Sault (band)

Sault
OriginEngland
Genres
Years active2019 (2019)–present
LabelsForever Living Originals
Members
Websitesault.global

Sault (frequently stylised as SAULT) are a British music group that make a mixture of R&B, urban contemporary gospel, house and disco. The project is helmed by producer Inflo and lead vocalist/songwriter Cleo Sol. Kid Sister, Chronixx[1] and Jack Peñate have also collaborated with the project.[1] The group frequently puts Black-centric issues at the foreground.[2]

During its first three years, Sault released five studio albums including 5 (2019), 7 (2019), Untitled (Black Is) (2020), Untitled (Rise) (2020), and Nine (2021). Throughout 2022, after releasing the orchestral instrumental album Air, the collective surprise-released five subsequent studio albums, simultaneously. From November 2023 and throughout 2024, Sault performed a series of international one-off live performances.[3]

History

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2019: 5 and 7

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On 15 February 2019, Sault released their debut track "We Are the Sun" via their record label Forever Living Originals; this was followed in March 2019 by "Don't Waste My Time".

In May 2019, Sault released their debut album, 5. In September 2019, Sault released their second album, 7.

2020–2021: Untitled albums

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Sault's albums in 2020, Untitled (Black Is), released in June, and Untitled (Rise), released in September, both received universal critical acclaim,[4][5] including a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2021 for the latter.[6]

In June 2021, the band released their fifth studio album Nine.[7] Between their 2019 debut and late 2023, they had never played a live show, given an interview or released a music video in support of their music[8] and first teased a live performance in November 2023.[9]

2022–present: surprise albums, and tour

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In April 2022, Sault released their sixth studio album Air. The Guardian described it as a "total volte-face"[10] and Pitchfork described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical".[11] In October that same year, the collective released a reggae-influenced EP 10, consisting of one ten-minute-long song "Angel".

In November 2022, the collective surprise-released five albums simultaneously as a free download via WeTransfer, writing: "Here are 5 albums released as an offering to God. Available for free download for five days. The password to unlock all 5 albums is in the message. Love SAULT X."[12] The five individual albums 11, AIIR, Earth, Today & Tomorrow, and Untitled (God), feature 56 tracks in total. Variety suggested this as "the largest amount of newly recorded music released by a relatively major artist at once."[13] In May 2023, 11 won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Album", with producer Inflo, vocalists Cleo Sol and Chronixx, and musician Jack Peñate as recipients of the award.[1]

In November 2023, the group announced their first live performance, teasing that they would play an unreleased material.[14] Later it was clarified that a series of seven live performances, each with music from a different album. On 14 December in London, the group performed songs from a forthcoming album Acts of Faith.[15] Subsequent 2024 dates included international locations: New York City (with music from 5), London (Nine), Los Angeles (Black Is), Canada (Untitled Rise), Germany (11), Paris (Air), and Africa (Earth).[3]

In early 2024, a collaboration with André 3000 was announced.[16] In July 2024, Acts of Faith was released online for free as a continuous single .WAV track, and on December 25, the album was released on streaming platforms.[17] A vinyl edition is scheduled for April 2025.[18]

Members

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  • Inflo – piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals, production, engineering
  • Cleo Sol – lead vocals[19]

At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz.[20] Jack Peñate has also collaborated with the collective.[1]

Discography

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Awards and nominations

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Accolades for Sault
Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Brit Awards 2024 Best R&B Act Sault Nominated [21]
MOBO Awards 2023 Best R&B/Soul Act Sault Won [22]
Ivor Novello Awards 2022 Best Album Nine Nominated [23]
2023 11 Won [24][25]
Best Song, Musically and Lyrically "Stronger" Nominated
Mercury Prize 2021 Album of the Year Untitled (Rise) Nominated [26]
MOBO Awards 2021 Best R&B/Soul Act Sault Nominated [27]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Bugel, Safi (18 May 2023). "Wet Leg named songwriters of the year at Ivor Novello awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ Aswad, Jem (18 September 2020). "Sault's Untitled (Rise) Seduces Listeners with Sumptuous R&B, Then Startles with Powerful Messaging". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b Porter, Flisadam (10 December 2023). "The Ever-So-Mysterious Sault Revealed Their Debut Live Show And Their Plans For 2024 With A Cryptic Teaser Video". Indie Mixtape. Uproxx. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Untitled (Black Is) by Sault", Metacritic, retrieved 7 April 2021
  5. ^ "Untitled (Rise) by Sault", Metacritic, retrieved 7 April 2021
  6. ^ "2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed..." mercuryprize.com. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  7. ^ Kelly, Amelia (26 May 2021). "SAULT Have Released Their New Album 'NINE'". mxdwnuk. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  8. ^ Petridis, Alexis (17 September 2020). "Sault: Untitled (Rise) Review – Mystery Collective Make Best Album of 2020, Again". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ^ Pilley, Max (25 November 2023). "Sault are teasing a London live show before the end of 2023". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  10. ^ Chick, Stevie (19 April 2022). "Sault: Air review – a daring act of creative rebirth pays off" (19 April 2022). The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  11. ^ Thompson, Shy (21 April 2022). "SAULT: Air Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  12. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (1 November 2022). "Sault release five new albums available as a free download for five days". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  13. ^ Aswad, Jem (1 November 2022). "British R&B Group Sault Releases Five Albums Simultaneously for Free Download 'as an Offering to God'". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  14. ^ Pilley, Max (2 December 2023). "SAULT tease playing "new unreleased album" once only at upcoming London gig". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  15. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (9 December 2023). "SAULT Announce First Live Show And Tease World Tour". News. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  16. ^ Skinner, Tom (10 January 2024). "André 3000 and SAULT collab on the way". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  17. ^ Murray, Robin (25 December 2024). "Sault Share New Album 'Acts Of Faith'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Acts Of Faith - PRE ORDER". SAULT. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  19. ^ Empire, Kitty (22 August 2021). "Cleo Sol: Mother review – intimate, spacious soul-jazz". The Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  20. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (14 December 2023). "Watch SAULT Play First-Ever Live Show In London". News. Stereogum. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees". BBC News. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Mobo Awards: Central Cee and Raye named best male and female acts". BBC News. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  23. ^ Smith, Carl (7 April 2022). "Ivor Novello Awards 2022: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Dave and Inflo lead list of nominations". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  24. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (19 April 2023). "Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Harry Styles lead 2023 Ivor Novello nominations". NME. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  25. ^ Garcia, Thania (18 May 2023). "Ivor Novello Awards 2023 Winners List: Wet Leg Named Songwriters of the Year, Raye's 'Escapism' Takes Center Stage". Variety. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Arlo Parks, Sault, Wolf Alice, More Shortlisted for 2021 Mercury Prize". Variety. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  27. ^ "THE MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2021 NOMINEES". Mobo.com.
  28. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 10/7/2020". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Sault | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  30. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 25/9/2020". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  33. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 2/7/2021". Official Charts. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 2/7/2021". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  35. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 22/4/2022". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  36. ^ "Sault | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 14/10/2022". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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