10 years of Christmas Joy with House Gospel Choir
Juliet Fletcher talks to Natalie Maddix, founder of House Gospel Choir, about their music, their latest album, and their plans for Christmas and the forthcoming year
I was intrigued to learn about HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR (HGC) and its founder, Natalie Maddix, who created a diverse vocal group outside traditional church settings. This interview highlights how gospel music continues to evolve in music settings globally – sometimes unconventionally, yet still impactful. Jesus did say: “If they are not against Me, they are for Me” (Mark 9:40, paraphrased). Have a read. What do you think?
NATALIE ON MOTIVATION AND PURPOSE
JULIET FLETCHER (JF): Natalie, how did you get involved in music? Through your parents? Siblings?
NATALIE MADDIX (NM): My family loved music, but it was mainly listening to music from Jim Reeves to reggae and Level 42 (via my brothers’ tastes) that I had my initial influences. I’m the fourth of six siblings, and one of my brothers took to playing drums for a while, but I took to music through going to a Pentecostal church Sunday school. My faith grew there, as well as being christened in an Anglican church and attending a Catholic school. I feel fully rounded and appreciate the many Christian streams I’ve experienced. I think it has helped my faith. I must say, although I didn’t grow up with my dad, I’ve met quite a few of the Maddix family in the music scene over the years.
JF: So what caused you to start House Gospel Choir (HGC)?
NM: It became a dream – in my head I could see and hear it – but at the time, I was working on a solo project in my 20s, pursuing a very fruitful solo career. As time went on, I found that I enjoyed singing with others more than singing alone. I stopped putting things off, and took courage, a leap of faith. I told a few singing friends I knew well, who told a few of their friends… Initially it was twelve of us. From the outset, I realised we had something special going on.
JF: What are the pressures of being a solo artist that changed your view?
NM: It wasn’t ‘pressure’, as such. As a soloist, I discovered that while self-motivation and a clear vision are crucial for artist success, I felt a deeper calling. Leading others as a collective felt more fulfilling than solo work. Exploring my solo voice clarified and confirmed my true calling: guiding a unified group was the direction I truly wanted.
THE STORY BEHIND THE TITLE – HGC
Before interviewing Natalie, I researched house music to understand its link to gospel. House is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM). It features powerful vocals, repetitive beats, spiritual lyrics and tempos exceeding 130bpm (beats per minute) – faster than our normal heart rate (60-100bpm). Emerging to the fore in the 1980s, with DJs like Frankie Knuckles in Chicago, house was inspired by gospel. Knuckles famously called it “Church for those who have fallen from grace.” The genre’s tempo and uplifting messages create a joyful, spiritual experience, similar to some Pentecostal church music. The first renowned house hit was ‘Stand On The Word’, featuring The Celestial Choir of New York, produced by The Joubert Singers – a straight, plumbline preaching message.
HGC’s albums contain songs that aim to inspire and uplift. Song titles on their current album, Love is the Message (released in August), include ‘Promised Land’, ‘Shall Not Be Moved’, ‘Good God’, ‘Glory!’ and ‘Optimistic’.
Natalie explained that House Gospel Choir (HGC) aims to reach clubbers with a powerful, accessible message. Their 2017 Glastonbury performance, which united the audience like a congregation, highlighted HGC’s unique role. The sheer energy and exuberance, and the constant quality of vocal and sonic sound that drives each performance, harnessed by the observable unified relationship shared between the members, remains an instant hit with their core audience.
NM: Our feedback in conversations and written comments lets us know we’re reaching hearts and minds, in addition to [creating] the hi-energy grooves. We’re not known in general church circles – and sometimes not even in the disco clubs – but we are continuing to ‘reach out’ with purpose.
JF: I recall Rev Les Isaac (co-founder of Street Pastors) hearing the audible voice of God while he was in a club; and Ram Gidoomal (a former Hindu, now Christian entrepreneur) who testified that he was introduced to Jesus while in a pub. One soul is worth more than the world’s wealth… If it’s drawing some (by scattering seeds/pouring water), the increase (which only He can give) will come from God, that’s for sure (1 Corinthians 3:6).
SUSTAINING QUALITY OF SOUND
The answer to how the sustained quality of HGC’s sound is maintained and developed was learning that Daniel Thomas has been their specialist choir director since their inception. Daniel is widely respected – and rightly so.
NM: Daniel is like the Supernanny choir director! He has trained me since 2006. He leads intensive masterclasses in vocal techniques, focusing on phrasing, tone, and song interpretation. Many American choirs achieve a lot in singing together, in terms of vocal tone/sound, because voices are mainly from a particular region or area – like one of my favourites, The Mississippi Mass Choir; it’s easier to get everyone singing the same tone and pronunciation in the sections when they have these common roots. We’ve had to work hard at this, and I admire Daniel’s understanding of these points and the work ethic he has brought to us. The London Community Gospel Choir sound, especially their 1990s outfit, is also one of my favourites, which he helped to shape.
A DECADE OF CHRISTMAS JOY
For the past ten years, House Gospel Choir (HGC) has captivated UK audiences with special Christmas shows, selling out venues, and performing on BBC Christmas specials with stars like Sir Tom Jones and Beverley Knight MBE. Highlights include iconic London clubs (Heaven & KOKO) and online shows during the pandemic, which drew new fans. In 2023, they celebrated their tenth Christmas season, performing in major cities like Liverpool, London and Glasgow. This year, they’re skipping their usual Forum show to focus on pop-up carol singing and community events, allowing for time to rest and to continue spreading joy in smaller, spontaneous settings.
LONGEVITY & THE FUTURE
NM: This year we decided to look out for our longevity as we go into 2025. I had to take a long hard look at who and what we are at 10 years. I have a phenomenal team, and an excellent singing collective. I know I’m called. I’m creative. I love to lead. And yes, I am bossy! But with all these assets, we must be wise. So, therefore, we have taken the plunge and set up our own record label. We own all our recordings – known as masters. It’s a new season. It’s a lot more responsibility but we’re loving it! If you put love at the centre of your message, you get a lot back and it’s more meaningful. Now we are learning to understand the music business – how to make money for a living. For starters, this album has been played over 400,000 times, and our Instagram has 2 million views. We want to do well, to make another record, and to keep our choir, artists and audiences engaged. That’s what we need.
Visit www.housegospelchoir.com Follow on Instagram @housegospelchoir
JULIET FLETCHER
Creative Director of Windrush Church and Music, and Founder of the Gospel Music Industry Alliance (GMIA)
