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Sault (frequently stylised as SAULT) are a British music collective that make a mixture of R&B, urban contemporary gospel, house and disco. The project is helmed by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Inflo, and includes vocalists Cleo Sol, Kid Sister, and Chronixx. Jack Peñate has also collaborated with the collective. The group frequently puts Black-centric issues at the foreground.

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. Following their first live performance in November 2023, Sault is due to perform international live shows in 2024.

History

2019: 5 and 7

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

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

In June 2021, the band released their fifth studio album Nine. 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 and first teased a live performance in November 2023.

2022–present: surprise albums, and tour

In April 2022, Sault released their sixth studio album Air. The Guardian described it as a "total volte-face" and Pitchfork described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical". 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." 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." 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.

In November 2023, the group announced their first live performance, teasing that they would play an unreleased album of material. They later elaborated that they would play seven shows that featured live performances of music from different albums. The tour was initiated on 14 December in London, and featured songs from an at the time unreleased album Acts of Faith. Subsequent dates are to include international locations in 2024: New York City (5), London (Nine), Los Angeles (Black Is), Canada (Untitled Rise), Germany (11), Paris (Air), and Africa (Earth).

A collaboration with André 3000 was also announced in early 2024.

Members

• Inflo – piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals, production, engineering
• Cleo Sol – lead vocals
• Kid Sister – lead vocals
• Chronixx – lead vocals

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

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Notes

1. Untitled (Black Is) did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 13 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.
2. Untitled (Rise) did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 20 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.
3. Air did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number two on the UK Album Downloads Chart.

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ 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. ^ 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. Empire, Kitty (22 August 2021). "Cleo Sol: Mother review – intimate, spacious soul-jazz". The Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
18. Chelosky, Danielle (14 December 2023). "Watch SAULT Play First-Ever Live Show In London". News. Stereogum. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
20. Peak positions:
    • For Untitled (Black Is): "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
    • For Untitled (Rise): "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
    • For Nine: "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
    • For Air: "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
21. "Sault Chart History (Classical Crossover Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
22. "Sault Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
23. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
24. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
25. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
26. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
27. "Sault Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
28. "Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees". BBC News. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
29. "Mobo Awards: Central Cee and Raye named best male and female acts". BBC News. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
30. 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.
31. Dunworth, Liberty (19 April 2023). "Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Harry Styles lead 2023 Ivor Novello nominations". NME. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
32. 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.
33. "Arlo Parks, Sault, Wolf Alice, More Shortlisted for 2021 Mercury Prize". Variety. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
34. "THE MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2021 NOMINEES". Mobo.com.

External links

• Official website
• Pass the Sault by Elías Villoro for BoingBoing (1 December 2022)
• Sault at AllMusic
• Sault discography at Discogs
• Sault discography at MusicBrainz

• British contemporary R&B musical groups
• British house music groups
• Black British musical groups
• Musical groups established in 2019
• 2019 establishments in England
• Contemporary R&B musical groups from London