Cleo Reed, one of the most innovative artists from the American underground, visits ALICE with a school concert. This American multidisciplinary artist moves fluidly between blues, soul, country, hip-hop, and electronic music, while drawing on a rich African-American cultural heritage in her captivating songwriting.
Cleo Reed – known as Ella Josephine Julia Moore – grew up in New York and Washington D.C. with a remarkable musical education spanning from jazz and classical music at Harlem School of the Arts to experience with New York punk band Pretty Sick and training in sound engineering and sound design from Berklee College of Music. This broad background is reflected in her music, where she naturally combines multiple genres and explores connections between art, identity, cultural heritage, and contemporary issues.
Her latest album "CUNTRY" (2025) was praised by Pitchfork and NPR Music as among the year's most important releases. The first half of the album is deeply rooted in American roots music, while the second half dives into electronic and dystopian soundscapes. This contrast creates a musical narrative that is both personal and political – it explores work, physicality, identity, and social contradictions through poetic and uncompromising songs. The album also reflects the tension between Cleo Reed's New York background and her family's roots in the American South.
Cleo Reed has become known for her exceptional live performances, where musical virtuosity, performative presence, and deep emotional intimacy blend together and draw the audience completely into the experience.
Practical Information
- Location: ALICE
- Admission: Free
- Registration: The school concert requires registration – write to [email protected] and mark the subject line 'School Concert'
