Shara Nelson

Shara Nelson first gained notice without broad fame as an original participant in the British dance ensemble Massive Attack, early architects of trip-hop. Her lead vocals defined the collective's biggest U.K. success, "Unfinished Sympathy," and she also shared writing credits on multiple tracks from their influential opening album, Blue Lines. Dissatisfaction with her narrow position inside the group spurred her exit in pursuit of independent work. She composed an extensive set of new material that moved toward conventional pop frameworks rather than the band's prior approach, ultimately landing a solo contract. The resulting debut album, What Silence Knows, arrived in 1994 and included a U.K. hit rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "The Look of Love."