Nao

NAO (born Neo Jessica Joshua) is a British singer and songwriter from East London whose music blends soul, R&B, and electronic production into a style she has described as «wonky funk». Trained in jazz and having worked as a session vocalist before her solo career, she brings a technically sophisticated, elastic sense of rhythm and melody to songs that often explore intimacy, self-discovery, and emotional vulnerability.

Her breakthrough releases established her as part of a wave of British artists reshaping alternative R&B in the mid-2010s, pairing airy, high-register vocals with glitchy, syncopated electronic beats. Songs like «Bad Blood» and «Inhale Exhale» showcase her ability to layer delicate falsetto over intricate production, while «Girlfriend» and «Make It Out Alive» lean into more assertive, groove-driven territory. Her albums have been praised for their cohesive sonic identity, balancing experimental production choices with genuinely catchy songwriting.

NAO has collaborated with a range of producers and artists across the R&B, electronic, and rap spaces, and her work has been recognized for pushing the boundaries of contemporary British soul music. She remains an influential voice in the alt-R&B scene, admired for her distinctive vocal tone and willingness to experiment with unconventional song structures.