Vade

In 2017 Vadé, a London-based Christian a cappella ensemble, claimed victory on the British television competition Sing: Ultimate a Cappella and thereby secured a recording contract with Decca. The ensemble originated in 2013 when tenor Philip Yeboah conceived the project and, after encountering Jermaine Sanderson, Roy Crisp, Joseph “Kojo” Anti, and Zimbabwean-born Joshua “JJ” Hammersley, Jr. at church gatherings, invited each singer—respectively a second tenor, another tenor, a baritone, and a bass—to join. They adopted the name Vadé, drawn from the Latin verb vāde and interpreted by the members as “go together.” All five vocalists share deep Christian convictions rooted in their church upbringing and regard their work as an equal blend of music, ministry, and entertainment. Although they first concentrated on gospel engagements, the group soon broadened its selections to encompass R&B and jazz pieces, aiming to reach listeners outside conventional church circles with its message. Their vocal prowess yielded both intricate harmonic textures and precise imitations of instruments and percussion. Learning that Sky TV intended to introduce an a cappella contest, they submitted an entry and, to their surprise, emerged as winners. Decca promptly extended an offer, resulting in the December 2017 release of the single “Cry Your Heart Out,” which One Direction’s Niall Horan had composed specifically for the ensemble. The accompanying album of the same title presented interpretations of inspirational soul, pop, and R&B songs together with several sacred selections.