Sault (frequently stylised as SAULT) are a British music group that make a mixture of R&B,

urban contemporary gospel Urban/contemporary gospel, also known as urban gospel music, urban gospel pop, or just simply urban gospel, is a modern subgenre of gospel music. Although the style developed gradually, early forms are generally dated to the 1970s, and the gen ...

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

and

disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...

. The project is helmed by producer

Inflo Dean Josiah Cover (born 4 June 1988), professionally known as Inflo, is a British producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He helms the R&B music collective project Sault (band), Sault, which foregrounds black-centric issues. Career In ...

and lead vocalist/songwriter

Cleo Sol Cleopatra Zvezdana Nikolic (born 24 March 1990), better known by her stage name Cleo Sol, is an English singer-songwriter. Working closely with her husband, the producer Inflo, Dean Josiah Cover, she has released five solo studio albums beginnin ...

Kid Sister Melissa Lauren Young (born July 3, 1980), known professionally as Kid Sister, is an American rapper and singer based in Chicago. She is known for her single " Pro Nails", which features Kanye West, and for her covert work as a member of the Bri ...

Chronixx Jamar Rolando McNaughton (born 10 October 1992), popularly known as Chronixx, is a Jamaican reggae artist. His stage name replaced the name "Little Chronicle" which he was given because of his father, the singer "Chronicle".Jackson, Kevin (2014 ...

and

Jack Peñate Jack Peñate (born 2 September 1984) is an English singer, songwriter, producer, and musician. Early life Peñate was born in London on 2 September 1984, the son of an English mother and a Spanish father. His maternal grandfather was author M ...

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) ''Untitled (Black Is)'' is the third studio album by the British R&B musical group Sault, released on 19 June 2020 through the independent record label Forever Living Legends. The album has been met with positive critical reception. Release ...

'' (2020), '' Untitled (Rise)'' (2020), and ''

Nine 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Hindu–Arabic digit Circa 300 BC, as part of the Brahmi numerals, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bot ...

'' (2021). Throughout 2022, after releasing the orchestral instrumental album ''

Air An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosph ...

'', 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 The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, is an annual Music award, music prize awarded for the best album released by a musical act from the Music of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom or Music of Ireland, Ireland. It was cre ...

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 ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' described it as a "total volte-face" and ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' described it as "a sharp pivot to lush contemporary classical". In October that same year, the collective released a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

-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 WeTransfer B.V. is a Dutch Internet-based computer file transfer service company that was founded in 2009 and based in Amsterdam. In 2024, the company was acquired by Bending Spoons. History Early history WeTransfer was founded in 2009 by Rinke ...

, 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 Aiir is a technology company headquartered in New York City, that provides online services and products to broadcast radio stations. Founded in the United Kingdom, Aiir operates services for radio stations worldwide including website content ...

'', ''

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

'', '' Today & Tomorrow'', and '' Untitled (God),'' feature 56 tracks in total. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' 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 Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

Award for "Best Album", with producer Inflo, vocalists Cleo Sol and Chronixx, and musician

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 London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, the group performed songs from a forthcoming album '' Acts of Faith''. Subsequent 2024 dates included international locations:

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

(with music from ''5''), London (''Nine''),

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

(''Black Is''),

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

(''Untitled Rise''),

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

(''11''),

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

(''Air''), and

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

(''Earth''). In early 2024, a collaboration with

André 3000 André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), known professionally as André 3000, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he was one half of the hip-hop duo Outkast along with rapper Big Boi, which the two formed in 1992. Benj ...

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

– piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals, production, engineering *

– lead vocals At their first live performance, guests and members included Inflo, Cleo Sol,

Michael Kiwanuka Michael Samuel Kiwanuka (born 3 May 1988) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is currently signed to Polydor Records. His debut album '' Home Again'' (2012) went gold in the United Kingdom, while his second album ...

, and

Little Simz Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo (born 23 February 1994), better known by her stage name Little Simz, is a British Rapping, rapper and Acting, actress. She rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums: ''A Cur ...

Discography

Studio albums

* '' 5'' (2019) * '' 7'' (2019) * ''

'' (2020) * '' Untitled (Rise)'' (2020) * ''

'' (2021) * ''

'' (2022) * '' 11'' (2022) * ''

'' (2022) * '' Today & Tomorrow'' (2022) * '' Untitled (God)'' (2022) * '' Acts of Faith'' (2024) * '' 10'' (2025)

Extended plays

* ''

Angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...

'' (2022) * ''

Aiir Aiir is a technology company headquartered in New York City, that provides online services and products to broadcast radio stations. Founded in the United Kingdom, Aiir operates services for radio stations worldwide including website content ...

'' (2022)

Awards and nominations

Notes

* ''Untitled (Black Is)'' peaked on number 24 on UK Indie, and number 93 on

Billboard charts The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ' ...

. It did not enter the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

but peaked at number 13 on the

UK Album Downloads Chart The UK Album Downloads Chart is compiled by the Official Charts on behalf of the British music industry. Since July 2015, the chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the chart date given as the following Thursday. The chart was introduced i ...

. * ''Untitled (Rise)'' did not enter the UK Albums Chart but peaked at number 20 on the

. It peaked on number 48 on UK Indie. * ''Nine'' peaked on number 99 UK Albums Chart, and number 12 on UK Indie. * ''Air'' peaked on number 4 on UK Indie, and number 2 on US Classical Crossover Albums. * ''X'' EP peaked on number 59 on

UK Singles Downloads Chart The UK Singles Downloads Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the music industry. Since July 2015, the chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the chart date given as the following Thursday. The main chart con ...

References

External links

*
Pass the ''Sault''
by Elías Villoro for ''

BoingBoing ''Boing Boing'' is a website, first established as a zine in 1988, later becoming a group blog. Common topics and themes include technology, futurism, science fiction, gadgets, intellectual property, Disney, and left-wing politics. It twice wo ...

'' (1 December 2022) * * * {{Authority control British contemporary R&B musical groups British house music groups Black British musical groups Musical groups established in 2019 2019 establishments in England Contemporary R&B musical groups from London