Artists such as PTtheGospelSpitter aren’t all that common anymore. The young man behind this name, Ashante P.T. Stokes, calls Atlanta, Georgia his birthplace and it’s arguably there where his art first took hold. His years spent in church both there in Atlanta, later in Connecticut, touring with his gospel vocalist mother, and his musical development is fueled by that core Southern upbringing. It is impossible, however, to ignore how his new single “Kingdom” differs from his contemporaries in the way he takes that gospel-inflected core upbringing and infuses it with a thoroughly modern sensibility.
It isn’t reflected in ways you might expect. The vocal arrangements of gospel music and choirs are renowned for their capacity to reach listeners and PTtheGospelSpitter achieves many of the same effects. It’s within a wholly different setting, however, and Stokes takes it a step further. Surrounding himself and guest vocalist Stephen Voyce with a variety of synthesizers, sequencers, keyboards and a smattering of vocal effects, the production manipulates each singer’s talents in remarkable ways that help place further focus on the singers and their words rather than distracting us with its skill.
His give and take with second vocalist Voyce and the inspired choice of coupling these singers together is one of the biggest reasons why this song succeeds. Past efforts clearly show that Stokes is more than capable of carrying any song alone, but the union of his voice with the Montreal based Voyce’s soul and pop leanings helps make for a combustible combination, especially given the aforementioned vocal arrangement.
Gospel subject matter, however it is delivered, is an exceptionally hard sell these days. Stokes, however, didn’t get the memo and shows no hesitation as a vocalist or writer. He has an elevated way though of approaching the area that takes it out of the church pew and places it square in the everyday doubts and victories that virtually all of us experience. Making the religious much more personal than many of his more dogmatic fellow believers is a key difference separating his work.
It invites anyone to listen without sacrificing his sense of mission. The song’s sound deserves praise too. It has a full and robust production that never threatens to overwhelm you but, instead, cycles through a variety of emotions while remaining inspiring each step of the way. It never drones on, thankfully, and the airtight construction holds your attention from the beginning. He’s crafted a winner with this song and it holds up well under repeated listens.
Moreover, it gets you moving. Yes, he wants you to hear him, he wants you to look within, but there’s no doubt that Stokes has never forgotten his first mandate as a performing musician is to entertain his audience. “Kingdom” does that. The added bonus of its uplift is what will keep listeners, newcomers and longtime fans, coming back for more. Ashante P.T. Stokes, PTtheGosptelSpitter, has scored yet another important single for his blossoming career and there doesn’t seem to be anywhere he cannot go.
Chadwick Easton