IN CONVERSATION WITH FAITH CHILD

interview JANA LETONJA

Faith Child is a MOBO Award-winning rapper and one of the UK’s most influential contemporary Christian voices. Known for his infectious rap anthems and uplifting performances across more than 25 countries, he continues to bridge faith, culture, and music with authenticity. With chart-topping hits like ‘Oluwa Is Involved’ and collaborations with global names including GRAMMY winner Erica Campbell, Faith’s impact stretches far beyond music. Now, with his third studio album ‘When Faith Feels Far’, he delivers his most vulnerable and candid body of work to date—wrestling with grief, doubt, and unanswered prayers while holding fast to hope. Blending rap, gospel, afrofusion, and pop, the album is both a confession and a celebration, designed to comfort, challenge, and strengthen listeners in life’s valleys and victories.

Your origin story is powerful. Your mother says she heard God tell her to keep you when she was close to terminating her pregnancy. How has that shaped your sense of purpose as an artist? 

My journey has fueled me to always speak life and hope through my music. Whenever I share my story, I often meet people who carry a similar background, or who, like me, were once told they were a ‘mistake.’ I remind them that God never makes mistakes, he has a plan for each of us. While we cannot change our past, we don’t have to be defined by it. Instead, we can walk in the truth of who God says we are.

Do you remember the moment you knew you wanted to dedicate your artistry to Christian rap and gospel-infused music?

Like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, I found my start in the church. My church placed a strong emphasis on the arts for young people, and that’s where my love for music was born. I watched my older siblings sing and perform, and as the youngest, I naturally wanted to follow in their footsteps. Growing up in church, my faith became the foundation of my music.

Over the years, my journey has taken me from church events to schools, universities, pubs, clubs, and even arenas. Often, I found myself as the only Christian act on the lineup, and yet, time after time, people would come up to me afterwards to say how much they appreciated the hope-filled message in my music. Those moments confirmed why I do what I do, to carry faith and hope into every space I step into.

Your new album is your most vulnerable record yet. What inspired you to write an album that wrestles so honestly with doubt, grief, and hope?

Music is therapy for so many people, and I wanted to write an album that speaks to real-life struggles while pointing listeners toward a greater hope. Growing up as a Christian, I often heard the idea that faith meant life would be smooth and easy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Christianity doesn’t promise a drama-free life, it promises a faithful God who walks with us through every trial.

I experienced this deeply when I lost my dad during the pandemic. That season was one of the most testing times for our family. The uncertainty of the pandemic, combined with the fear of whether my father would survive, shook me to my core. Yet, in the middle of the storm, my faith became the anchor that held me steady. That experience has shaped both who I am and the music I now share with the world.

The title itself is striking, ‘When Faith Feels Far’. What does that phrase mean to you?

In testing times, many of us turn to our vices, whether it is food, alcohol, or other substances. For me, that phrase has become a reminder that when we feel alone, God is actually closer than we think. He often uses creation, whether through friends, nature, or other small reminders, to show us that He is near.

You’ve worked with an incredible list of collaborators, like Erica Campbell, Joe L Barnes, CalledOut Music. How did those partnerships come together?

All of the collaborations on this project came about naturally through relationship. Many of the artists I worked with are people I have been friends with for years, and once the right song came along, I reached out. I grew up listening to Mary Mary and Aaron Sledge, so having the opportunity to collaborate with both Erica and Aaron is truly a career highlight for me.

Sonically, the album blends rap, gospel, afrofusion, electronica, and pop. How intentional were you about pushing genre boundaries here? 

I am very intentional with my music. I am of Nigerian heritage, born and raised in London, and I frequently tour across Europe. As a true music lover, I enjoy many different styles, and my own music reflects both the variety I appreciate and the wide reach of my audience. One day, I might be performing for Gen-Z teenagers in the Czech Republic, and the next day for millennials in London. Because of that, I am intentional about creating music that resonates with all kinds of listeners.

Which track from the album do you feel most personally connected to, and why?

I have received many messages about ‘Good Mourning,’ the song about my father’s passing. People have expressed respect for my vulnerability and appreciation for the depth of my writing, noting that it revealed a side of me they had not seen before.

Was there a song that was particularly difficult to write or record because of its emotional weight?

That would be ‘Good Mourning’. I wrote the first verse just a couple of days after hearing my dad was on life support, and the second verse six weeks later, when he passed. In the song, you hear me processing my thoughts in real time. It also includes a voice note from my brother breaking the news that my dad only had a few days left. One of the incredible things about music is how it can immortalise moments in time. I will never forget the despair I felt, but also the comfort I received in the midst of it.

You’ve described the album as a companion and catalyst. What do you hope listeners take away from it?

That we heal by going through the motions, especially as men and as people of faith. We don’t have to have it all figured out. Faith begins at the end of our own understanding. When we feel like giving up, we give it up to God. These songs are for the valleys and for the victories.

From ‘IllumiNATION’ to ‘Airborne’ to now ‘When Faith Feels Far’, how do you feel your artistry has evolved?

I have become significantly more transparent and vulnerable in my music. ‘When Faith Feels Far’ is an invitation to peel back the layers and see the man behind the music. As I’ve matured over the years, my music has matured with me, and I wanted this project to reflect more transparency and depth than ever before.

Beyond music, you’re also mentoring young creatives and leading workshops. What drives you to pour into the next generation?

I am driven by the fact that I am only where I am today because I was poured into and guided by those who went before me. As a Black male, I also believe it is important for young boys to see positive role models who are not afraid to be vulnerable, who reject toxic behaviour, and who encourage them to have a healthy relationship with their emotions.

CREDITS

photography PAUL AKINRINLOLA