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
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,[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
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]
^[b]Untitled (Rise) did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 20 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.[31] It peaked on number 48 on UK Indie.[32]
^[c]Nine peaked on number 99 UK Albums Chart,[33] and number 12 on UK Indie.[34]
