Over the past couple years, Risa Kopp and her daughters (who make up the group terce.) have been writing gospel songs. Since that style wasn’t quite in line with the more Americana worship of terce., the matron Kopp decided to release these songs as a solo artist. While a full album is forthcoming, the lead single, “Isn’t He Good,” is out now. It bears all the hallmarks of a traditional gospel-style song. A full, bouncy piano drives the track while Kopp showcases her show-stopping vocals. Lyrically, it also falls in line with normal gospel fare, giving a testimonial approach to worship by singing about how God has saved Kopp and changed her life. From a surface-level listen, there’s not much here that separates what Kopp is doing from any other gospel singer. In some ways, that’s not surprising as the gospel genre in and of itself rarely strays into super creative territory. So, as a debut, Kopp is likely to garner some fans due to how familiar the track sounds.
However, there are some things that Kopp and her daughters throw into this single that make it stand out. The musicianship–especially in the vocal department–is top notch. There’s a sort of call-and-response moment near the end of the track that gives it some flair. Overall, the energy of the song is infectious. There are also little touches in the lyrics that keep “Isn’t He Good” from being just an average track. The second verse, in particular, makes reference to Psalm 137 and pulling a harp down from a willow. It’s a quick reference, but it gives the track some depth that other gospel songs might miss. “Isn’t He Good” works as a standalone single, though it also serves to make the listener wonder what else Risa Kopp has in store on the full record. Gospel fans will likely be drawn to the track, and those who remember terce. from a couple years ago might also have their curiosity piqued. Anyone who gives “Isn’t He Good” a listen wondering if it is any good, will find out that, yes, it is good.
– Review date: 3/20/26, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com
JFH Staff’s Second Opinion
– Review date: 4/1/26, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: None
Album length: 1 track: 4 minutes, 2 seconds
Street Date: February 20, 2026
Download It: RisaKoppMusic.com
Risa Kopp: I have been in music, ministry-wise, since I was 17 years old, so for 30 years. I began doing music professionally when I was 24 years old. I’ve done different genres through the years, such as CCM, Americana, and Roots. I was signed to and worked with a Nashville record label for a handful of years, toured all over and pushed to radio, I’ve gotten a few nods for my songwriting, but I’m being 100% honest when I say I love to worship more than anything. This can sound passé sometimes, or by rote, but I very much mean it.
Risa: We are still together as terce. We plan on releasing some new music and writing more songs together soon. We had contemplated releasing this upcoming album as terce., but felt that it didn’t have the right components sonically. Also, the Gospel “sound” leans more to my vocal stylings, so creating an album as we did while unconventional seemed the right way to do it. (A “solo” project with several featuring me, but also four songs featuring Lilly and Aggie.)
Risa: It is a blessing. We are very close as a family. They are my favorite people to create with and cowrite with, as well as spend time with.
Risa: I chose “Isn’t He Good” because it is part of my testimony. We have been through some hard things as a family, some unusual circumstances and for several years I had a very hard time not writing about my circumstances. I would sit and try to write a “song of joy” and people would try to convince me to write them. I just couldn’t. I would write down lyrics, but even though the words were positive, it was like there was no life in them. Some people just wanted Mr to continue writing my Americana material, but that didn’t feel right either. It took awhile, but I prayed and fasted for breakthrough in my life as well as in my songwriting. It took many years, but God is faithful and as I persevered, He met me and “restored to me the songs of joy”.
Risa: There are spatterings of Scripture throughout some of the songs for sure. I try to be theologically sound in what I write, but also be creative and “sing” it in my own way.
Risa: The album comes out May 8, which is Mother’s Day weekend. Since I created it with my girls, it felt fitting. The album is called “Songs of Joy” and has 11 songs in it. While there are a few songs that each of us wrote as individuals, most of them are written together. I do have another one co-written by a friend in Canada, Kristy Howes.
The sound of the album is like the single: old-school, heartfelt Gospel. It is piano-driven, played by Lilly, my oldest daughter. There are several upbeat songs on it, but also some deeply, God-focused worship ones. Lilly sings the lead vocal on two of the songs and Aggie sings some lead on two different ones.
My hope is that the album brings joy, freedom and brings people into God’s presence.
Risa: I am not taking money for this album. I don’t have a set fee to go minister at churches. If anyone wants to donate or give a love offering, they can. I just find it unnecessary at this present moment in our lives. The way that I would appreciate support the most is for people to share the music and let me know when God does something through it. Encouragement is always welcome!
Risa: Fun fact: I would climb trees as a young girl so high that my family would be frightened. We are talking 60 ft up and the branches are swaying back and forth while I’m standing on it. I liked that I could see so far for that vantage point. I was nimble, but perhaps foolish! My Dad ended up cutting the lower branches of the tallest ones so that I wouldn’t do it anymore. So I guess, since I haven’t climbed a mountain yet, I would train, get into much better shape than I am now and then climb a mountain. I would love that vantage point!
