After more than two decades of perseverance, SENSERE has finally experienced the breakthrough its members always believed would come. The gospel group recently celebrated its first Stellar Award win for Fred Hammond Presents: The Soul of Future Worship Vol. 2 and made its long-awaited debut on the Stellar Awards stage with "That's God...Lalala." James Wright speaks candidly about the night SENSERE's name was announced, the season when nearly the entire group walked away, Fred Hammond's support, and why this milestone is not the end of the story but the beginning of its biggest chapter yet.
Q: After more than 20 years together, SENSERE has finally won its first Stellar Award. What went through your minds when you heard your name announced, and did you ever wonder whether this moment would come?
A: What went through my mind was, "Did this really just happen?" I was honestly in shock. After more than 20 years together, you dream about a moment like this, but when they actually called SENSERE's name, it didn't feel real. I truly didn't expect us to win that night. I always believed this moment would come for us. I just didn't know when it would come, and I definitely didn't expect it to be now. That's what made it so emotional. After all these years, to finally hear our name called as Stellar Award winners was a moment I'll never forget.
Q: James, you mentioned the prayers, sacrifices, disappointments, and times when the group had every reason to give up. What was the lowest point in SENSERE's journey, and what kept you from walking away?
A: The lowest point in SENSERE's journey was when almost everyone walked away at once. Only two members were left, and I remember thinking, "This might really be over." That season made me question everything, not just the group, but myself. I started wondering if I was even good at this, if I had made the wrong career choice, and whether it was time for me to find another path. But something in me just wouldn't let SENSERE die. Even when I couldn't see how we'd rebuild, I still believed in what God had given us and the purpose behind this group. Looking back now, I'm grateful I didn't make a permanent decision based on one of the darkest seasons of my life, because the same group I thought was finished is now a Stellar Award-winning group.
Q: Your winning album, Fred Hammond Presents: The Soul of Future Worship Vol. 2, has Fred Hammond's name attached to it. How did your relationship with Fred develop, and what has his involvement meant to SENSERE musically and spiritually?
A: Fred first became aware of SENSERE around 2016, when we did a commissioned arrangement of "'Tis So Sweet." From there, we would DM each other now and then on social media, but nothing really developed beyond that at the time. Years later, we reached out to Fred about simply being a feature on our new album, and that's when the relationship really began to grow. Fred genuinely wanted to help us, so we explored a lot of possibilities together, signing with him, distribution, and other business opportunities.
Ultimately, those things didn't work out, but the relationship remained. When I finished the album, I sent it to Fred, and he told me, "This album is incredible." So I asked him if he would be willing to put his name behind the project, and he said absolutely. From that point, his involvement became much deeper. I sent him music, artwork, and ideas, and he gave his opinion and helped us make important decisions about the album. Musically, having someone like Fred Hammond believe in what we were creating gave us another level of confidence. Spiritually, it meant even more because he wasn't trying to change who SENSERE was. He was encouraging what God had already placed in us. Our relationship has continued to grow stronger, and for him to put his name behind the album that ultimately became our first Stellar Award-winning project makes the entire journey even more special.
Q: You not only won your first Stellar Award but also performed on the Stellar Awards stage for the first time with "That's God...Lalala." After wanting that opportunity for years, what was it like when you finally walked onto that stage?
A: I'm going to say this: it was nerve-racking. We had wanted that opportunity for years, and suddenly we were standing on the Stellar Awards stage with our peers, artists we've looked up to, and some of the biggest executives and decision-makers in the gospel music industry watching us. But underneath those nerves, I was extremely grateful. I also knew that once the music started, we would be okay because the stage is our happy place. That's where SENSERE excels. As soon as "That's God...Lalala" kicked in, I could literally feel our alter ego take over. The nerves disappeared, and we became SENSERE. And SENSERE's mentality when we hit any stage is simple: we're going to give you everything we've got and leave that stage knowing we killed it. So after waiting all those years for that moment, it happened exactly as it needed to.
Q: SENSERE has spent more than two decades blending gospel with soul, funk, R&B, and live-band musicianship. In an era when gospel music has changed dramatically, how have you maintained SENSERE's identity without simply chasing whatever sound is popular?
A: That's actually been one of the easier parts of our journey because SENSERE has always stayed true to our sound. I've always believed that nobody can beat you being you. We've never felt the need to chase what everybody else is doing because, truthfully, we're not the best at doing what everybody else does; we're the best at doing what SENSERE does. Our identity has always been rooted in live-band musicianship, funk, soul, R&B influences, and heartfelt lyrics that still carry the message of gospel music. Trends change, sounds change, and the industry changes, but those elements are SENSERE's DNA. We'd rather evolve within our own sound than abandon it trying to fit into somebody else's. That's what has allowed us to still sound like SENSERE after more than 20 years.
Q: With "After Tonight" climbing the gospel charts, "God I Love You" featuring Teddy Riley coming next, and the Rise and Rhythm Cruise ahead in 2027, does this Stellar win feel like the culmination of SENSERE's story or do you believe the biggest chapter of the group is only beginning?
A: With everything happening right now the Stellar win, "After Tonight" climbing the charts, the Teddy Riley feature on "God I Love You," and the Rise and Rhythm Cruise in 2027 I truly believe this is only the beginning of the biggest chapter of SENSERE's career. After more than 20 years, some people might look at the Stellar Award as the culmination of our story. I look at it as confirmation that we're entering a new season. I believe God is opening doors for us that are beyond anything we could have imagined. For years, we've believed that if the world ever really got the opportunity to experience the sound, musicianship, and energy of SENSERE, they would understand what makes this group special. Now it feels like those doors are finally opening. So no, I don't believe the Stellar win ended our story. In a nutshell, it's only the beginning.
