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Neo Jessica Joshua (born December 1987), known professionally as Nao, is an English singer, songwriter and producer. Brought up in a musically informed household, Nao began singing and playing the piano as an adolescent. After enrolling in vocal jazz studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she briefly worked as a backup singer and integrated The Boxettes, a female beatboxing group.

She has cultivated a sound based on funk, soul and alternative R&B, analysed by journalists as progression of 90s music; the accompanying themes frequently pertain to romantic love and self-worth. Nao's first solo efforts, the songs "Back Porch" and "So Good", were released in May 2014. Both were included in that year's So Good, her inaugural extended play (EP), a record of electronic R&B music. In 2015, alongside the release of collaborations with Disclosure and Mura Masa, her second EP, February 15, was issued. Her debut studio album For All We Know was released in July 2016, spawning four singles – "Bad Blood", "Fool to Love", "Girlfriend" and "In the Morning" – and a 2017 EP comprising remixes of album tracks.

Nao was distinguished with the third place on the BBC Sound of 2016, a competition for emerging musical artists. The singer was nominated for the 2017 BRIT Awards in the category of British Female Solo Artist. After serving as a supporting act for Little Dragon in 2014, she embarked on multiple tours worldwide.

Early life and education
Neo Jessica Joshua was raised by her mother and lived in South Woodford, East London with her five siblings. Their "Jamaican and Aruban" household was characterised by the predominance of music. Her family's dissimilar genre preferences, including grime and hip-hop, later became an influence for her. As an adolescent, she started composing on piano and writing lyrics for aspiring grime and garage artists. She began singing at the age of 14, and was involved in a singing project that performed at local venues.

Nao's desire of becoming a renowned singer, inspired by Nina Simone, motivated her to study vocal jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A four-year academical percourse, she states it provided her with a "good work ethic" and taught her how "to be progressive musically". Nonetheless, the artist would frequently practise overtime, as she felt she did not share her colleagues' musical proficiency, In 2007, Nao and other Guildhall alumni created an acapella girl group called The Boxettes, which went on to tour in Europe, but later disbanded. The four years that folllowed the conclusion of Nao's jazz studies saw her serving as a backup singer for acts such as Pulp and Kwabs, a profession she had adopted as a teenager. Other activities she previously explored included teaching choirs and vocal ensembles.

2014-15: Career beginnings
After attending a gig where Nao performed backup vocals, her future manager suggested she delve into a solo career. She revealed her first track "Back Porch" in May 2014, through online mediums; "So Good", a collaboration with English musician A.K. Paul, was uploaded in June 2014. In addition to positive critical appraisal, the latter quickly gained public traction, as well as radio play in the UK. The songs elicited several offers from record companies, which Nao declined in favour of founding a label. Little Tokyo Recordings, licensed to RCA Records, allowed the singer to possess the masters of her songs exclusively. The singer commented that she hoped the platform would venture into different areas, such as clothing. Featuring production from artists including William Serrell and Loxe, the singer's debut extended play (EP) So Good was released through the imprint in October 2014.

During 2015, collaborations of Nao with English musician Mura Masa and duo Disclosure were released; the former worked with Nao on "Firefly", part of his EP Someday Somewhere. Nao appeared on the duo's second studio album, Caracal, cowriting and providing guest vocals for song "Superego". Little Tokyo issued February 15, Nao's second EP, in May, including "Inhale Exhale", selected by Pitchfork Media as the 54th best song of the year. In September, Nao was nominated for a MOBO Award in the category of Best Newcomer. On 22 October, Nao released "Bad Blood", the lead single from her debut studio album. She placed as second runner-up in the Sound of 2016 list, compiled by the BBC to "highlight (...) new artists emerging in the music industry". The London nightclub Heaven was the venue of Nao's first headlining concert, held on 3 December 2015. Until then, the singer supported the Swedish band Little Dragon's late 2015 tour across the UK and Europe. In 2014,

2015-present: For All We Know
When inquired on the concept of her debut studio album, Nao explained it would reference 90s music, intending to transpose it to actuality. The longplayer's lead single, "Bad Blood", was released in November 2015; the second single "Fool to Love" followed in February 2016. "Girlfriend" was issued as the third single from the project, having been performed on the UK show Later... with Jools Holland, marking Nao's first televised appearance For All We Know will be made available on 29 July.

Musical style
Nao describes her sound as "wonky funk", adding that it is "a little bit left field, a little bit darker, even a little bit cooler."

Pitchfork Media contributor Jayson Greene describes the So Good EP as having "a brisk, grown-and-sexy steppers' pace", comparing its sound to that of 702, Zhané, Missy Elliott and Groove Theory. February 15 is a neo soul effort, which Meaghan Garvey considers to be imbued with "muted washes of dubstep", "UK bass permutations" and deep house. The Guardian's Paul Lester wrote that it suggests a "shift towards the abstract".

Imagery
The artwork ccompanying Nao's EPs are photographs of her arms, in which her hands are accentuated. The artist explained that the hands symbolise the she meant to establish a theme in her image,

Discography

 * For All We Know (2016)