Breaking New Grounds For Christ With Game-Changing Sounds

A Chat with Ada Ehi 

From her debut album, Undenied, released in November 2009, to her recent EP, Consecrated, Ada Ogochukwu Ehi Moses has continued to significantly impact the landscape of Gospel Music in Nigeria. Known for her electrifying performances and popular hits, she has not only gained recognition within Nigeria but has also made ripples in the international music scene, garnering respect from gospel music lovers worldwide.

Coming off the release of her new EP, Consecrated, we explore the heart of her latest body of work: her life as a Mother, spirit-filled gospel singer, and her love for the unique. The wife and mother share powerful insights on Christian living, how to discover your purpose and the hurdles she had to overcome as a gospel artist. 

Gospel Music- A Call, A vision, And A Ministry

“Since way back, I’ve always had that image and vision. In my dreams, I’ll see myself standing in front of a sea of heads.” 

When asked why she decided to craft a career around the “limiting” gospel music genre, Ada answered that she had always known that she was born to use her Gift to edify the body of Christ. She had also always had visions of what she was going to do long before it became a reality.

One can conclude that Ada’s career was explicitly planned out by God, but Faith and fellowship with the Father have been her rock from the early years of age 10 to this very moment. However, working in God’s plan doesn’t eliminate challenges. As she opened up, she faced many challenges, one of which was the inherent belief from others that Gospel Music was never going to be successful. 

I have had people tell me that “this your Music isn’t going to be successful, so you just have to be content.” 

Motivation, Inspiration And Lifestyle Balance 

Ada Ehi started her musical journey long before Gospel Music became marketable. She’s not early into the scene like most people think. When asked what had kept her going even when it seemed as if it wasn’t working, she didn’t hesitate to point to Christ—the source of her motivation and love. 

“Love is my motivation. I really love people,”  She said 

She further explained that her source of Inspiration isn’t a collage of different sources. Instead, she carefully selects it because, as Christians, we must always guard our hearts. 

Those who are close to me know how much I protect my mental space to focus on what God wants. Sermons, Gospel Music, Books, and Historical knowledge are her top-tier sources of Inspiration. She shared with us that she stays clear of anything that doesn’t project the word of God. 

When quizzed about how the Mother and wife is able to balance work and lifestyle, she had this to say: 

You are not Superman. Stop being superman

Her strength and work balance were hinged on the realisation that only God can help create that balance. No one is a Superman, and Christians should not think they can do it all themselves. 

On Receiving Inspired Music

According to Ada, you can only receive inspired music from God. There is no set process for receiving from God. Every good and perfect Gift comes from God, and this is why all her songs are not only inspiring but also carry the transformative power of the Holy Ghost. 

Sometimes, I receive a sound. At times, it could be after prayer, like the track “Game Changer.” We had just finished a Women’s Prayer Meeting, and I heard the tune and lyrics: “Game Changer has given me victory, He has given me victory.” I sang it around the house that day. Or I can wake up singing a particular song. It might also be a theme from a Sermon. 

The E.P- Consecrated

First, the E.P. is titled Consecration. Ada’s body of work reflects her current or previous stage in her relationship with God. She tells us that the theme is not just about consecration but an intense consecration, which should be done by every Christian daily. Ada’s E.P. has Seven tracks. De Aria, Yes Sir, Game Changer, Heart to Heart, Definitely, Finally, Another Miracle. If you’re familiar with the hidden meaning of numbers, you’ll know that seven means perfection, which is the right definition for the E.P. 

De Aria is the first track that combines genuine Nigerian sentiments with lively music. From the first few seconds, Ada admonishes us to remain steadfast in Christ, and His words will come to pass. 

The next track, Yes Sir, has enjoyed great success. The crispy video of the Highlife track featuring Mercy Chinwo has been trending on social media. Commenting on the synergy on the track, Ada confirmed that she shared a strong friendship with Mercy Chinwo even before they recorded the album. The song speaks about absolute surrender to the Lordship of Christ. 

Game Changer, featuring Joe Praise, is a song of deliverance, prophecy, and celebrated victories. When quizzed about her process of picking collaborations or features, she opened up about how the feature of Joe Praise came to fruition. 

We recorded the song, and I felt that something was missing. Not until I played it to my husband’s ears, and he told me directly, “I can hear Joe Praize on this track.” And just as you must have guessed, Joe Praize brought his infectious energy with his sound.

It is no coincidence that the heart of the E.P. in the track-Heart to Heart (Higher) features Nosa Omoregie.

You should reach a place where you are heart-to-heart with Christ until the heart of the Father becomes your heartbeat. That is why I said until I finally get there, the place of Heart to Heart.  

The EP explored different sounds and Genres of Gospel Contemporary music. Masterkraft was not left out, as he finished work on the Amapiano Finally track. According to Ada Ehi, the exploration of different sounds comes first from the spirit and her understanding of being different. 

I hear the sounds of the song even at its beginning stages, and I understand what it is like to be different. As I told you earlier, I have had people tell me that my music wouldn’t be successful and that I should just be content with the “little attention” I will get. There is a place for relevance or acceptability. However, the most important thing is that every song should be received and presented how God wants it.

Ada Ehi further explains that she doesn’t feel a shift in the Gospel’s contemporary sounds. 

I can’t say there is a shift in contemporary gospel music. Instead, musicians are breaking new ground for Christ and creating more rooms. So, we now have songs for every aspect of our lives. For example, someone should not be having a book launch, and you discover that there are no Christian songs you can play in the background for that event.  

The “Ideal” Role Model

When asked what it takes to be Ada and whether she has a word for those who see her as a role model, Ada Ehi gave a shocking reply and used this medium to explain the subtle idolization of humans in Christendom.

Stay humble and be true to yourself. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. It is only God who can lift. Find out God’s plan for your life. Find out what the Lord wants first. It might be that God doesn’t even want you to be like Ada Ehi or anybody. We Idolize a lot in Christianity, and excessive admiration can be dangerous. Discover and understand the why and how of your life. Then, commit to it.

Fun And Karaoke

We also explored Ada Ehi’s fun side. She told us that she would love to have a Karaoke night with Mary McKee and the Genesis, a Christian Country music band that contributed to her childhood experience. Deep down, I know you haven’t heard of them. We are talking about singers who started releasing tracks around 1978 when all we had was radio/FM music.

Listen to CONSECRATED EP now