Nao [Live September 23, 2016 KEXP, Seattle, Washington]

 

NPR Music Nao: Tiny Desk Concert [March 18, 2019]

 In astrology, your Saturn return is the time in life when Saturn goes back to the same spot it was at the time of your birth. As Nao explained during her appearance at NPR's Tiny Desk, "It's about leaving adolescence and going into adulthood." This crossing of the threshold that happens around your late 20s to early 30s is the inspiration for Saturn, Nao's sophomore effort and one of 2018's best albums. When the U.K. singer-songwriter brought her band and cosmic energy to the Tiny Desk — sneaking in her 2015 breakthrough track, "Bad Blood," alongside Saturn standouts — the strength and conviction of her performance had fans in the office strapped in for the emotional ride.  While Nao usually performs with synthy, electronic twinkles, her day at the Tiny Desk was stripped down by comparison. At times, her lyrics ring out with just a sparse guitar to carry them. Like a roller coaster of unexpected upheaval, Nao's distinctive vocal range on this four-song set goes from bellowing and husky to soft and coy, often within the same verse. Be it the breezy, Brazilian funk of "If You Ever," the hallowed harmony of "Orbit" (complete with prayer hands) or the valiant soul-searching of "Make It Out Alive," it's almost as if Nao duets with herself, answering her own questions, settling into her own quirks.  Saturn return can be marked with new responsibilities, confusion and poison-thorned serendipity. But by creating astral, intentional music through her growing pains, Nao ended up grounding herself.

Courtesy: Sidney Madden, NPR Music

Nao Saturn [October 26, 2018]

Saturn is the second studio album by British R&B recording artist Nao, released on 26 October 2018 through Little Tokyo Recordings and RCA Records. It was supported by the singles "Another Lifetime" and "Make It Out Alive". "If You Ever" was also released prior to the album in a version featuring American singer 6lack, but he does not feature on the album version. Nao will tour in support of the album across late 2018 and early 2019. Saturn received nominations for Album of the Year at the Mercury Prize in 2019 and Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020.

Nao named the album after being told by her friends about the astrological concept of Saturn return, when the planet Saturn returns to the same place in the sky that it was when a person was born. This typically takes 29 years, but the reported "influence" can begin at the age of 27.[3] Nao said: "It's like waking up and coming of age, like: 'I've been going through my twenties and what have I been doing in this relationship?' What have I been doing in this job?' You start to rethink everything – old stuff that your parents taught you or ideas that you believed in. It's like a complete shedding of skin and it can be painful.

On review aggregator Metacritic, Saturn has received a score of 83 out of 100 based on reviews from 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Kyann-Sian Williams of NME rated the album four out of five stars and said that Nao's "honest, cinematic exploration of love, lust, and hardship makes for a compelling adventure – and one you'll happily join [her] on". Williams concluded the review by saying that "Saturn is full of beautiful, intricately unique songs that could never be imitated. Like her, it's simply one of a kind." Writing for The Guardian, Natty Kasambala said that on the album, "although [Nao's] sugary vocals have remained intact, her artistic and personal growth is evident". Kasambala further judged that "It's hard to distinguish any obvious commercial hits. Saturn falls somewhere between the dance hits of producer DJs with big-name features, and earnest, heart-tugging balladry." Kasmbala acknowledged that along with the "rise of R&B classicists" like Jorja Smith, Ella Mai and Mahalia, "Nao presents a compelling alternative to the mainstream".

Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(album)

Nao Orbit/Nao ft. Kwabs Saturn [Live March 7, 2019 AIR Studios, London, England]

 

Nao - In the Morning