Meet CLEO, five girls, five distinct voices, five unique personalities, one magnetic energy ✨
This Getting to Know section is your backstage pass into who we are beyond the stage, the photoshoots and the records. Our personalities, passions, quirks and some stories that shape us individually and shape CLEO as a group. From what we bring to the group to what inspires us beyond just the music, this is where the group becomes personal. Step inside of our worlds, take a peak, get comfortable and get to know CLEO before we become your new favourite group. 💫
What is your favourite music genre?I’m an R&B girl through and through. That’s always been my jam and it’s definitely my go-to genre of choice. Throw some old-school soul and a couple of pop diva’s into the mix and we’re really ready to go! I’ve always been drawn to those big powerful voices but my default mode is a chilled out R&B vibe. Some deep cuts but mostly the classics, it’s the genre that’s a perfect mood-setter no matter the situation.
Which artists or bands have influenced your taste the most?Oh, it started with Alicia Lena, Stephanie Fierce and Cherise for me. Those are the artists that I definitely gravitated towards early in my career. I think those are the artists that made me feel like I wanted to be a singer. Truly formative experience listening to their music from an early age, that modern R&B mixed with a timeless soulful vibe from Alicia, the experimentation from Steph showed that you can blend other genre’s and still maintain that R&B core and Cherise doesn’t get her flowers because the hits weren’t there, but she was a true album artist and a game changer for me.
Is there an artist you consistently return to?Honestly, it’s always Dominic Brown. For a while, he was THAT guy. The voice, the looks, the performance, he just had it all. We only got one full studio album, but that man had hits for DAYS! He pretty much worked with everybody relevant from that period, even though we got just one album, he jumped on so many tracks that he has one of the best singles catalogues in the game. If he didn’t step away, he’d comfortably have the biggest modern output in the industry right now. But he’s the guy that is always in rotation on my playlists.
What albums or songs have had a lasting impact on you?Gotta be “Destination: The Final Chapter” by Cherise. It was a posthumous release, but it was such a beautiful album and wonderful tribute to her legacy. She didn’t have enough time to truly become the superstar she was destined to become, but this album just showed how incredible she was. The voice and attitude were iconic and she did so much in a short space of time. Three albums in such a short period of time makes you wonder just how huge she would have become in the industry.
Favorite film or TV genre?Oooooh girl, I’m so obsessive with TV shows, I can literally watch most TV shows and become obsessed with them. Drama, Horror, True-Crime, Comedy, Reality. I love a true-crime series but honestly, I’m such a sucker for reality TV shows. There’s so many of them, but I just get so engrossed in these people and seriously, the messier the better for me. I love watching the drama and the bitchiness, literally if I couldn’t be a singer I’d so want to be a reality TV star, I know it’s not the coolest answer but I just live for that drama. Film genre, I’m not so crazy about films but I’m probably just a basic romance girl. Or whatever those “Step Up” and “Honey” movies were classed as … are they just dance movies?
A book, film, or piece of media that left an impression on you?It would probably have to be the movie “Honey”, I know it’s probably such a cheesy movie now. But that whole world was just so formative for me, that whole performance ambition story is inspirational to young people that have dreams in that sort of world, it was a way of letting people that they can do this. It takes crazy work and dedication but it’s a possibility and sometimes that’s all you need. I’m not into books, so it would probably have to be that film.
How would you describe your taste in one sentence?Oh my god, that’s such a tough question. Like we could be talking anything here. My taste in boys? Well that’s questionable, let’s not go THERE. I’m sure my friends and family will tell you it’s definitely expensive. So it’s probably something along those lines, maybe glamour or luxury. I definitely think I’d be more of a dinner party type of girl to a nightclub type of girl. Maybe classy? I’d like to go with that!
How do you like to spend your free time?With friends and family, that’s the whole damn thing for me. Nice restaurants, shopping, cinema, vacation together. I like to be doing things always, but it doesn’t matter the activity, it’s the people that you’re with and I like to keep that circle pretty small, right now my friends and family are so intertwined it’s crazy. My closest friends are just as close with my family members, they just be hanging out together even when I’m not in town. That’s what it’s all about for me.
What activities help you recharge?Honestly I’m a foodie, so I’m happiest at a restaurant with good company. That’s my recharging period, good food and good people.
Do you prefer routine or spontaneity?Definitely spontaneity, even just a random phone call to hang out is enough for me. I don’t know if I deal well with every aspect of my day being mapped out! Maybe that’s something I’ll have to get used to a little. I’m not a super organised person, I love to get up and just let my day fall wherever it falls. I think routine is definitely required but I’ll do everything I can to keep a little spontaneity in my life.
What topics or causes are important to you?You can get lost in that whole thing. I just believe everybody should be treated with kindness and respect. Sadly it doesn’t happen all that often, but I was raised on the idea of treat people the way you wish to be treated yourself. There’s a whole bunch of causes that I’m always happy to put my name against and support but I think the main thing is to be the kindest version of myself, love and respect each other.
How do you define success for yourself?Happiness is the main thing, of course. But I want to be able to treat and support my family and friends as much as humanly possible too. I’ve got ambitions for this group to be incredibly successful in terms of hits and popularity, I think we all have those hopes. Of course I want the lifestyle and those luxury’s that comes from being a successful artist and group, it would be crazy to get into this industry and not want to achieve that. I want to have the beautiful house and cars and all those things and be able to give friends and family that sort of lifestyle too. It’s okay to say you want nice things.
What helps you stay grounded?Some people might not say that I’m grounded. I’ve always been ambitious, I’ve always wanted the best of things. But I think I’ve been raised properly, with morals and respect and hard work. Again, it’s family and friends and where I grew up, those are the things that I don’t think I’ll ever lose sight of.
What do you appreciate most in a community?Support. You can grow up in communities that don’t have much on the surface, but if you help and support each other, you’ve got everything you need. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy environment, but I grew up in a place where we all looked out for each other. I think that’s important.
How do you like to contribute in group settings?I ain’t gonna lie to you. Sometimes, I can be the loudest in the room. I think I bring ambition and drive to everything that I’m part of. If I’m passionate about something then you’ll get the best of me. I think in CLEO we have such a perfect mix in our personalities that we will all bring the best out of each other. I KNOW we’re all just as determined to make this group successful, so we have the same drive already. But the individuality of all of us is what I think will really make us stand out. I’m saying all of this and they could all get pretty sick of my high maintenance in the studio and on the road together.
What is something you want to be remembered for?Honestly, I want to be remembered as someone that gave everything, no matter what it is. As a friend, as a family member, as a performer, I’d just want people to remember me as someone that gave all of herself.
In five years time, what do you hope to have achieved in your career?I hope that we’re an established name in the industry at the very least. But five years is a long time in the music industry, I honestly believe people have become legends in as short a period of time as that. So it may be a little crazy to say it right now, but why not shoot for the moon. As a group I hope we’re considered legends or at least on our way to that. For myself, I hope in five years’ time, there’s a lot of expectation attached to my name. I’ll still be young with a career ahead of me, I hope. So I hope that people expect good things when my name is brought up, wherever I may be in this industry.
