Neo was born in Soweto into a family of composers and makers of the Mozambican Timbila (the precursor to the marimba). He studied the Italian madrigal tradition with choral maestro, Piero Poclen, in Trieste, Italy (1990-1993). After college, Neo joined the Footprints Theatre Company in Nottingham, England, creating music to accompany the troupe's plays on tour around the United Kingdom (1993-1995).

On returning home to South Africa in 1995, Neo worked as a news and current affairs journalist as well as newsdesk sub-editor at Primedia Broadcasting (1995-1998) while studying sound design and recording at Downtown studios with legendary SA engineer, Philip Nel.

in 1996 he co-founded the acoustic duo, BLK Sonshine with Masauko Chipembere (“Born in a taxi/Soul smile”), later touring extensively throughout South Africa, Swaziland, the United States and Europe.

Neo has won numerous prestigious artist’ residencies, most notably these include two stints at British arts consultancy, Metal Culture (2005/2006) and the drama department at The University of Cape Town (2007). He currently serves on the advisory panel of the National Arts Council of South Africa (2007-2009). He composes pop music, works for choral ensemble, contemporary African dance, theatre and cinema.  He continues to tour performing on vocals, guitar, piano and mesinko (a traditional Ethiopian instrument).