Cleo Sol’s music transcends genre boundaries and here is why

Renowned for her ethereal and tender vocals, Sol’s music beckons listeners like a storybook. Her gentle voice entwined with the lush instrumentation in her tracks, conjures nothing short of pure magic.

With the heavy resurgence of the Neo-Soul lately, Cleo Sol is one of the artists at the forefront of this movement, alongside the likes of the group Jungle.

Born Cleopatra Zvezdana Nikolic, Sol has ascended to stardom as the most predominant vocalist of the enigmatic London collective, SAULT - a prolific and purposefully anonymous group in the realm of the alternative soul.

The band whose music exists without the gloss of branding is masterminded by musician-producer Inflo who has released a mind-boggling 11 albums in just four years. The award-winning producer is known for making records with the likes of Little Simz and Micheal Kiwanuka, with one of Sol’s most famous appearances on Simz’s track ‘Woman’.

Both Sault and Sol’s solo work exist purely for the music, expelling a breath of fresh air. Sol reflects this throughout her music with her beautiful way of incorporating gospel and soul, coming straight from the heart.

'Her music feels like a gentle breeze on a warm summer afternoon. It is like Erykah Badu meets Solange in a fusion of intimate yet spacious Neo-soul jazz' - Elise, not Elisee, music journalist

While SAULT’s rhythmically driven music carries a more political resonance, Sol’s musical expression can be perceived as the tranquil counterpart to SAULT’s more extroverted music. Her compositions exude a cool, dreamlike, and downtempo quality, offering solace and comfort.

Following Sault’s affinity for releasing multiple projects in one go, Sol recently graced her listeners with the release of two new albums within the space of two weeks - ‘Heaven’ and ‘Gold’.

The Brief Backstory of Cleo Sol

As the daughter of two musicians who met in a Jazz band and living in the heart of Notting Hill, Cleo Sol’s musical influences are no surprise. Jazz, Reggae, Motown and Latin. Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott are a few of the names Cleo Sol has listed over the years as musicians whose art she has absorbed into her own.

'It is not just her sound that is captivating, her songwriting feels like an intimate convocation that is both calming and reassuring. Her lyrics lift your spirits with their warming energy' - Elise, not Elisee

Songwriting from 16, Sol debuted in the industry when she collaborated with artists like Tinie Tempah, Skepta and Wretch 32. Her talent quickly etched her name into the UK’s underground music scene. Her fame grew with the reggae-influenced ‘High’ in 2011 and Motown adjacent ‘Never the Right Time (Who Do You Love)’ the following year.

After a five-year hiatus from releasing music publicly, in 2018 Cleo Sol shared her EP ‘Winter Songs’, marking the start of a new era in her sound. Within this collection of records, the presence of instruments takes a gentle backseat, allowing her voice to emerge as the predominant focal point - a departure from the more energetic, instrument-driven tunes of five years earlier.

The EP’s lead single ‘Why Don’t You’, made its memorable debut on a now-iconic 2018 episode of A COLOURS SHOW. The recurring mantra of ‘Eat, Love, Pray’ within the track cast a spell on the audience, accumulating 16 million views to date. Following this remarkable reintroduction, a wave of new fans found themselves hungry for more of her music.

Since then, Sol released three albums ‘Rose in the Dark’, ‘Mother’, and ‘Peace and Serenity’. Each work has its own distinct sound and storylines, all while staying true to Sol's signature laidback and insightful musical essence.

'Heaven' and 'Gold'

There exist nuanced yet unmistakable differences in the tones of these two projects. While "Heaven" delves into an internal reckoning, "Gold" takes a more spiritually guided journey, delving into themes of love, religion, and self-actualisation.

“This album was made for God, to honour and give thanks, always”, Sol reflects in an interview. “Many tears, felt fear, pushed through anyway, that was so key.”

Both albums pay homage to R&B, with Sol infusing them with her own essence. Each album bows to R&B while infusing it with Sol’s own kiss, using her voice as much as an instrument as the pianos that envelop her. In Heaven, her lyrics maintain a subtle tone, whereas in Gold there is a greater emphasis on narrative.

Although these are solo albums, Sol collaborated closet with Inflo, serving as both co-writer and producer for both records, Consequently, the sound bears resemblance to that is SAULT, while maintaining a smooth quality reminiscent of acts like Massive Attack and Sade.

Cleo Sol's music serves as a healing elixir. Her unfiltered sincerity, tender understanding of her imperfections, and the way she extends a comforting hand to her younger self resonate deeply with a generation striving to be their best selves.

Through her music, she articulates the collective experiences of our time, casting a trail of hope, fortitude, and self-compassion. There is no doubt that her artistic journey is propelling her toward destinations far beyond her current achievements, as she approaches a well-deserved place among the musical legends of our era.