StepFWD Gospel News
Gospel News is curated by O’Neil Dennis – Founder of AStepFWD.com, the UK Christian Charts, StepFWD Awards and more. To get in touch, email info@astepfwd.com
OUT OF THE ASHES: A TESTIMONY OF FAITH, MUSIC AND COMING HOME
Originally hailing from the volcanic island of Montserrat, and now based in Birmingham, UK, Imrhan is a MOBO-nominated gospel artist whose songs fuse rich African Caribbean tradition with contemporary sounds. Having come from a background of R&B music and being in the duo Lotto Boyzz, Imrhan stepped into the world of gospel music after God called him home.
Imrhan has loved music from an early age, and at 16 formed a group with his friend Luke, called Ash and Lucas. Having felt ashamed of and been bullied for his Muslim first name, Imrhan chose to go by Ash, standing for ‘Always Stay Humble’. After university, the duo’s music picked up under their new name Lotto Boyzz, but, Imrhan shared: “I didn’t have peace with the situation.”
Feeling low, Imrhan decided to take his own life. He went to a bridge and put one foot over the edge when his phone started to ring. “As it vibrated,” Imrhan recalled, “it vibrated way too hard for a phone, so I thought something was wrong with my leg. When I put my foot down, my phone’s ringing, so I’m in panic and I just picked it up.”
At the other end of the phone was his mum, who asked if he was alright. She told him: “The Lord is telling me that you’re not OK, that I had to call you right now. Where are you?”
Having replied that he was down the road, his mother told him: “Come home.” He ran home. Only later did Imrhan realise that God had saved him that day, and he started to understand that God was real. He went to church and heard God say to him: “Go home.”
When he returned to the house he lived in with a group of peers, Imrhan told them he was leaving. After that, everything about that lifestyle crumbled down, leaving him in disbelief at how he had escaped.
Yet at this time Imrhan started to suffer from something he’d never had before: anxiety. Eventually he went back to church and decided to tackle his anxiety through prayer and fasting. “I decided I was going to fast for five days, and when I came out, I was never going to have anxiety again,” Imrhan said. “Day one comes, I’m struggling. I thought I was going to die. Second day, I thought I was going to die again. The third day was alright, but day four and five were the worst days of my life. And then, day six till now, I’ve never experienced anxiety, ever again.”
After this, Imrhan decided he wanted to do gospel music, though he didn’t know where to start. At church, a woman of God came and prayed for him and asked: “What’s your name?”
He replied: “Ash”, as this was what everyone still called him.
The woman saw through this, though. “What’s your real name?” she asked.
He told her, and she replied: “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. This one! If you want to see restoration in your life, take back your original name.”
Another woman across the room came over with a phone in her hand, saying she had just looked up the meaning of Imrhan. It meant ‘exalted nation, prosperity and happiness’. And why would anyone not want to have that name spoken over them?
“I’d been telling them to call me Ash,” Imrhan recalled. “Something that is burnt out. And I realised that with all the people who were calling me Ash, I was slowly just burning out.”
So, Imrhan started creating gospel music to glorify God, using his true name. Since then, Imrhan has been a rising star on the gospel scene, and his gospel reggae hit ‘Secret Place’ reached number 1 in the UK Christian Charts. He is currently creating a new song every week for 52 weeks, and his monthly Spotify listeners have rocketed from 60,000 to 130,000 in just six months.
Imrhan concluded by sharing his recent revelation about God being our Shepherd – an image he’d recently been researching for a sermon he gave at church. He saw how a sheep repeatedly hit its head against a rock because there were flies deep inside his nose that he couldn’t reach. But the shepherd called the sheep – leaving the 99 for the 1 – and anointed his head with oil, which repelled the flies. It set him free from the enemy within. Throughout his life, Imrhan had been fed anxious and suicidal lies by the enemy, but upon being anointed by the Good Shepherd, these thoughts were repelled and his focus turned from the things of the world to the glory of God.
“I always feel like the things God does put us in a position to know Him more,” Imrhan concluded. “I understood now that it wasn’t Him, but He allowed it to happen, knowing that He was going to sort out the whole situation.”
Written by Miriam Culy
SISTERHOOD & SOUND: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN FAITH & MUSIC
On a night during Women’s History Month, the air was filled with joy, inspiration, and a whole lot of sisterhood, as Morenike Adebayo, Founder of IAMWoman, hosted a special dinner to celebrate women in music and faith. In a world where the music industry can sometimes feel like a solo journey, this night was a testament to the power of community, faith and unwavering support.
A Vision a Year in the Making
As guests arrived, there was an undeniable buzz of excitement. Artists, managers, music executives, publishers, radio pluggers, and industry leaders gathered to enjoy an evening of good food, conversation, and to recognise, uplift and empower one another.
Morenike shared the heart behind the event: “The idea to host this dinner has been almost a year in the making. Working in the music industry for 13 years, one of the things I struggled to find early on in my journey were women of faith I could rally around, especially in challenging moments. My heart was to host this dinner to celebrate you ladies for continuing to run your race; to provide a community for the next generation; and to learn from and encourage one another.”
A Room Full of Powerhouses
From legendary voices to rising stars, the room was packed with women who are shaping the UK’s music and faith scene. Gospel powerhouse Lurine Cato MBE brought her signature warmth with an opening prayer, while Karen Gibson MBE, who led The Kingdom Choir at the Royal Wedding, was a beacon of wisdom.
Industry trailblazers, such as Marcia Dixon MBE, Paulette Long OBE, and Kanya King CBE – Founder of the MOBO Awards – were also present as examples of excellence and perseverance, highlighting what it means to be a woman of faith breaking boundaries in the industry.
On the artist front, there was Sarah Téibo (known for her contemporary gospel sound), Sharyn, Esther Durin, and Claudia Isaki, all are making waves with their unique artistry. Hannah Lawkey-Wilson, new to artist management, was in attendance, as well as Ginelle Appau from Apple Music, Jennifer Lee Moon, Hannah Lovejoy from Premier Gospel, and Heavilyn from Melodies from Heaven.
Faith, Music and Unbreakable Bonds
The evening was more than just networking; it was a space where stories were shared, wisdom was passed down, and genuine connections were made. Between bites of delicious Italian food, attendees reminisced about their journeys, the highs and lows of the industry, and how their faith has sustained them.
From career-defining moments to behind-the-scenes struggles, there was a shared understanding that being a woman in the industry comes with challenges, but together, those challenges seem a little easier to face.
One of the most touching moments of the night was hearing from those who have paved the way, offering encouragement to the next generation. There was an unspoken “We’ve got each other” sentiment that made the night all the more meaningful.
Sisterhood and Continuing to Be the Light
This celebration, held in partnership with AStepFWD, was a beautiful reminder that faith and music are not separate but intertwined.
As the evening drew to a close, there was a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to supporting one another beyond this event. Connections were made, collaborations were discussed, and, most importantly, a sisterhood was strengthened.
This wasn’t just another industry dinner; this was a movement of women who are boldly stepping into their callings, lifting each other up, and reminding the world that faith and music are a force to be reckoned with.
Here’s to more nights of celebration, unity, and making history – together! For more pictures, visit Instagram @iamwomanuk
