:Sault (band)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Sault

| image =

| image_size =

| image_upright =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption =

| origin = England

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = {{Start date|2019}}–present

| label = Forever Living Originals

| website = {{URL|sault.global}}

| current_members =

}}

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 and Jack Peñate have also collaborated with the project. The group frequently puts Black-centric issues at the foreground.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/reviews/saults-untitled-rise-album-review-1234775193/ |work=Variety |language=en-US |title=Sault's Untitled (Rise) Seduces Listeners with Sumptuous R&B, Then Startles with Powerful Messaging |date=18 September 2020 |access-date=15 November 2020}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Flisadam |date=10 December 2023 |title=The Ever-So-Mysterious Sault Revealed Their Debut Live Show And Their Plans For 2024 With A Cryptic Teaser Video |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/sault-announce-debut-live-show-dates/ |accessdate=12 December 2023 |website=Uproxx |language=en-US |department=Indie Mixtape}}

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,{{Citation|title=Untitled (Black Is) by Sault|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/untitled-black-is/sault|work=Metacritic|access-date=7 April 2021}}{{Citation|title=Untitled (Rise) by Sault|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/untitled-rise/sault|work=Metacritic|access-date=7 April 2021}} including a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2021 for the latter.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercuryprize.com/news/2021-hyundai-mercury-prize-albums-of-the-year-revealed|title=2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed...|website=mercuryprize.com|date=22 July 2021|access-date=25 July 2021}}

In June 2021, the band released their fifth studio album Nine.{{Cite web|last=Kelly|first=Amelia|date=2021-05-26|title=SAULT Have Released Their New Album 'NINE'|url=http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/sault-have-released-their-new-album-nine/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=mxdwnuk|language=en-US}} 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{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/17/sault-untitled-rise-review |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |date=17 September 2020 |access-date=15 November 2020 |title=Sault: Untitled (Rise) Review{{nbsp}}– Mystery Collective Make Best Album of 2020, Again}} and first teased a live performance in November 2023.{{Cite magazine |issn=0028-6362 |department=News > Music News |language=en-GB |magazine=NME |last=Pilley |first=Max |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sault-are-teasing-a-london-live-show-before-the-end-of-2023-3548992 |date=25 November 2023 |access-date=25 November 2023 |title=Sault are teasing a London live show before the end of 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"{{cite web |last=Chick |first=Stevie |title=Sault: Air review – a daring act of creative rebirth pays off |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/19/sault-air-review-a-daring-act-of-creative-rebirth-pays-off |website=The Guardian |date=19 April 2022 |access-date=22 April 2022 |format=19 April 2022}} and Pitchfork described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical".{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Shy |title=SAULT: Air Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sault-air/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=22 April 2022 |date=21 April 2022}} 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."{{cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Cerys |title=Sault release five new albums available as a free download for five days |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/sault-release-five-new-albums-available-as-a-free-download-for-five-days |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=1 November 2022 |date=1 November 2022}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=British R&B Group Sault Releases Five Albums Simultaneously for Free Download 'as an Offering to God' |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/sault-five-albums-god-1235419617/ |access-date=4 November 2022 |publisher=Variety |date=1 November 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/18/wet-leg-named-songwriters-of-the-year-at-ivor-novello-awards|title=Wet Leg named songwriters of the year at Ivor Novello awards|first=Safi|last=Bugel|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 May 2023|access-date=18 May 2023}}

In November 2023, the group announced their first live performance, teasing that they would play an unreleased material.{{Cite magazine |issn=0028-6362 |department=News > Music News |language=en-GB |magazine=NME |last=Pilley |first=Max |date=2 December 2023 |accessdate=2 December 2023 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sault-tease-playing-new-unreleased-album-once-only-at-upcoming-london-gig-3552405 |title=SAULT tease playing "new unreleased album" once only at upcoming London gig}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2245196/sault-announce-first-live-show-and-tease-world-tour/news/ |title=SAULT Announce First Live Show And Tease World Tour |first=Danielle |last=Chelosky |date=9 December 2023 |accessdate=9 December 2023 |language=en-US |department=News}} 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).

In early 2024, a collaboration with André 3000 was announced.{{Cite magazine |issn=0028-6362 |department=News > Music News |language=en-GB |magazine=NME |accessdate=10 January 2024 |date=10 January 2024 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/andre-3000-and-sault-collab-on-the-way-3568500 |title=André 3000 and SAULT collab on the way |first=Tom |last=Skinner}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2024-12-25 |title=Sault Share New Album ‘Acts Of Faith’ |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/sault-share-new-album-acts-of-faith/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Clash Magazine |language=en-GB}} A vinyl edition is scheduled for April 2025.{{Cite web |title=Acts Of Faith - PRE ORDER |url=https://www.sault.global/store/new-product-dec-25 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=SAULT |language=en-US}}

Members

Inflo – piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals, production, engineering
Cleo Sol – lead vocals{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/22/cleo-sol-mother-review-sault-inflo|title=Cleo Sol: Mother review – intimate, spacious soul-jazz|first=Kitty|last=Empire|newspaper=The Observer|date=22 August 2021|access-date=30 November 2021}}

At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz.{{Cite web |website=Stereogum |language=en-US |date=14 December 2023 |accessdate=15 December 2023 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2245701/watch-sault-play-first-ever-live-show-in-london/news/ |title=Watch SAULT Play First-Ever Live Show In London |department=News |first=Danielle |last=Chelosky}}

Discography

= Studio albums =

5 (2019)
7 (2019)
Untitled (Black Is) (2020){{ref|a|[a]}}
Untitled (Rise) (2020){{ref|b|[b]}}
Nine (2021){{ref|c|[c]}}
Air (2022){{ref|d|[d]}}
11 (2022)
Earth (2022)
Today & Tomorrow (2022)
Untitled (God) (2022)
Acts of Faith (2024)
10 (2025)

= Extended plays =

Angel (2022){{ref|e|[e]}}
Aiir (2022)

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+Accolades for Sault
scope="col" \|Organization ! scope="col" \|Year ! scope="col" \|Category ! scope="col" \|Nominated work ! scope="col" \|Result ! scope="col" \|Ref.
scope="row"\|Brit Awards \|2024 \|Best R&B Act \|Sault \|{{Nominated}} \|{{Cite news \|date=2024-03-02 \|title=Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68458923 \|access-date=2024-05-01 \|work=BBC News \|language=en-GB}}
scope="row" \|MOBO Awards \|2023 \|Best R&B/Soul Act \|Sault \|{{Won}} \|{{Cite news \|date=2024-02-07 \|title=Mobo Awards: Central Cee and Raye named best male and female acts \|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-68217505 \|access-date=2024-05-01 \|work=BBC News \|language=en-GB}}
scope="row" rowspan="3"\| Ivor Novello Awards \| 2022 \| rowspan="2"\| Best Album \| Nine \| {{nom}} \| {{cite news \|first=Carl \|last=Smith \|date=April 7, 2022 \|title=Ivor Novello Awards 2022: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Dave and Inflo lead list of nominations \|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ivor-novello-awards-2022-adele-ed-sheeran-dave-and-inflo-lead-list-of-nominations__35678/ \|url-status=live \|work=Official Charts Company \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407045511/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ivor-novello-awards-2022-adele-ed-sheeran-dave-and-inflo-lead-list-of-nominations__35678/ \|archive-date=April 7, 2022 \|access-date=May 21, 2022}}
rowspan="2"\| 2023 \| 11 \| {{won}} \| rowspan="2"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/arctic-monkeys-florence-the-machine-harry-styles-lead-2023-ivor-novello-nominations-3432545\|title=Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Harry Styles lead 2023 Ivor Novello nominations\|website=NME\|first=Liberty\|last=Dunworth\|date=19 April 2023\|access-date=19 April 2023}}{{cite web\|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/global/ivor-novello-awards-winners-list-wet-leg-1235618180/\|title=Ivor Novello Awards 2023 Winners List: Wet Leg Named Songwriters of the Year, Raye's 'Escapism' Takes Center Stage\|website=Variety\|first=Thania\|last=Garcia\|date=18 May 2023\|access-date=19 May 2023}}
Best Song, Musically and Lyrically \| "Stronger" \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \|Mercury Prize \| 2021 \| Album of the Year \| Untitled (Rise) \| {{Nominated}} \| {{Cite news \|date=22 July 2021 \|title=Arlo Parks, Sault, Wolf Alice, More Shortlisted for 2021 Mercury Prize \|work=Variety \|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/mercury-prize-arlo-parks-sault-wolf-alice-1235025927/ \|access-date=18 October 2022}}
scope="row" \|MOBO Awards \|2021 \|Best R&B/Soul Act \|Sault \|{{Nominated}} \| {{cite web \|url=https://mobo.com/news/mobo-awards-announce-their-2021-nominees \|title=THE MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2021 NOMINEES \|website=Mobo.com}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+Accolades for Sault

scope="col" |Organization

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Category

! scope="col" |Nominated work

! scope="col" |Result

! scope="col" |Ref.

scope="row"|Brit Awards

|2024

|Best R&B Act

|Sault

|{{Nominated}}

|{{Cite news |date=2024-03-02 |title=Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68458923 |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

scope="row" |MOBO Awards

|2023

|Best R&B/Soul Act

|Sault

|{{Won}}

|{{Cite news |date=2024-02-07 |title=Mobo Awards: Central Cee and Raye named best male and female acts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-68217505 |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| Ivor Novello Awards

| 2022

| rowspan="2"| Best Album

| Nine

| {{nom}}

| {{cite news |first=Carl |last=Smith |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Ivor Novello Awards 2022: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Dave and Inflo lead list of nominations |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ivor-novello-awards-2022-adele-ed-sheeran-dave-and-inflo-lead-list-of-nominations__35678/ |url-status=live |work=Official Charts Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407045511/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ivor-novello-awards-2022-adele-ed-sheeran-dave-and-inflo-lead-list-of-nominations__35678/ |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |access-date=May 21, 2022}}

rowspan="2"| 2023

| 11

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2"| {{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/arctic-monkeys-florence-the-machine-harry-styles-lead-2023-ivor-novello-nominations-3432545|title=Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Harry Styles lead 2023 Ivor Novello nominations|website=NME|first=Liberty|last=Dunworth|date=19 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/global/ivor-novello-awards-winners-list-wet-leg-1235618180/|title=Ivor Novello Awards 2023 Winners List: Wet Leg Named Songwriters of the Year, Raye's 'Escapism' Takes Center Stage|website=Variety|first=Thania|last=Garcia|date=18 May 2023|access-date=19 May 2023}}

Best Song, Musically and Lyrically

| "Stronger"

| {{nom}}

scope="row" |Mercury Prize

| 2021

| Album of the Year

| Untitled (Rise)

| {{Nominated}}

| {{Cite news |date=22 July 2021 |title=Arlo Parks, Sault, Wolf Alice, More Shortlisted for 2021 Mercury Prize |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/mercury-prize-arlo-parks-sault-wolf-alice-1235025927/ |access-date=18 October 2022}}

scope="row" |MOBO Awards

|2021

|Best R&B/Soul Act

|Sault

|{{Nominated}}

| {{cite web |url=https://mobo.com/news/mobo-awards-announce-their-2021-nominees |title=THE MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2021 NOMINEES |website=Mobo.com}}

Notes

{{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} Untitled (Black Is) peaked on number 24 on UK Indie,{{Cite web |title=Official Independent Albums Chart on 10/7/2020 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20200710/131/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}} and number 93 on Billboard charts.{{Cite web |title=Sault {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sault/chart-history/tcl/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}} It did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 13 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20200710/7003/|title=Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 November 2022}}
{{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} Untitled (Rise) did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 20 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20200925/7003/|title=Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 November 2022}} It peaked on number 48 on UK Indie.{{Cite web |title=Official Independent Albums Chart on 25/9/2020 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20200925/131/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}
{{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} Nine peaked on number 99 UK Albums Chart,{{Cite web |date=2021-07-06 |title=Official Albums Chart on 2/7/2021 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20210702/7502/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}} and number 12 on UK Indie.{{Cite web |title=Official Independent Albums Chart on 2/7/2021 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20210702/131/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}
{{sup|{{note|d|[d]}}}} Air peaked on number 4 on UK Indie,{{Cite web |title=Official Independent Albums Chart on 22/4/2022 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20220422/131/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}} and number 2 on US Classical Crossover Albums.{{Cite web |title=Sault {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sault/chart-history/ccf/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
{{sup|{{note|e|[e]}}}} X EP peaked on number 59 on UK Singles Downloads Chart.{{Cite web |title=Official Singles Downloads Chart on 14/10/2022 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20221014/7000/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

References

External links

{{official website}}
[https://boingboing.net/2022/12/01/pass-the-sault.html Pass the Sault] by Elías Villoro for BoingBoing (1 December 2022)
{{AllMusic}}
{{Discogs artist}}
{{MusicBrainz artist}}

Category:British contemporary R&B musical groups

Category:British house music groups

Category:Black British musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2019

Category:2019 establishments in England

Category:Contemporary R&B musical groups from London