Cleo Reed

Cleo Reed, one of the most exciting voices on the current U.S. independent music scene, is taking the stage at JAKI. The multidisciplinary artist, creator of the acclaimed album *CUNTRY*, blends folk, blues, soul, country, hip-hop, and electronic music into a sound that is as distinctive as it is haunting, and explores themes such as work, physicality, identity, and social contradictions in her contemporary songs.

Raised in New York and Washington, D.C., Reed’s musical journey spans from a classical education at the Harlem School of the Arts to studying sound engineering and design at Berklee College of Music. This extraordinary range shapes a body of work that incorporates influences from blues, soul, folk, and country just as naturally as it does electronic soundscapes and rap.

The solo concert centers on songs from the album *CUNTRY*. The first half of the album is deeply rooted in the traditions of American roots music, while the second half opens up electronic, dystopian soundscapes. These contrasts give rise to a musical narrative that is as personal as it is political—poetic, powerful, and uncompromisingly contemporary.
International media outlets such as Pitchfork, Stereogum, and NPR Music ranked *CUNTRY* among the most important albums of 2025. At the same time, Cleo Reed is regarded as an exceptional live performer: her concerts evolve into intense encounters where musical virtuosity, performative expressiveness, and profound emotional intimacy converge.

The solo concert at JAKI is one of the few opportunities to experience Cleo Reed live in Germany.