I Believe Review
Overall Impression
Detroit-based gospel singer/songwriter Ellen Hayes expresses her boundless faith and deepest devotion, on her release of "I Believe." This soulful ballad opens with sparse piano and a full choir consisting of Hayes' own family members, before blossoming into a dynamic modern gospel sound that blends elements of r&b and pop with praise and worship music. Hayes' soprano vocal soars above the ensemble, delivering lyrics that serve to inspire as well as inform as she draws attention to the themes of atonement and resurrection found in the Passion. Contemporary gospel fans can find Ellen Hayes' "I Believe" featured on her 2026 full length album titled Behind My Eyes, available now for streaming or download on all major music platforms.
Strongest Point(s)
Outstanding production and a fantastic mix. Excellent clarity and tonal balance. Great contemporary gospel style that draws from multiple genres to create a compelling and dramatic sound that should draw a wide audience. Nice intro, sets the tone and atmosphere and introduces the wonderful choir. Good power when the whole ensemble kicks in, and a terrific dynamic shape throughout with plenty of variety to keep listeners engaged. Great harmonic structure that feels like its constantly climbing upwards, brilliant device for gospel composition. Amazing vocal performance and production; packs a hearty punch in the lower register and becomes incredibly bright in the upper, with seemingly effortless power and strength. Lyrics are exceptional, conveying a message of unwavering faith and redemption while weaving in biblical imagery in an accessible and easy to understand manner. Great rhythmic flow and use of call-and-response as well. All in all, this is a tremendous track that should have no problem finding an audience among contemporary gospel fans. Stellar work, by all involved!
Target Audience Appeal
Fans of Religious, Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Soulful Gospel
Artist target suggestions
Aretha Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Jennifer Hudson, Kierra Sheard, CeCe Winans, Cissy Houston, Kim Burrell, Tasha Cobb Leonard, Tamela Mann, Koryn Hawthorne
About The Reviewer
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent within the next generation of musical explorers.
"A solid album." — Jeffrey LaValley (Award-Winning Musician, Composer & Producer).
Music Review: “Behind My Eyes” — Ellen Hayes
“Behind My Eyes” by Ellen Hayes is a beautifully produced Gospel recording that immediately stands out for its strong vocal performance, thoughtful songwriting, and inspirational message. From a production standpoint, the song is polished and well-balanced, while Ellen’s vocals bring genuine emotion and conviction to the material.
What makes this recording particularly interesting is that, while it is firmly rooted in Gospel, its appeal has the potential to extend well beyond the traditional Gospel audience. Today’s musical landscape has created considerably more crossover opportunities for inspirational and faith-based recordings. When the songwriting, production, and performance are strong enough, a Gospel record can find an audience across multiple formats and demographics.
In my opinion, “Behind My Eyes” has the characteristics that could make it a candidate for consideration in formats such as Gospel, Urban AC, Urban, Hot AC, and potentially broader Top 40-oriented programming depending on the market and audience. The inspirational nature of the song is certainly an asset, but the record does not feel confined to one particular format.
We actually played “Behind My Eyes,” and the response was very encouraging. Our listeners responded well to the song, and the overall reaction was genuinely positive. That kind of immediate listener response is always worth paying attention to because it demonstrates that the record can connect with an audience beyond simply sounding good in the studio.
There is a sincerity to this song that comes through in the performance. Ellen Hayes has something here that deserves to be heard, and I would strongly encourage consideration of a broader promotional campaign. With the right radio strategy, marketing, and exposure, I believe the song has an opportunity to reach considerably more listeners and potentially gain traction across multiple formats.
“Behind My Eyes” is a great song, and Ellen Hayes has truly created something remarkable.** The production is excellent, the vocals are compelling, the songwriting is strong, and—most importantly—the song connects with people.
Song: Behind My Eyes
Overall Impression
From its first moments, Ellen Hayes’ gospel-soul offering carries an instantly uplifting, enveloping sense of character, surrounding the listener in a musical embrace that is tender without becoming fragile and devotional without ever feeling overly solemn. It is music that seems to understand that faith is not always born from certainty; sometimes it is forged in moments of doubt, pain, fear and endurance. At the heart of this undeniably charming tune is Ellen Hayes herself. Her voice is deeply emotive and velvety, possessing a softness around its edges that allows every lyric to breathe. There is no sense of her forcing the message upon the listener. Instead, she lets the words arrive naturally, giving them the delicacy and grace they require. Around her, the warm strings, tender piano, understated guitar, gentle rhythm and beautifully layered backing vocals create an arrangement that seems to breathe alongside the performance, resulting in a gospel-soul track that is both deeply welcoming and spiritual.
Strongest Point(s)
With her exquisite tonal and dynamic control, Hayes effortlessly navigates the song’s journey from pain, doubt and fear toward faith, gratitude and triumph in way that feels engaging. Her performance gives the lyrics a profound sense of humanity, making the testimony feel personal, authentic and deeply inspirational. She doesn't simply sing about overcoming adversity; she makes the listener feel the emotional weight of the journey. The arrangement complements her beautifully, blending warm, enveloping strings with tasteful guitar, tender piano, a gentle swaying rhythm and beautifully textured backing vocals. Each element is thoughtfully placed, enriching the message without overshadowing Hayes' commanding vocal performance. The result is a free-flowing, immersive arrangement that seems to glide effortlessly from one emotional moment to the next. Lyrically, the track is equally strong and they manage to gracefully explore the unseen struggles that can exist beneath an outward appearance of strength. Pain, tears, doubt and tribulation gradually give way to an awakening sense of faith and gratitude, culminating in the powerful imagery of a diamond emerging from the fire. The song's central message is beautifully clear: sometimes the battles that seem destined to break us become the very experiences that refine and strengthen us.
Target Audience Appeal
Fans of gospel/soul styles will deeply appreciate what "Behind My Eyes" has to offer.
Artist target suggestions
Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Odetta, CeCe Winans, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Marvin Sapp, Travis Greene, Todd Galberth
About The Reviewer
Andre is a freelance session guitarist, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.