Search - Jessica Smith :: So Real

At first listen, one would probably describe the music of singer-songwriter Jessica Smith in two words: diverse and deep. From such aggressive tracks as "Overcomer" and "Real To Me," one might think of Jessica as an artist in the vein of Jennifer Knapp, or Christian music?s answer to Michelle Branch. Yet from the mature piano-based songs of "Glory In Design" or the powerfully intimate "Love of My Life," the classically- inspired arrangements might prompt comparisons to Sarah McLachlan or Vanessa Carlton.This wide range of music comes from the heart of a twenty-year-old woman, avoiding stylistic pigeonholes not by chance or by choice, but by writing the songs that inspire her emotionally and spiritually. Made Free: "My favorite definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results," Jessica said. "Our real problem is that we don?t deal with the problems hidden deep inside our hearts...the issues we don?t want to face. In order to move on and to be free, we must deal with these issues that become chains of bondage in our lives." As we surrender to Him, He begins to show us those things that we have hidden deep inside, so we can get rid of them. And when we begin to dance in praise at our Father?s feet, the chains of bondage begin to come off. We are made free by praising Him!" Overcomer: This song came out of a sermon delivered by one of my father?s friends,Apostle Ariel Ainsworth of The Rock of Greater Burlington,Vermont. Jessica recalls: "He preached a message that as Christians, we are joint heirs with Christ, which makes us a son of promise - and as a son of Yahweh, we inherit all things and have the power to overcome any obstacle. It really impacted my father and me." After service that evening, Jessica and her father, along with Jordan on the guitar, went home and wrote this song in just a few hours. "It?s time that we realize who we are in Him," Jessica declares. "We are His children of promise. We must now rise up, face our fears and overcome our enemy: no longer listening to the taunting words of the enemy, but turning our ears to the voice of the Father. With Him all things are possible -so rise up, overcomer!" Straight To Your Heart: This song was inspired during a live worship service. Jessica recalls: "We had just finished singing an awesome song about regaining a heart for true worship (Matt Redman?s song "Heart of Worship") and the worship team was playing the song as an instrumental. Suddenly, these words just started coming out of my mouth." Jessica states that this song is about one thing: surrender. "It?s about no longer focusing on self; it?s about leaving everything you know in order to pursue Him," she says. "It?s about giving Him your whole heart, not just the parts you?re comfortable with, and zeroing in on His heart and His desires. Glory In Design: "My parents? home overlooks a small bayou, and our living room has one large wall that is nothing but windows. I remember sitting there one afternoon, and the sky and the water looked absolutely gorgeous! It seemed to me like all of creation was singing to the Father; I was in awe of His creation. So I sat down at the piano and begin to express to Him how wonderful He was to me." Despite playing it over and over again, she just couldn?t seem to finish it. A few weeks later, she took a trip to Gainesville, Florida, to see her friend, Sarah Van Kirk. An aspiring songwriter herself, Sarah took inspiration from Jessica?s early drafts of the song. Jessica recalls: "I shared the song with her and everything I was trying to express. She began to play and sing with me, and we fin-ished the song that day. It was great! I really felt like I could see the Father sitting on His throne, smiling, as we began to play and sing for Him."