Ministering through music - Geneva Ayre brings her soul-stirring gospel music to the world

With a strong, melodious blend and creative flow, aspiring gospel artiste Geneva Ayre is on a mission to minister to the world musically about the work of God.

"The message I hope to bring is one of hope and healing. I want persons to see who God is through my music. Songs about your feelings, they're great [and] they have their place. However, what I aim to bring across with my music is who God is. I want people to shift their focus to God, who He is and what He's able to do, and not so much focus on the feelings," she told THE STAR.

"My ultimate aim is to just glorify Him and bring others to glorify Him. ' Let your light so shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify the father' [Matthew 5:16]. So that's the ultimate goal - to glorify God."

The Kingston-born singer, who's been passionate about singing since age three, said she discovered her true talent by age eight when she was consumed by the sound and talent of the late Whitney Houston, from who she emulated and adopted a mature sound. After she got baptised in 2002, Ayre said she knew she wanted to dedicate her life and gift to serving God musically. She became a vocalist for several artistes, such as Jermaine Edwards, Rondell Positive, and American gospel singer Kim Burrell. In 2022, she started penning her own lyrics and began her solo career in music.

Ayre, who had obtained a degree in jazz and popular music studies with honours at the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts, led Knox Community College to victory in 2017 in TVJ's All Together Sing. She is also a full-time teacher at the Excelsior Primary and Infant School. While juggling all roles along with her career, Ayre admitted that "it's a challenge to balance it all, but God is gracious".

Being a gospel artise, her journey has taken her from the halls of the White House to the streets of Hollywood and the Caribbean, a journey she is proud of and ready to share with the rest of the world. But though the perks of travelling are good, Ayre said being a gospel artiste still has its challenges.

"Yuh have to know yuhself, because with any creative arts or anything at all, there's always competition, comparison. And being a gospel artiste, yuh know yuh have to step away from that, because that's not for you or your glory - it's for God's glory. So I had to unlearn and go through different nuisances in my own mind and heart, and go through some things that are not supposed to be there, by the grace of God," she stated.

She credited her family, especially her husband, Andrew Ayre, for being her strong support system in helping her to remain grounded and steadfast.

"He's been there since day one. We went to Edna Manley together, so he has been there the entire time and he has not been only a tower of strength, but quality control. Suh when di world was telling me, 'Yow, my girl, yuh can sing enuh,' he was, like, 'Well, yuh have pitch issues, yuh need fi sort out dis.' He was the one who pushed me to be better at all times," she said. Andrew is also her producer, under the Ayre 2 Ear recording label, and plays an integral role in her management team.

While pursuing her passion to sing for the Lord, the All Away artiste is set to release a few other singles, along with a special project. She is set to drop her debut album in 2025, titled King of Glory, which is about "seeing God for who He is as the King of Glory - the person who is sovereign. He reigns and rules over everything".