A Little Star – Jepa Lambert and Tony Momrelle Duet of Hope

From Armon tähti to A Little Star

Christmas brings a lot of background noise: canned choirs, rushed remakes, jingles stitched to discount signs. But A Little Star here today goes slower, coat still cold from the street. The track started life as Armon tähti, a Finnish Christmas song that quietly climbed into modern-classic territory: Top 3 on Finland’s Spotify Viral chart in its first season, still present on those lists three winters in, one of the go-to choices on Jouluradio and sitting on hundreds of Shazams from listeners trying to pin down that feeling.

Now the song steps out in English as A Little Star, a Christmas duet carrying the same core of grace and warmth. But this time built for a wider sky. Finnish soul singer Jepa Lambert and UK soul icon Tony Momrelle take the lead, with the Sounds of Mercy gospel choir wrapping the whole thing in rich harmony.

I feel it as a late-evening track: warm tone lights around, dishes done, family finally relaxed. The lyrics lean into hope, compassion, and the idea that even in rough seasons there is still a small light somewhere ahead.

Two voices, one shared language

On paper, this collaboration reads like one of those improbable Christmas dinners. Where guests arrive from different corners of the world and somehow land at the same table.

Tony Momrelle brings the London soul lineage with him. Long-time lead singer of Incognito, he learned its trade alongside Sade, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and a long list of legends. You hear gospel in his phrasing, jazz in the small bends, and that UK soul polish overall.

Across from him stands Jepa Lambert, one of Finland’s most recognisable soul voices. Pink hair, strong tone, and a background that stretches from TV house bands to session work, vocal coaching, and leading her own professional gospel choir, Sounds of Mercy.

She recorded her first solo performance at six. Grew up inside church music, and later found herself singing US and Canadian national anthems to an NHL audience of more than ten million people. She has shared studio or stage time with names like Andraé Crouch, Russ Taff, Snoop Dogg, CeeLo Green. Yeah, you know them all.

A Christmas light already travelling

Lyrically, the song points to a star that stays put when everything else feels unstable. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Lines about mercy, guidance, and human fragility comes with extra weight in a world that runs on hurry and worry. I hear it as a reminder to look up for a second, breathe, and remember that the story behind Christmas started with something fragile and bright on a dark night.

Somewhere between Helsinki snow and London streets, Jepa Lambert and Tony Momrelle send out a small signal. If you run a late-night show, a holiday playlist, or just your own living room, it is worth giving that signal some love. That’s all that matters in the end, right?

Want more stories in sound? Our Groover City – HIGHLIGHTS playlist is right below.