The gospel scene came alive on Saturday as Omoseyin Esther Taiwo, known on stage as Angelheart, unveiled her debut single “Sope” at an intimate listening party, a rithymic and vibrant celebration that marked her significant entry into the world of gospel music.
The new single, “Sope” denoting Give Thanks in Yoruba parlance, is a message of gratitude and unwavering faith. it is a rendition that urges listeners to thank God regardless of their circumstances.
Masterfully produced by Opeyemi Emmanuel Kolawole and visually directed by Iyke Lawrence, the single’s video was unveiled during the listening party at KWG Place with a resounding applause. The visuals, complemented by Angelheart’s soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, reflect both artistic depth and spiritual conviction.
Speaking at the event, Angelheart expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to share her gift with the world. She noted that “Sope” was inspired by her personal journey of faith and her desire to encourage people to maintain a thankful heart even in challenging times.
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“The main message of Sope is for people to be appreciative. Be thankful. Your situation that you are complaining about is another man’s prayer point. So by the time you think of how God has been so good to you, you should be thankful to God for that.
“Like probably someone that is looking up to God for a marriage. Some people have been married for years and they have not even given birth at all. But you that you are not married, you have a kid. Why don’t you just appreciate for your own? So you don’t claim other people’s blessing when God has actually blessed you with something that you should be thankful for. That’s another message from it,” she stated.
Sharing the creative inspiration behind “Sope”, her manager and video director, Iyke Lawrence, recalled how the song was birthed during an unexpected studio session.
In his words, “I was privileged to be part of the session where “Sope” came to life. Interestingly, we were working on an entirely different sound when this idea emerged. Our goal was to create something that would connect with people outside the church, those who might not typically listen to gospel music. We wanted a sound that would draw them closer.
“Sope is not the usual praise or worship tune hear in church, and it is not hip-hop either. It sits somewhere beautifully in between. Together with the producer, Opeyemi Kolawole, Angelheart and Ade Mike of KWG, we asked ourselves, ‘How can we make something the Gen Zs and even older generations would love?’ That’s how Sope was born from a familiar melody we all knew from our school days, reimagined and creatively refined into something new and refreshing,” he explained.
Also speaking on the uniqueness of the song, Opeyemi Emmanuel Kolawole, the music producer behind “Sope”, highlighted the distinctive elements that make the track stand out in today’s gospel music industry. According to him, there is a diverse uniqueness that can easily be identified in Sope.
“The first thing is the beat. It carries a high tone with movements inspired by hip-hop rhythms. We intentionally fused elements of hip-hop and Afro-hip-hop into the gospel space and that blend created something fresh, expressive and perfectly aligned with the message we wanted to share.
“The idea was to pass a message of gratitude and goodwill in a groovy, energetic way. Even the video reflects that creative balance. Though it was shot in a church setting, the arrangement is not the conventional gospel style. It carries a subtle hip-hop vibe. That twist gives it a modern appeal while still preserving the song’s spiritual essence. You’ll also notice natural, relatable scenes in the visuals, something that connects instantly with anyone who watches or listens,” he said.
The producer fondly known as Opiano also described Angelheart as a gospel minister who has the words and songs to minister to people in difficult situations.
In the same vein, guests at the listening party echoed the sentiments of the production team in their comments on the artistic work. They praised the single for its uplifting tone and powerful message, describing it as a refreshing addition to contemporary gospel music.
