Sault | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels | Forever Living Originals |
| Members |
|
| Website | sault |
Sault (frequently stylised as SAULT) is 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 consists of his protégés including vocalists Cleo Sol, Kid Sister, and Chronixx, as well as instrumentalists Kadeem Clarke, and Jack Peñate.[1] The group frequently foregrounds Black-centric issues.[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. Following the first live performance in November 2023, Sault is due to perform on international live shows in 2024.[3]
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 entitled, 7.
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]
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 album of material.[14] They later elaborated that they would play seven shows that featured live performances of music from different albums.[15] The tour was initiated on 14 December in London, and featured songs from an 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).[3]
A collaboration with André 3000 was also announced in early 2024.[16]
At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz.[18]
| Sault discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 11 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Singles | 3 |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [19] |
UK Indie [20] |
US Class. Cross. [21] |
US Curr. [22] | ||
| 5 |
|
– | – | – | – |
| 7 |
|
– | – | – | – |
| Untitled (Black Is) |
|
–[A] | 24 | – | 93 |
| Untitled (Rise) |
|
–[B] | 48 | – | – |
| Nine |
|
99 | 12 | – | – |
| Air |
|
–[C] | 4 | 2 | – |
| 11 |
|
– | – | – | – |
| Earth |
|
– | – | – | – |
| Today & Tomorrow |
|
– | – | – | – |
| Untitled (God) |
|
– | – | – | – |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK DL [26] | ||
| X |
|
59 |
| Aiir |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX Air. [27] | |||
| "We Are the Sun" | 2019 | – | 5 |
| "Don't Waste My Time" | – | ||
| "Let Me Go" | 49 |
| Organization | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brit Awards | 2024 | Best R&B Act | Sault | Pending | [28] |
| Ivor Novello Awards | 2022 | Best Album | Nine | Nominated | [29] |
| 2023 | 11 | Won | [30][31] | ||
| Best Song, Musically and Lyrically | "Stronger" | Nominated | |||
| Mercury Prize | 2021 | Album of the Year | Untitled (Rise) | Nominated | [32] |
| MOBO Awards | 2021 | Best R&B/Soul Act | Sault | Nominated | [33] |
