In recent years, Ghana’s gospel music landscape has seen an explosion of creativity. There have been some astonishing projects from the space that have not only pushed sonic boundaries but also deeply thematic and inspirational. This year, however, has brought an even richer offering of gospel projects that have raised the bar for the genre.
With albums that rival the quality and composition of mainstream genres, gospel is no longer playing in the background.
Earlier, we witnessed Team Eternity’s breakthrough, which dominated the charts, holding its own against more mainstream music. Now, as we move further into the year, another stunning release from a collective known as Channel Media has captured attention.
In August, Channel Media released their anticipated project, “Distractions.” This body of work, favourably considered one of the best gospel projects of the year, is a bold and soulful contribution to the ongoing evolution of gospel music in Ghana. Its themes, production quality and sonic textures add to the refreshing wave of worship that feels both modern and deeply rooted in faith.
Engaging the collective with Revolve Muzic, we aim to gain insight into the collective’s artistic journey, their influences and their unique place in contemporary gospel music.
RV: Who are the artistes behind Channel Media and what is the collective all about?
CM: It’s a collective of your individuals who want to worship God, we seek to lead people to God through experiential worship. CM is a Christian event organization company that is concept-driven and has established this collective. Currently, we have recurring cast members including Julia Asante-Mensah, Laud Evans, Attakay Jnr, Fi’, Kyei Mensah, Regina Tortoh, and Achiaamusic, with whom we have had the privilege of working.
RV: Is Channel Media a tightly knit group or more of a platform for individual artists to showcase their talents?
CM: We are tightly-knit as a community, and as we grow, we approach each project with intentionality. For every project, we seek out individuals who can help us achieve our goals. Each project provides a platform for people not to showcase their talent but to embrace the challenge of leading others by staying true to the project’s message.
RV: How would you describe the sonic identity of Channel Media? What sets your sound apart from other artistes emerging from Ghana?
CM: I can’t reveal that, it’s a trade secret! (laughs) I truly believe that what sets us apart, in addition to the God factor, is ‘Una mente’. We work hard to understand the message and what it’s trying to convey, so from the band to the vocals, everyone’s goal is to convey the message.
RV: How does the collective manage creative direction when working with such a diverse pool of artistes?
CM: It has been an exciting and challenging journey. We have learned a lot about each other and how to bring out the best in one another to ensure we achieve our goals. A significant part of this journey has involved understanding different facets of Christianity, alluding to God’s love for us despite our shortcomings. Fortunately, we are all single-minded in our pursuit of the same goal, which is to create an impact for God’s glory. As a result, we consistently revisit these aspects, regardless of our different personalities, and this greatly strengthens our fellowship.
RV: Your latest project, “Distractions”, has been praised as one of the best projects from the country this year. What was the inspiration behind the project’s title and its overarching theme?
CM: This is our third musical project. We previously worked on “Letters to Mummy,” “The Silence Project,” and “A Father’s Diary.” In addition to musical projects, we have also worked on non-musical projects such as “The Talk” and had a podcast called “Radio Allure.” Our projects reflect the issues we are going through and aim to start conversations about them. We realized that others in the Christian community are also facing these problems. “Distractions” focuses on the reasons behind our sinful actions. We believe that sin is just a symptom, and we need to delve deeper to understand the underlying reasons, which is why we created “Distractions.”
RV: What message or theme do you hope your listeners derive from the project, “Distractions”?
CM: A deep realization that we are becoming distracted from God and that Jesus is coming soon. We need to cultivate a genuine relationship with Him.
RV: The reception has been positive so far. How important is the audience’s response to your music, and how does it influence your creative direction moving forward?
CM: It is heartwarming to know that we are making an impact simply by sharing our struggles as Christians and how God desperately seeks to bring us back to Him. In terms of creative direction, it assures us that we should speak the truth about our experiences as Christians and how we are genuinely navigating through life.
RV: Gospel music has traditionally followed a certain style, but your collective seems to incorporate a more nuanced, even experimental approach as evident in “Distractions.” What drove this musical direction?
CM: You won’t believe it, but it is God. That is one aspect we don’t control. We do not limit genres, so the difference in sound is a result of the state of mind of the songwriter. It’s about how that particular distraction felt in their hearts. All we did as a team was to bring it to life. No one ever dreamt Laud Evans would do a highlife, but he brought us a highlife saying ‘I couldn’t express it any other way’, and this is coming from someone who traditionally is drawn to jazz music.
RV: Gospel music has a deep legacy in Ghanaian culture. What lasting impact does Channel Media hope to leave on the gospel music landscape and how do you plan to keep your message fresh and impactful for years to come?
CM: We aim to leave a legacy of authenticity by staying true to who we are and being honest about our experiences. This honesty shines through in our writing, and we hope that our journey will serve as a lesson for those who follow. We want our lyrics to be like sermons—timeless messages that inspire positive change and encourage people to grow as individuals in Christ. By staying rooted in our faith, we believe the message will remain relevant and impactful for years to come.
RV: What role do you think gospel music plays in the current cultural and social landscape of Ghana, especially among the youth?
CM: Gospel music plays a significant cognitive role in shaping the cultural and social landscape. Its lyrics bring hope, encouraging individuals to strive for better, while also shaping personal ethics. For the youth, gospel music provides a message of relatability and assurance, offering guidance and inspiration during a formative period in their lives.
RV: There’s been a lot of discussion about churches adapting their worship styles to attract younger audiences. What are your thoughts on this trend? Do you believe that it’s essential for churches to modernize their worship services?
CM: We believe that worship is experiential, and one cannot necessarily change a worship ‘style’. Worship is about realizing that God is God and we are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. We think that the standard definition of a ‘style of worship’ should be reconsidered, and instead, we should ask what worship truly is and challenge our limited definition of what we want worship to be.
RV: Some critics argue that these changes can compromise the authenticity of worship. How do you balance the desire to reach a wider audience with maintaining the integrity of your faith?
CM: Truth is, we don’t. Our faith comes first because that’s who we are—our identity is in Christ above all else. Conforming to earthly standards isn’t an option. The standard is Christ, not the size of our audience. If that naturally leads to reaching more people, great, but we’ll never compromise our faith to fit in. Christ’s teachings set the standard, and our focus is on staying true to that, not chasing wider appeal.
RV: Who are some of the contemporary artists, whether in gospel or outside of it, who have influenced the sound of “Distractions”?
CM: We’ve been influenced by artists like Jonathan McReynolds, Hle, Team Eternity, and Nii Sowah, among others.
RV: Do you find any challenges in balancing traditional gospel elements with more modern genres to appeal to a younger audience?
CM: The key question is: what defines “traditional” gospel elements? The Gospel is ultimately a message, not a specific musical form. Our task is to present this message clearly, whatever the genre may be. If we try to tailor the message purely for growth or appeal, then we miss the point. Our job is to sow the seeds, to share the message of Christ in whatever form it arrives. How it resonates with different people—young or old—is up to God. Unless the message is specifically for younger people in a given context, we let God shape its form.
RV: With Distractions being such a powerful project, what can your listeners expect next from Channel Media? Are there any plans for live performances, new music, or even a branch out into other spaces?
CM: We usually have our live events in November so let’s say lookout. But for now, we are taking it one day at a time, learning and not getting distracted!
By: Jude Tackie
