The Gravitational Pull of Cleo Sol

When R&B singer Cleo Sol takes the stage at Radio City Music Hall for the second show of her sold-out three-night run in New York City, she wastes no time digging into her bag of affirmations. Dressed in a flowing teal two-piece, her long, dark hair sleek, with soft bangs framing her face, she steps into the spotlight and gently exhorts the eager audience: “Love yourself.” The phrase, sung in perfect harmony with her backup vocalists and band, reverberates through the air like a prayer. It’s merely a prelude, a soft inhale before the night’s soul-stirring musical exhale. Moments later, she launches into the upbeat rhythm of “Rewind.” The audience is already on its feet, clapping, swaying, and singing along like they’ve been overcome by a church sermon.

Cleo notes the warmth in the room, acknowledging with a radiant smile that we’re even more animated than the previous night’s audience.

“This is the only way I’d rather spend my birthday,” says the singer, who was marking her 35th. “I’m so grateful for every one of you.”

“Everyone in the room takes each possible opportunity to document their attendance, as if inscribing their names on a sacred scroll.”

Despite having played a handful of live shows since emerging from her 2018 hiatus, Cleo commands the stage with ease. She moves with intention, her presence as comforting and deliberate as the melodies she crafts. Her ability to forge an intimate connection with her audience––through her albums, Rose in the Dark, Mother, Heaven, and Gold––has earned her a devoted following, one that includes the likes of SZA, Dua Lipa, Thandie Newton, Joe Budden, and even J Cole, who sampled her song “Know That You Are Loved” in his surprise drop “Port Antonio” last year. Cleo’s music has traveled far and wide––she has over four million monthly listeners on Spotify––but, as a touring artist, Cleo herself has not.

“I want to do a few shows in a few cities, but I don’t want to do a million. I don’t want to do a tour,” she told Zane Lowe in an interview last year. “I want to do one city, and hopefully people will come to me. I’m hoping for the best.”

Knowing this run is a rarity, everyone in the room takes each possible opportunity to document their attendance and the night itself, as if inscribing their names on a sacred scroll. Lovers pose under the golden glow of the lights. Friends gather for intimate selfies with the classic digital camera. And solo travelers even sneak their own photos of the stage on the iPhone cameras. Whether the fans knew it or not, they were in for a night of healing, and capturing the journey is crucial.

“I found Cleo’s music when I was at my absolute lowest,” said Andrea Kelley, 27. “My mom talked about how Sade’s music was healing to her, and now I get what she means when I hear Cleo’s music. It’s so spiritual, and you can hear her faith, and it just makes me feel so calm.”

Fans often speak about Cleo’s music “healing” them. Her catalog serves as a balm for many, filled with lyrics that could easily pass for scriptures.

“You overthink / You're overwhelmed / Give yourself space / And time will tell / Things will get easier / Things will get better / I think you're stronger / Oh, things will get better.”

Cleo has said she doesn’t follow a routine to write; instead, her music comes from “being open and letting God work through me at any moment,” she told MTV back in 2019.

She reiterated that point to Zane Lowe while speaking about the death of a cousin, who told her before his passing that “Lost Angel” was his favorite song of hers. Cleo was unable to make the funeral, but mourners felt her presence when the family played “Angel.”

“I just know that it’s bigger than me, and that’s why I get emotional sometimes—it’s overwhelming” she told Lowe. “I’m just being used as a vessel.”

And what a vessel she is. Confident in the power of her discography, onstage at Radio City, she boldly delivers fan-favorites tracks like “When I’m in Your Arms,” “Sideways,” and “Rose in the Dark” early in the setlist, making room for her deeper cuts to breathe. Her 11-person band elevates an already engrossing performance with lush backup harmonies, soaring guitar riffs, and soulful piano keys.

One of the evening’s most striking moments comes when Cleo pours her heart into “I Love You,” a raw and haunting ballad. She sings “I heard all the words except ‘I love you’” with such aching conviction that it feels as if she’s reliving the pain.

The most heartwarming moment, however, occurs during “Know That You Are Loved.”

As Cleo momentarily disappears from the stage, the audience instinctively takes over, singing the refrain in unison: “Know that you are loved / Even if you don’t love yourself.” When Cleo reappears, microphone in hand, the room feels intimate, even with 5,000 people in it.

Cleo’s message throughout the night is simple yet profound. Only love will save you. Not money. Not material possessions. Not even the ticket you bought to see her. Only love.

As the final notes fade and she takes her bow, we’re left with more than just the memory of a night bathed in music. We leave with a feeling––a warmth that lingers like the last light of a setting sun, a quiet knowing that, yes, things will get better.

The Latest