CHOSEN ARTIFACTS

kING mEKA

Chukwuemeka Adewale Egbunike - his words were too honest for church ears. Born in Warri, Nigeria, to an Igbo father and Yoruba mother, Meka grew up in Harlem USA, blending rhythm, culture and scripture. His lyrics told Bible stories as they were - violent, bloody, passionate and human, but full of grace. He was told to “tone it down,” to make the message more “pleasant.” He refused.
 

gEORGIE

Giorgio Russello - lead vocalist and rapper from New Haven CT, whose sound blends rock, soul and gospel into something raw and unapologetically real. Raised in a large Catholic church as an Italian-American choir member, Georgie stood out early with an undeniable soulful falsetto that carried more feeling than form. As his artistry developed, he began fusing Christian lyrics with soulful melodies and hip-hop rhythms, creating a sound that challenged tradition and pushed beyond the boundaries of what the church was used to hearing. His approach was labeled too different, too urban and too secular, ultimately leading to his removal from both the choir and the church. What was rejected in that space, however, became the foundation of his calling. He refused to tone down his sound; instead, he leaned fully into it, shaping a style that is gritty, soul-driven, and deeply rooted in gospel truth. His artistry stands as a form of gospel-infused rebellion wrapped in grace.

PASTOR ARTIE

Rev William Arthur Noble - once known throughout Los Angeles as Rev. Willie, was a respected preacher with a strong voice and even stronger opinions. From his pulpit, he openly criticized Chosen Artifacts, calling them renegades who were corrupting the sound of gospel. To him, their music lacked the structure, tone and tradition he believed defined what was truly of God. He spoke against them often, convinced that what they represented was a departure from faith rather than an expression of it. But everything changed on the streets of Los Angeles, where a moment of crisis turned into a moment of revelation. Members of Chosen Artifacts intervened and ultimately saved his life and in that same unfolding truth, he discovered that they had also played a role in saving his daughter—helping her break free from drugs and guiding her back toward purpose. What he once condemned, he now embraced. Humbled by truth and transformed by experience, he left Los Angeles and joined the group in Las Vegas, no longer as Rev. Willie, but as Pastor Artie...now walking alongside the very people he once spoke against.

BLACK

Rufus Black - known as “The Old Soul,” is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose sound blends Southern soul, blues and gospel into something as real as the life he’s lived. Raised in Baytown, Texas, Rufus went to church like any other Southern child...not always by choice, but because it was expected. Inside the church, he mastered every instrument he touched, from drums to piano, bass to guitar, becoming the backbone of the music wherever he played. But outside those walls, Rufus lived a different reality. He hustled the streets from Houston to Beaumont, navigating life on the corners while still carrying the songs of the church with him. It wasn’t uncommon to find him singing gospel tunes with a cigar in one hand and whiskey in the other, faith and struggle existing side by side. That contrast made people uncomfortable. The church called him “too worldly,” unable to reconcile the man they saw with the gift he carried. Rufus never pretended to be anything he wasn’t. He played where the Spirit moved, whether that was in a sanctuary or somewhere far from it. He refused to be boxed in, refused to perform for approval and refused to give his gift under pressure or pretense. Now, Rufus plays because he wants to—because he knows his gift belongs to God, not to judgment and his music carries a truth that can’t be cleaned up or contained.

dALI

Dalisay Cruz - known as “The Unsung Writer,” is a guitarist, arranger and vocalist whose sound blends gospel soul, R&B, and worship into something deeply emotional and unapologetically alive. Raised in Riverside, California, within a large megachurch environment filled with bright lights, polished production and carefully curated worship, Dalisay learned early how to create music that moved people—even when her own voice remained in the background. She became the quiet architect behind many of the church’s most powerful moments, writing melodies that filled the room and lifted congregations, yet rarely receiving recognition for the depth of what she carried.

But the music she heard in her spirit didn’t always fit the image the church wanted to project. Influenced by the richness of Black gospel and the honesty of soul, her writing carried a depth that was raw, expressive, and emotionally grounded. Each time she presented something that felt real, she was told it was too much—too urban, too emotional, too different from the brand they were trying to maintain. What she created brought life, but it didn’t fit the mold.

Eventually, the tension between authenticity and acceptance became too great. Dalisay didn’t leave to be seen—she left to be free. Free to write what she heard. Free to express what she felt. Free to create without filtering her faith through someone else’s expectations.

Within Chosen Artifacts, her music finally breathes the way it was always meant to—layered with soul, grounded in truth, and unrestrained by image. Her arrangements don’t just support the sound; they shape it, giving voice to what others tried to silence.

Her journey is not one of rejection, but of release—a reminder that sometimes God doesn’t change the gift, He changes the environment.

Her signature remains the same:

“He gave me the pen — I just stopped asking for permission to write.”

J. Marie

Journey Marie Davis - known as “The Still Praise,” is a lead vocalist and lyricist whose sound blends soul, gospel blues, and R&B into a presence that doesn’t demand attention—but commands it. Raised in Franklinton, North Carolina, Journey grew up in the church, where her voice quickly became known as the one that could quiet a room without raising its volume. She didn’t sing to impress—she sang to connect, delivering every note with a depth that came from somewhere deeper than performance.

But in a culture where expression was often measured by movement, her stillness was misunderstood. While others danced and shouted, Journey stood grounded, pouring out her spirit with quiet intensity. What she carried wasn’t lacking—it was different. And different was labeled as “too dry,” “too stiff,” and “not anointed enough.”

Still, Journey never confused volume with power. She wasn’t trying to perform for people—she was trying to minister to God. The more she was misunderstood, the more her voice became her truth: steady, sincere, and rooted in something real. Eventually, she walked away from the choir—not from her calling, but from the pressure to become something she wasn’t.

She made a promise that day—to keep singing, but to stop pretending.

Now, her voice carries a different kind of authority. It doesn’t chase attention—it creates atmosphere. It doesn’t compete—it connects. In Chosen Artifacts, her stillness is no longer questioned—it’s understood as strength.

Her signature remains:

“You don’t have to move your feet for God to move your heart.”