Reinel Bakole

At just 27, Reinel Bakole has become a defining voice in the avant-garde soul scene, blending singing, writing, dance, and performance into a captivating, multidisciplinary and alternative universe. In 2024, she experienced a breakthrough year, with the release of her highly anticipated debut album, Healing Exhaustion, which Knack Focus ranked among the top five releases of the first half of the year. The album is a true testament to Reinel’s artistic depth, generating widespread interest and opening doors to perform on prestigious stages both locally and internationally.

During her ‘When The Waters Are Strong, You Must Drown” tour performances, Reinel Bakole revealed a new facet of her album - one expressed through movement and exploration. She dazzled abroad with her trio: at a sold-out concert at The Social in London (Fifty Lab), a city she considers her second home; at her first headline show in Frankfurt (Jazz Montez); the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg; and at La Mazette in Paris. Riding this momentum, Reinel continued to impress with her poetic intensity and emotional resonance. In October, she and her band took part in a residency at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival. Soon after, she traveled to Hong Kong with bassist and album producer Helocim for a headline show at Salon10, followed by an exclusive performance at the invitation of the Belgian Consulate — a significant recognition of her rising international profile.

At times accompanied by two performers and supported by her full band, Reinel delivers immersive performances that transcend the boundaries of traditional concerts. She transports audiences, exploring the forces that drive us, the extremes that unite and sometimes isolate. Reinel blends poetry and physical expression in a storytelling that is mysterious, bittersweet, and intense. Her December double bill with techno legend Jeff Mills at De Singel in Antwerp marked the closing chapter of her tour and the album rollout — a moment of culmination for Healing Exhaustion.

As she celebrates the first anniversary of Healing Exhaustion, Reinel reflects on a year marked by unforgettable encounters and milestones. To commemorate this journey, she has released a special limited edition pack featuring two LPs, a poster, and an exclusive eight-page booklet offering a glimpse into her inner world. This release serves as a tribute to the community, vulnerability, and relentless passion that have shaped both the album and her artistic evolution.

After an introspective start to the year, Reinel Bakole has just returned from Brazil, where she spent a month and a half not only making her debut on stages in Rio de Janeiro - with a headline performance at Audio Rebel - and in São Paulo, opening for rising artist Bruno Berle, but also immersing herself in writing. This creative journey gave birth to new material with distinctive sonic textures, blending Brazilian influences and collaborations with Brussels-based musicians. Having not released new music since Healing Exhaustion, Reinel Bakole is now preparing her return, with a new single set for release in June.