# Sault (band)

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.
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.

## 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.
In June 2021, the band released their fifth studio album Nine. 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 and first teased a live performance in November 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" and Pitchfork described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical". 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." 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." 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.
In November 2023, the group announced their first live performance, teasing that they would play an unreleased material. 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. 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. 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. A vinyl edition is scheduled for April 2025.

## Members

* Inflo – piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals, production, engineering
* Cleo Sol – lead vocals
At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz.

## Awards and nominations

Accolades for Sault :
| Organization | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| Brit Awards | 2024 | Best R&B Act | Sault | Nominated |
| MOBO Awards | 2023 | Best R&B/Soul Act | Sault | Won |
| Ivor Novello Awards | 2022 | Best Album | Nine | Nominated |
| Ivor Novello Awards | 2023 | Best Album | 11 | Won |
| Ivor Novello Awards | 2023 | Best Song, Musically and Lyrically | "Stronger" | Nominated |
| Mercury Prize | 2021 | Album of the Year | Untitled (Rise) | Nominated |
| MOBO Awards | 2021 | Best R&B/Soul Act | Sault | Nominated |