Cleo Sol's Debut Single - "High" (Press release + Video)

CLEO SOL

"High"

(Debut Single)

Cleo Sol’s debut 'High', a mash of pop, ska reggae and rnb, is all about having a crush; "that feeling that's unique to everyone but completely unmistakable.” Tapping into Carnival time, ‘High’ brings together the old and the new; Cleo's distinctive stamp of new-age cool is mixed with an original piece of music from the reggae heyday of the 1960's, through a unique collaboration with iconic Jamaican label Studio One.

A West London girl at heart, 20-year-old Cleo was born and raised in Ladbroke Grove and brought up with a strong sense of community, Cleo is often spotted cycling around the roads of West London. Her inspirations derive from her parent’s musical passions. Spending her childhood shuffling through a record collection of classics across Motown, Reggae, Latin and Acid Jazz.

After posting a few tracks onto her MySpace page in her late teens, veteran underground producer Davinche (Kano’s P’s & Q’s) spotted the singer and asked her to collaborate on some tracks. The partnership with Davinche led to tracks with Tinie Tempah on ‘Tears”, Davinche’s ‘Hero’ and ‘Riding for Love’ alongside Bashy.Cleo also featured on ‘Give a Little Love’ the official Orange Rockcorps anthem alongside Roll Deep, Wretch 32 and Aggro Santos. Showing her versatility, Cleo also featured on Funky House songs ‘Addicted’ and ‘Time to Let Go’.

Her promo tracks in 2011 ‘Lovebass’ and ‘Call for Me’ received heavy support from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Kiss, Choice and Rinse DJ’s (Swerve, Trevor Nelson, Target, Manny Norte, Ace n Vis and Ronnie Herel). ‘Call for Me’ was selected by Twin B as 1Xtra’s ‘Best of British Track of the Week’ in early May 2011. Industry taste-makers (including ILUVLIVE, MOBO and Urban Development) have marked her as a ‘one to watch in 2011’. Having performed at T4 On The Beach and LoveBox this summer, Cleo headlines at industry night YoYo’s on 15^th September 2011.

The story behind her new single ‘High’ is a remarkable one…The production has been developed from an original Studio One recording from the 1960’s, y producer Chris Peckings, whose Father originally brought the Studio One label to the UK. Studio One is one of the most renowned record labels and recording studios in the world, involved with most of the major music movements in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s, including ska, reggae, dub and dancehall. The label was instrumental in shaping the careers of Bob Marley, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Skatalites, Burning Spear, Toots & the Maytals and many others.

To celebrate it’s release, ‘High’ will also be distributed on 7inch for its 18 Sept release date. “High is symbolic of how Studio One has developed over the years, and captures the re-emergence of Reggae for a new generation of music-lovers – Chris Peckings.

Gappy Ranks, a fellow West Londoner and Dancehall musician for whom Chris Peckings was instrumental in developing his career, provides a remix of the track.