bio
THE SHORT STORY
I was a highly moody teenager once upon a time. One day I sat down at the piano but instead of practicing scales, I found myself writing my first full-length song. It was called “The Silent Rusty Flute” and had nothing at all to do with my own life, but it wasn’t actually horrible. More importantly, it was an INCREDIBLY gratifying and joyful experience. Writing music helps me process what I’m learning and experiencing and witnessing . And it gives me a way to voice Truth as I understand it, which I believe we all want desperately.
Home was the Army all my growing years. Now I live with my family in North Carolina. I came kicking and screaming, but it’s grown on me.
Beyond my own writing & life, I am passionate about the work of Masterpiece Ministries (www.masterpieceministries.org). Masterpiece is about mentoring young artists of faith, encouraging them toward creative excellence and Christ-centered living. For 10 years now, I’ve served for one week of the summer alongside other artists of various mediums, facilitating workshops for creative high school students. It’s just plain good.
Fun facts: Although I don’t look great wearing yellow, I’ve decided it’s my favorite color, because I crave sunlight. I’m a naturally messy person. I really love solitude, but also deeply enjoy humankind. I’m also crazy about Thai and Greek foods, and am usually reading four books at a time. There you have it.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Known for the past several years for her unusually poignant, poetic and honest songwriting, Christa Wells is finding her own place as a performing artist.
Christa has written with numerous Nashville artists and had songs cut by artists such as Plumb, Point of Grace, Sara Groves, Selah, and Natalie Grant. Several have been hit singles, including most notably “Held” recorded by Natalie Grant, which received airplay in both Christian and mainstream markets and earned her the GMA “Songwriter of the Year” award in 2006.
In 2009, Christa released her first solo album, “FRAME THE CLOUDS,” with guest performances by Sara Groves, Plumb, Nicole Witt, Fly Golden Eagle, and Todd Smith.
In March 2011, her 7-song EP “HOW EMPTINESS SINGS” was received to high praise from music critics and listeners alike.
Later in 2011, she and her oft-musical partner Nicole Witt released a 5-song EP called “Image of God,” a collection of original songs of worship, which diverges from her indie projects both musically and lyrically.
Christa plans to record a second album with Nicole Witt in October 2012 and begin work on her third solo project shortly after.



Hello Christa! It was such an honoro to run audio for you at Manchester Meadows with Christabel. You have such a dymanic voice and musical style, I was in awe of God’s gift to you in singing. If you ever have a need for a percussion player / drummer player to fill in, I would be honored to help. Have an awesome Christfilled Christmas. Tommy Berry
Hi, Tommy! Thank you so much! For your kind words and for your help that morning. We so appreciate having someone around with the ear to help us sound better.
I will definitely remember you for future drumming. A peaceful Christmas to you, too. cnw
Hi Christa,
I just wanted to let you know that your song has helped me through a tough situation in my life. My husband and I lost our 25-day-old daughter, Ella Rose, six months ago to trisomy 18, a birth defect similar to Down’s syndrome, but almost universally fatal. God does hold us close when the going gets rough. Thank you for helping me put my feelings into words and worship.
Wendy Contreras
Dear Christa,
I learned about you through Sara Groves and have so appreciated your CDs. The song I keep listening to over and over is Kingdom Coming, and it has convicted me on several levels that I need to make some changes. Thank you for your clear message and digging deeply.
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, as well as the content!
Thanks! Credit to Shelly Eve for her design.
Christa, I also learned about your music through Sara Groves, who is one of my favorite artists. I am really thrilled she told her fans about you!! I am totally loving especially, ‘On the Mountain’ and ‘You’ve Got a Home’. God bless you and keep writing.
You are blessing a home-schooling mama of four in rural Oregon. Thanks for your transparency…for putting into song pieces of my own heart. Bless you.
Dear Riann, thank you for this. Knowing that a song makes its way from my piano to your Oregon home is a sweet gift to me!
It’s been a long time, but I used to sing with you some at a pca church in Raleigh/Wake Forest, and just had to say hi! I ran across your song “Thousand Things” today while reading a blog, and realized, “hey! I know her!” Ha! Your voice is more beautiful than ever, and the songs you’ve released since I knew you are fabulous
.
Hi, Kendra! I think I remember! Are you tall, like me?
Thanks for stopping by and for listening – and for saying “hello”!!
Hi Christa, Your Song “Held” means so much to me and always will, i lost my baby boy a few months ago he was only ten days old and had a rare heart defect. When i heard this song it brought tears to my eyes and still does, i wrote down the lyrics on a piece of paper and put it in a scrap book that i made for my son. What inspired you to write such a song? i would really like to know.
Hi, Raj…oh, my heart just hurts for you and the loss of your precious child. My dear friend, who inspired much of the song and the first verse in particular, also had a son with a heart defect. The beauty for her has been to see that the life of her son – her testimony in the wake of that grief – has been used to bless and reach so many others walking that painful path. I’m glad to know it has done that for you by the grace of God, who does know and care so much for you. You can read my blog post about the song itself here: http://www.christawellsmusic.com/2010/06/07/283/ Love and peace that passes understanding, Raj..christa
“Held” was one of the first songs I leaned to as a very new Christian finishing college. Beautiful! Thank you!
[...] Worship with Christa Wells and Nicole Watt. WOW. There are no [...]
[...] women who sang directly to my soul were Christa Wells & Nicole Witt. They performed a song that I only had to hear once for it to stick. Since [...]
[...] women who sang directly to my soul were Christa Wells & Nicole Witt. They performed a song that I only had to hear once for it to stick. Since [...]
[...] had the pleasure of meeting Christa at Relevant 11. I had only recently discovered her music at the time, and was excited to hear her [...]
A friend just shared your youtube of “One Thousand Things” with me on my facebook page. In 2010, my husband and I lost a baby we believed was to be our son through a failed adoption. We brought him home from the hospital as a newborn and had to give him back nearly three weeks later, when the mom changed her mind. It was a dark, dark time of grieving and heart ache, but through it all, we knew that God had told us to pursue the adoption of that little boy, though we certainly asked why, why. Almost a year later, just before his first birthday, we were called again to see if we would be willing to attempt an adoption again, as the birthmom was reconsidering adoption. We stepped, terrified but in faith, into the process again, and a month later, he was returned to us. Your song could have been written nearly verbatim for us. I was in tears less than a minute in. We have shared our story, both before and after our little one’s return to us, and believe God has a huge plan for it all. Thank you, thank you, for your song. Is there a place I could read what inspired you to write it?
I meant “A Thousand Things”….
Dear Kimberly…My apologies for not seeing this sooner…THANK YOU for sharing this AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL redemption story with me. As an adoptive parent myself, I can only imagine what that road was like for you and your husband. And that he WAS meant for you, after all…wow. breathtaking. I haven’t written (that I can recall) about the background of this song, but now I will plan to do that soon. Thank you, Kimberly. Ecstatic for your joy.
[...] got a chance to meet Christa Wells at The Relevant Conference. I first heard of her through Kat—who has great taste in music. I have [...]
Hi Christa!
I so enjoyed the concert at Fellowship Bible Church in Franklin this past Friday night. My friend, my daughter and I drove from NE Arkansas to hear Ann because my friend has followed her blog for a long time. I was not familiar with your music but it ministered to the soul of this minister’s wife. I’ve downloaded all of your songs from iTunes and shared them with several already.
Are any of your songs available on accompaniment tracks. I would love to share them with my church.
God bless you and Nicole for your minstry.
Hi, Melba! Thanks for your note! So happy the songs meant something to you and thank you for sharing them! Unfortunately, I do not have accompaniment tracks, but do have sheet music for all the Frame the Clouds songs, as well as lead sheets for the Image of God EP songs.
Love,
christa
Hi Christa – LOVE your gorgeous music! It has touched my heart in SO many ways! I saw the sheet music for the Frame the Clouds songs on your site, but didn’t see the lead sheets for the Image of God EP songs. Would you mind sharing where I can find those? Thanks so much! Keep singing for our glorious God!
…just found them! I just needed to open my eyes!
My Favorite song’s are
1.Set Free
2.On the Mountain
3.Can you hear me
4.Frame the Clouds
5.Everything but moves you
6.A Thousand Thing
7. First Noel
8.Silent Night
I can’t wait to see Aiden there again
at the Christmas Dinner.
Dear Christa
We had a tragic event happen in our family 4 weeks ago.
My beautiful 4 year old granddaughter was crushed by a grave marker, a 1000 lb Granite Cross,
while a group of innocent little children were playing.
Your song “Image of God” came to me by way of Ann VosKamps blog the next day….
It has become one of the theme songs for us as we journey through these uncharted waters.
Thank you for sharing this song with Ann
and now sharing it with our family.
It is our hope and prayer that we can in fact learn what it is to BE the image of God to this hurting world
of which we also now are experiencing deep grief.
Oh. Dear Carol. What can I say in the face of such devastation? How can the human heart make sense of such loss? Only through the Story of the resurrection of Christ, only there where He rebuilds what was broken and restores what has been lost. I’m glad the Father directed you to music that speaks to you, that He is speaking through song. Thank you for sharing this with me…my heart is with you and lifted in prayer even now on behalf of your entire family. May his peace find you in this night and joy come again in the morning…
love,
christa
On June 5, 2012. My GrandFather had a stroke on his birthday, and he
just turn 71. This what happen.
My Mom and my Aunts in Calfornia
called he in the morning to tell him
Happy Birthday. Then my uncle Jr
called saying that he had a 2nd stroke,
and he is in the hospital. His Left arm, legs and he could’nt talk.
What grade is Aiden in now?
just asking
Hi, Juliana! I’d be happy to answer your questions – email me at christa@christawellsmusic.com ?
Thanks!!
Sorry i couldn’t find it. i try it next time.
It’s been a long time you guys have
come to Redeemer
[...] are coming~ Come spend an evening with author Emily Freeman (my sister) and singer/songwriters Christa Wells and Nicole Witt as they weave words and music around what it means to live our lives in grace. [...]
Happy ThanksGiving
you guys
Christa,Toby, Aiden, Sofia, Rowan
Samuel
I will always Love U Guys
doesn’t matter what happen.
Thank you, Juliana.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
cnw
just introduced to your music by Kristin Schell’s blog – amazingly beautiful!!!!
Thank you, Kristin!
cnw
i hope you guys have good 2013
I’m going to be 15 on
Monday,March 4, 2013
Happy Birthday, Lamin!
I’m going to be 15 on
Monday, March 4, 2013
Good afternoon, I was recently introduced to your music from a common friend from Green Pines Baptist and I enjoy your heart and your sound. I have a 16 year old daughter who recently started leading youth worship at our church (Raleighfirst.org) and she could use some voice lessons. Is this something that you do or could you refer me to someone locally? looking forward to your email response. Thanks.
i love you guys,
Christa, Toby, Aidan, Sofia, Rowan
and Samuel, have a good and beautiful Spring Season
i have a Facebook now. so i’m going to add u and Tobin.
[...] Refine {the retreat} will happen. 40 women will join me, Teri Lynne Underwood and More Than Rubies (Christa Wells and Nicole Witt) for what promises to be an unforgettable [...]