CLEO REED RELEASES NEW SINGLE “WOMEN AT WAR”
A student of Black underground sound and intention, New York-based multi-disciplinary artist Cleo Reed reemerges today with a new single, “Women At War”. A protest song for this generation, as the US faces the harshest restrictions on women’s bodies in decades, Reed’s “Women At War” channels the fight of their ancestors into a powerful statement on the plight of women going to war for their bodily autonomy. With traditional folk stylings — delicate acoustic guitar and melody heavy delivery — “Women At War” introduces the sonic landscape of Reed’s powerful next chapter.
Reflecting on the single, Reed says, “Women At War” is inspired by visionary women like Loretta, Dolly, and Queen Bey. From the moment I wrote the song the words “Women At War” have been ringing in my mind. I hope people walk away knowing that the definitions that are held for womanhood can be beautiful, flawed, and damaging all at once. “Women At War” was the last song that I made for my new album and it’s one of the songs that came the fastest—which is proof to how top of mind the topic has been. I feel deeply that the women are at war. For me, this song affirms that statement.
Raised in Uptown NYC and DC, Reed’s history with music starts with classical training in percussion at Harlem School of the Arts, to playing guitar and songwriting in the influential New York punk band Pretty Sick, to studying sound engineering and sound design at Berklee College of Music. Since releasing their debut album Root Cause in 2023—including a limited physical release with Vinyl Me, Please and praised by NPR, Pitchfork, Bandcamp, Okayplayer, and more—Reed has emerged as a bold, irrefutable talent, forging forward while staying firmly rooted in their ancestral and cultural lineage.
In recent years, Reed has collaborated with Jon Batiste, developing software instruments for “American Symphony” at Carnegie Hall, an award-winning performance that earned the GRAMMY for Best Music Film at the 2025 ceremony. Reed’s performance practice has taken the form of the “Black American Circus,” an ode to Black queer artists of the late 19th and early 20th century, premiering at AFROPUNK Festival in 2023, and performed at Banlieues Bleues in Paris and the Brooklyn Museum. In addition to their musical practice, Reed has received the prestigious 2024 Map Fund, awarded to performing artists who offer extraordinary ideas while participating in their communities’ vitality.
As a current 2025 Session Resident at Brooklyn’s prestigious Recess Art, Reed has developed CUNTRY: Always the Horse, Never The Jockey, a set of musical works, sculptures, and performances presented with Assembly fellows, working to protest against the demand of labor and productivity in the US. On April 25th, Reed will perform live at Recess Art as part of the of CUNTRY: Always the Horse, Never The Jockey exhibition closing — an evening of music and reflection held from8-11 PM at Recess Art (46 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205). The performance will also feature Elliott Skinner, Warner Meadows, and Natalia Catalan. Today’s new single “Women At War” marks the beginning of Reed’s next chapter, culminating in a new album, theatrical performances, and a headline tour, setting the foundation for their breakout year.
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