Sault (band) explained

Sault
Origin:United Kingdom
Years Active:–present
Label:Forever Living Originals
Current Members:

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 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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

In June 2021, the band released their fifth studio album Nine.[4] 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[5] and first teased a live performance in November 2023.[6]

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"[7] and Pitchfork described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical".[8] 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."[9] 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."[10] 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.[11]

In November 2023, the group announced their first live performance, teasing that they would play an unreleased album of material.[12] They later elaborated that they would play seven shows that featured live performances of music from different albums.[13] 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.[14]

Members

At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz.[16] Jack Peñate has also collaborated with the collective.[11]

Discography

Artist:Sault
Studio:11
Ep:1
Singles:3

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[17]
UK
Indie

[18]
US
Class.
Cross.
[19]
US
Curr.

[20]
5
7
  • Released: 27 September 2019
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
Untitled (Black Is)
  • Released: 19 June 2020
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
24 93
Untitled (Rise)
  • Released: 18 September 2020
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
48
Nine
  • Released: 25 June 2021
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
99 12
Air
  • Released: 13 April 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
4 2
11
  • Released: 1 November 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
Earth
  • Released: 1 November 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
Today & Tomorrow
  • Released: 1 November 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
Untitled (God)
  • Released: 1 November 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
Acts of Faith
  • Released: 6 July 2024
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: digital download

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
EP detailsPeak chart positions
UK
DL

[21]
X
  • Released: 10 October 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
59
Aiir
  • Released: 1 November 2022
  • Label: Forever Living Originals
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
MEX
Air.

[22]
"We Are the Sun"20195
"Don't Waste My Time"
"Let Me Go"49

Notes

Awards and nominations

Accolades for Sault
OrganizationYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
Brit Awards2024Best R&B ActSault[23]
MOBO Awards2023Best R&B/Soul ActSault[24]
Ivor Novello Awards2022Best AlbumNine[25]
202311[26] [27]
Best Song, Musically and Lyrically"Stronger"
Mercury Prize2021Album of the YearUntitled (Rise)[28]
MOBO Awards2021Best R&B/Soul ActSault[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aswad . Jem . Sault's Untitled (Rise) Seduces Listeners with Sumptuous R&B, Then Startles with Powerful Messaging . . en-US . 18 September 2020 . 15 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Porter . Flisadam . 2023-12-10 . The Ever-So-Mysterious Sault Revealed Their Debut Live Show And Their Plans For 2024 With A Cryptic Teaser Video . 2023-12-12 . . en-US . Indie Mixtape.
  3. Web site: 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed.... mercuryprize.com. 22 July 2021. 25 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Kelly. Amelia. 2021-05-26. SAULT Have Released Their New Album 'NINE'. 2022-02-15. mxdwnuk. en-US.
  5. Web site: Sault: Untitled (Rise) Review– Mystery Collective Make Best Album of 2020, Again. Petridis . Alexis . Alexis Petridis . . en-GB . 17 September 2020 . 15 November 2020 .
  6. 0028-6362 . News > Music News . en-GB . . Pilley . Max . Sault are teasing a London live show before the end of 2023. 2023-11-25 . 2023-11-25 .
  7. Web site: Chick . Stevie . Sault: Air review – a daring act of creative rebirth pays off . The Guardian . 19 April 2022 . 22 April 2022 . 19 April 2022.
  8. Web site: Thompson . Shy . SAULT: Air Album Review . Pitchfork . 22 April 2022 . 21 April 2022.
  9. Web site: Kenneally . Cerys . Sault release five new albums available as a free download for five days . The Line of Best Fit . 1 November 2022 . 1 November 2022.
  10. News: Aswad . Jem . British R&B Group Sault Releases Five Albums Simultaneously for Free Download 'as an Offering to God' . 4 November 2022 . Variety . 1 November 2022.
  11. Web site: Wet Leg named songwriters of the year at Ivor Novello awards. Safi. Bugel. The Guardian. 18 May 2023. 18 May 2023.
  12. 0028-6362 . News > Music News . en-GB . . Pilley . Max . 2023-12-02 . 2023-12-02 . SAULT tease playing "new unreleased album" once only at upcoming London gig.
  13. Web site: SAULT Announce First Live Show And Tease World Tour . Danielle . Chelosky . 2023-12-09 . 2023-12-09 . en-US . News.
  14. 0028-6362 . News > Music News . en-GB . . 2024-01-10 . 2024-01-10 . André 3000 and SAULT collab on the way . Tom . Skinner.
  15. Web site: Cleo Sol: Mother review – intimate, spacious soul-jazz. Kitty. Empire. The Observer. 22 August 2021. 30 November 2021.
  16. Web site: . en-US . 2023-12-14 . 2023-12-15 . Watch SAULT Play First-Ever Live Show In London . News . Danielle . Chelosky.
  17. Web site: Official Albums Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 19 November 2022.
  18. Peak positions:
  19. Sault Chart History (Classical Crossover Albums). Billboard. 1 December 2022.
  20. Sault Chart History (Current Album Sales). Billboard. 19 November 2022.
  21. Web site: Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 19 November 2022.
  22. Sault Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay). Billboard. 19 November 2022.
  23. News: 2024-03-02 . Brit Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees . 2024-05-01 . BBC News . en-GB.
  24. News: 2024-02-07 . Mobo Awards: Central Cee and Raye named best male and female acts . 2024-05-01 . BBC News . en-GB.
  25. News: Carl . Smith . April 7, 2022 . Ivor Novello Awards 2022: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Dave and Inflo lead list of nominations . live . . 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/ . April 7, 2022 . May 21, 2022.
  26. Web site: Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Harry Styles lead 2023 Ivor Novello nominations. NME. Liberty. Dunworth. 19 April 2023. 19 April 2023.
  27. Web site: Ivor Novello Awards 2023 Winners List: Wet Leg Named Songwriters of the Year, Raye's 'Escapism' Takes Center Stage. Variety. Thania. Garcia. 18 May 2023. 19 May 2023.
  28. News: 22 July 2021 . Arlo Parks, Sault, Wolf Alice, More Shortlisted for 2021 Mercury Prize . Variety . 18 October 2022.
  29. Web site: THE MOBO AWARDS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2021 NOMINEES . Mobo.com.