The Kingdom Choir in conversation with FAULT Magazine

The Kingdom Choir stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of faith, hope, and inspiration. Over the past year, they’ve taken their heartwarming message to new corners of the globe, leaving an indelible mark on all who have had the privilege of witnessing their performances. From a captivating North American headline tour to a once-in-a-lifetime moment at The Coronation Prom in the iconic Royal Albert Hall, The Kingdom Choir has continuously demonstrated the transcendence of gospel music. We caught up with The Kingdom Choir to discuss their new single ‘Be Alright’, journey and their FAULTs.

“Be Alright” is described as an inspirational single – could you share more about the song’s theme and the significance of its lyrics to you? 

Be Alright, was a written in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd (as well as others), and the unrest in the months following. Jake, Sharlene-Monique and I felt that we wanted to write a song that addressed issues such as racial justice or gender inequalities, but we also wanted to encourage listeners that even though we might not see it now, troubles won’t last always. The message of this song harks back to the mantra of the 1960s civil rights movement, that we will overcome and that it will be all right. 

Can you tell us about the creative process behind “Be Alright” and how you collaborated with songwriters Jake Isaac and Sharlene-Monique to bring this song to life?

Jake is an old friend of the choir and an immense talent. As we have collaborated with him before, we approached him to write with us as we had some ideas about things that we wanted to speak about in a creative way. 

We actually met over zoom to write the song, in the end. In fact, we met a few times to get it to the place that we were all happy with. The themes in this song seemed to have the most resonance at the time, so we ran with it. 

Jake plays keys and provided a skeleton track for us to work with. He took that to Jonathan Owusu-Yianomah, another member of the choir who also writes and produces for us. Through the production, Jonathan completed the feel and sound of it. 

The Kingdom Choir has had an incredible journey over the past 30 years. What do you consider to be the most significant moments or achievements in your long and successful career?

I guess for many, it would be obvious that singing at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding five years ago was a significant moment for us, and they wouldn’t be wrong. It was an incredible day and a pivotal moment in our history. 

However, I would also say that being able to tour the UK and the US was a huge honour that I would never have imagined. It has been beautiful to be able to connect with the public at our own headline show, and see and feel their response to our music. Part of our UK tour included a sell-out show at the Royal Albert Hall. That was an unforgettable occasion. Going to the US was also a phenomenal although nerve-wracking at first, as we were taking gospel music to the very place in which it was created. However, the US audiences are extremely responsive to what we have to bring and the shows there are always brilliant.

Of course, there have been other beautiful performances, such as sharing a stage at the Hollywood bowl with Gladys Knight, a childhood favourite of mine. We also appeared at Prom in the Park alongside the iconic Barbra Streisand.

Last, but not least, I have to say that we really cherish the work that we have done with young people. The choir is full of folk who teach or have taught in schools, so when we get to work with children and young people, it’s always a very rewarding time to see them embrace the music, join in, and sing their hearts out.

It’s been a tough few years for many communities across the globe, how important would you say music has been in helping you navigate an almost endless bad news cycle? 

It’s been important for the choir to release music with a positive message to counteract the negativity that seems to be around. We know first-hand the power of music to lift the soul and to bring unity, connectivity and hope in very challenging situations. The music speaks to us as well as to our listeners.

During the pandemic, we were privileged to create several virtual performances. These included the BBC’s One World: Together At Home, Royal Ascot and Royal Albert Home sessions). To be able to remain creative in this way gave us a real sense of togetherness, and so was incredibly healing. Despite the feeling of being in limbo, these continued to give us a sense of purpose. 

For many, your performance at the Royal Wedding in 2018 made you a household name, how did that experience impact your career, and did you find it opened many opportunities for the choir? 

Singing at the Royal Wedding changed the trajectory of the choir altogether. We were able to have experiences that we could only have dreamt of. We have travelled around the world and been able to perform at the most prestigious events such as the Invictus games in Australia, at the expo in Dubai, and before Prince Albert II in Monaco.

What can audiences expect from these upcoming shows, and how do you prepare for such special events?

For our anniversary show in particular, we are looking forward to a spine-tingling time of celebration! We will be singing some of our most popular songs including some of our new music, but we also have some special surprises, that will remain a secret until the day of the show. We’ve got quite a few other performances coming up so we will be rehearsing intensely for the next couple of months. It’s hard work, but also very exciting. 

Looking ahead, what are The Kingdom Choir’s future plans and aspirations for 2024 and beyond? Are there any new projects or collaborations in the works that you can share with your fans?

Our aspirations are to build on the platform of the past five years, to keep releasing music and keep making an impact for good. We love meeting our fans, so we’re thrilled about more headline shows coming up, and possible touring. As always, there are also some things in the pipeline that we can’t talk about yet, but it’s great news that we can’t wait to share! 

What is your FAULT?

Haha! I have many! But my default is to keep going, keep looking up, keep expecting good things, and to keep my sense of purpose and passion alive.