NAO

Born in Nottingham and active between London and East London, Nao, whose real name is Neo Jessica Joshua, has since the mid-2010s developed a writing style that blends contemporary soul, R&B, funk, and electronic pop, with smooth rhythms and melodies that are often airy. Trained in vocal jazz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, she first worked as a backing singer for other artists and sang for several years with the vocal group The Boxettes, before launching her solo project with the EPs So Good (2014) and 15 February (2015). This period established Nao's aesthetic, between a flexible voice, syncopated productions, and a hybrid approach she has described as a form of wonky funk. Her debut album, For All We Know, appeared in 2016, followed by Saturn (2018), And Then Life Was Beautiful (2021), and Jupiter (2025). Over the course of her career, Nao has also collaborated with Disclosure, Mura Masa, Nile Rodgers & Chic, 6LACK, SiR, Lianne La Havas, and Adekunle Gold, while also developing a writing career for other projects. Active on pop, soul, and festival stages in the UK and internationally, Nao builds a repertoire where electronic textures remain tied to a clearly legible R&B and soul foundation.