Evolving musically between the creative behemoths of Paris and Berlin, self-styled diva Cleo T. takes her cues from the likes of Kate Bush, Florence Welch and Nina Simone to deliver her distinctive global-pop sound. It’s been three years since her last album Songs of Gold and Shadow, but the French songstress clearly hasn’t been idle. The first release and title track ‘SHINE’ is a glimpse into her so-called “artistic laboratory” which is populated by musicians from twelve countries, visual artists and performers. Cleo T. tells TMR about ‘SHINE’ as a video poem, the first of many stunning visuals: "the projections are reacting in real time with the movements and the music. The video is an experimental moment, in which light is a tangible material. It’s a poetical way of showing that each time we interact with the world, we change our reality. By connecting music with new technologies, SHINE aims to make invisible appear." The mix of more traditional, acoustic instrumentation, such as the theatrical cellos and shamanic guitars, alongside the digitally manipulated beats also demonstrates how technology has changed the very fabric of music. It’s not something to be feared or criticised, but celebrated. That’s something that Cleo T. clearly believes in, expressed not only through the visual engagement of this video, but also through her lyrics which constantly places the emphasis on the “we”. To put it simply, this is a refreshingly selfless and interesting piece of indie-pop. - HT