

Contact: Toby Wells, 919-601-5959, www.christawells.net

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