“During the hour-long drive to the recording studio, I prayed the rosary, and when I got there, I could just sing like crazy,” she recalled. “I was able to record piano and vocals for eight songs in one day.” Her producer, J. Scott Gaeta, was astounded. Typically, a singer might only be able to record one or two songs in a day. Ellen is eager to give the credit to the Holy Spirit, and not only for her successful recording session. As she analyzed her songwriting process, she admitted to relying heavily on the Holy Spirit as she develops a song.

“Sometimes I come up with words first, or a statement…other times I start with the melody,” she said. “I totally let the Holy Spirit take over…I don’t feel I’m equipped and good enough at doing it on my own.”

For example, one of the songs on her new album, “Fortune,” began with a statement Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, made during conference she had attended as the music leader.

“He said, ‘Someone died and left you a fortune. We have been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ,’” Ellen remembered. She immediately dug a scrap of paper out of her purse and jotted it down. The words stayed in her mind – and her purse – for weeks. A couple months later, she asked the bishop’s permission to turn it into a song, and he agreed. More statements were scribbled onto the paper, which graduated to a position on Ellen’s piano. Musical notations were penciled in above lyrics. As the months went by, the song took shape and made it onto the album.

Ellen said that this new album is, “the most true to myself and my faith than my other recordings.” She explained that while she was working on her previous albums, she wanted to be appealing to a wider Christian audience.
“I used to worry, ‘Maybe people of other religions wouldn’t like that song…’ But a lot of people of different faiths said their favorites on my other CDs were what I considered my most Catholic songs, so I decided to do what feels best.”
Consisting mostly of original compositions with a couple of new arrangements of traditional spiritual songs, the album is titled “Jerusalem,” after Ellen’s favorite of the 11 selections.

“’Jerusalem’ is about looking all around at the beautiful things God has made and realizing that heaven is so, so, so much better,” Ellen smiled.

Other songs address different kinds of issues. “Someday” is an impassioned plea to a family member who had left the Church. “Settling Down” is about making a Holy Hour. Ellen’s song “Peace” uses the words of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Knowing there are several different versions of that prayer, she researched carefully for the most authentic version. The only extra work she did on the lyrics was some minor changes to make the words fit the melody.

Other songs include her arrangements of “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” which Ellen sang when she was a college student and member of the Scarlet and Cream Singers (a show choir at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln), and “Give Me Jesus.”

Students at St. John the Apostle elementary school in Lincoln, where she teaches music two days a week, were excited about one song in particular, because they are Ellen’s back-up singers. “It’s based on Archbishop [Fulton] Sheen’s Prayer for Life,” she explained. “I wrote that one for the kids at St. John’s to sing on First Fridays, so I recorded it with the kids singing with me.”

Ellen’s teenaged daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, John, also sang back-up for a number of the songs. Full instrumentation was provided by her producer, and several other people contributed to the project.

“Jerusalem” is a dynamic collection of songs that range from prayerful reflection to gospel-inspired melodies. Listeners will experience the heart and soul of this evolving singer/songwriter.

“I just hope that when people hear the album, they’ll feel uplifted and prayerful,” said Ellen. “I want them to hear and feel the Holy Spirit through these songs, because He’s worked through me.”

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“Over the next few days I received an intense flow of melodies into my mind. It was a little bewildering, since I had never felt anything like that before,” she says. “Morning, noon and night, I was literally inundated with new ideas for songs, so much so that I asked God to slow down a little bit so I could get some sleep!”

After nearly two months, not only was Ellen’s recovery successful, but she had also written nearly a dozen new songs. “It was obvious that the Holy Spirit was asking me to take my music ministry to another level, and I feel so blessed.”

Spiritually vibrant yet prayerfully soothing are words that not only capture the essence of Ellen’s vocal ability, but also the soul of her Holy Spirit inspired songs. “The title-track of this album was written for people, especially youth, who may have difficulty discerning how God’s truth fits into their lives. The truth is all around us, it’s just up to us to see it,” she explains. “All in all, it’s my hope that this recording not only strengthens our faith, but also opens a window into souls that may have questioned their beliefs.”

Each song was inspired by a different experience in her life. “Believe it or not, I wrote one of those songs after getting mad at my kids one day,” laughed Ellen, the mother of two children. “They were just being kids, bugging me while I was at the piano. Then right after I scolded them, God helped me realize that even though it’s tough at times, it’s such a wonderful gift to be a mother and to be a family.” She says that particular song, aptly titled “Family,” is a fan favorite.

“Ellen’s music is wonderful in that it appeals to all ages and speaks to the heart in many situations,” said Father Robert Sullivan, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham, Ala. “She doesn’t have a ‘miracle story’ to share, but through her music and talks, she reminds us that God speaks to all of us, even in the ordinary events of life.”

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Soukup’s strong, energetic, yet soulful voice has a wide range that can take her from a slow ballad to an upbeat gospel tune very effectively. Her voice has a mesmerizing quality that, combined with her vocal interpretation of a song, creates a listening experience many seem inclined to repeat over and over again.

“It's fascinating to hear how the CD effects people in different ways,” said Soukup. “Some have said they are spiritually inspired after listening; others say it has a healing quality that has helped them to cope with a physical ailment or depression. I’m just happy it's touching people’s lives in a positive way. With all that is happening in our world, I hope my music will give people the spiritual lift they need during these turbulent times.”

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The CD also includes such traditional favorites as Silent Night, and Away in the Manger, plus more contemporary songs such as In the First Light and Christ the Light is Coming.

“I decided to record I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, just before the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks. It’s a song that carries a very strong message of peace on earth - a message that is all too important in these troubled times.”

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