Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine leave gospel group Maverick City Music

Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine have announced their departure from the American Christian Musical group Maverick City Music.

Moore, 30, and Raine, 38, were founding members of the Grammy Award-winning musical group, and they announced their exit in separate social media posts on Monday.

In a statement on his Instagram account, Moore said it was time to embrace new beginnings, as the group battles legal and business matters behind the scenes.

“These last two years, I have been locked in what really matters…with that I have made the bittersweet decision to end my relationship with Maverick City Music. This transition is not easy. Maverick is something I poured my heart into, so it’s like saying Goodbye to your kid,” he wrote.

Moore said moving forward, he would focus on making music “that makes people feel a little more human, a little more understood, and a little less alone.”

“To my fans and supporters, thank you for rocking with me from the start. To Naomi, Brandon, Aaron, Dante, Joe L, and everyone else who was officially apart and unofficially, y’all have encouraged me, and I will not forget the moments we had,” he added.

On her part, Raine stated that she has no regret as she separates from the group. 

“This journey has changed my life forever. I don’t regret one single thing – the highs, the lows the lessons… all of it. I have learned a lot about God and people and myself. And I will always carry those lessons with me,” she wrote on Instagram.

Maverick City Music was founded in the U.S. state of Atlanta and made its debut in 2019 with the release of two extended plays.

The collective is widely praised for changing the sound of modern gospel music, with Moore and Naomi Raine at the centre as vocalists.

Among the group’s most well-known hits are “Jireh” and “Promises”.

However, the collective is embroiled in legal tensions. Moore has filed a lawsuit against Norman Gyamfi, a co-founder and his former manager.

His suit alleges misuse of managerial powers, misappropriation of intellectual property, and withholding of royalties – even claiming that Gyamfi forged Moore’s signature on certain documents.