Chocolate: The Soulful Voice of British Neo-Soul

Chocolate is the stage name of British singer-songwriter Chloé Thompson, a defining voice in the UK's 21st-century neo-soul revival. Hailing from South London, her 2018 debut album Velvet Mood achieved Gold certification and peaked at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart, establishing her as a commercial and critical force.

Early career

Born in 1992, Chloé Thompson began her musical journey in church choirs in Lewisham, developing her powerful contralto vocals. She started uploading self-produced bedroom recordings to SoundCloud in 2013 under the moniker Chocolate, catching the attention of the independent label Soulful Echo Records, which released her first EP, The Cocoa Sessions, in 2015.

Breakthrough

Chocolate's mainstream breakthrough arrived in 2017 with the single Melting Point. The song, a sleek blend of soul and contemporary R&B, was picked up by major label RCA Records and became a sleeper hit, eventually reaching the UK Top 20 and earning a Silver certification. This success directly paved the way for her acclaimed debut album the following year.

Key tracks

Melting Point — This breakthrough single defined her sound and secured her major label deal.

Velvet Mood — The title track from her debut album showcased her sophisticated songwriting and earned a MOBO Award nomination.

Bittersweet (feat. Kofi Stone) — A key collaboration that highlighted her versatility within the UK jazz-rap scene.

Midnight Dip — This later single from her 2021 album Comfort Zone became her first track to break into the BBC Radio 1 A-list playlist.

Sacrifice — A deep-cut fan favorite known for its raw vocal performance and emotional depth.

Following the success of Velvet Mood, Chocolate collaborated with producers like SG Lewis and released her sophomore album, Comfort Zone, in 2021. While it debuted at number 8 on the chart, its longevity was notable, with singles receiving heavy rotation on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Her work has also expanded into notable features, including a vocal contribution to drummer Yussef Dayes's 2023 project.

Artists exploring similar terrain of soul, R&B, and jazz fusion from the UK include Cleo Sol for her intimate and spiritually-infused soul. Tom Misch shares a collaborative approach and genre-blending instrumental prowess. The work of NAO aligns in pushing the boundaries of futuristic R&B and neo-soul. Finally, Jorja Smith represents a parallel journey in achieving mainstream success from the UK's grassroots soul scene.

Chocolate's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on stations dedicated to contemporary R&B, neo-soul, and modern UK music. Her tracks are staples on BBC Radio 6 Music shows, influential online soul radio streams, and independent music radio stations focusing on emerging vocal talent.

The soulful and resonant music of Chocolate can be heard regularly across the network of radio stations featured on onairium.com. Listeners can discover her discography, from early EPs to her latest album, by tuning into the neo-soul and R&B stations available on our platform.