FEATURE:
Spotlight
FLO
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IN August…
Sugarbabes’ brilliant second studio album, Angels with Dirty Faces, turns twenty. Their finest album I feel, it contains hits like Freak Like Me and Round Round. A new group that reminds me of them, FLO are primed for bigger things. We are in a period where there are not many established and long-lasting girl groups. Though the terms has fallen out of favour and seems to be a little archaic and old-fashioned, it does represent a style of music and identity that we can link with legends like Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny’s Child and All Saints. Reminding me of a blend of the classic British girl groups and some of the U.S. best, it will be interesting to see how FLO move. Their debut single, Cardboard Box, is one of intent and huge memorability. I wonder whether we will ever recapture the glory days of girl groups in the 1990s and early-’00s. I want to bring in a couple of pieces about FLO, that should give you a better guide and bigger picture of a very promising young group. The Line of Best Fit introduced us to them through their incredible debut single:
“Made up of 19-and-20-year-olds Renée, Stella, and Jorja, FLO’s story began when Stella and Renée met in school and bonded over their shared love of music and singing. Renée and Stella, the latter who spent her early years in Mozambique before moving to the UK aged five, first recognised Jorja from social media, but it wasn’t until the three met by chance at an audition that they realised they were onto something special. “I saw the girls and we screamed across the room,” Jorja recalls of the time. “I knew from that moment we were about to start something big.”
For the past two years, the trio has been hard at work perfecting their sound with the likes of producers such as LOXE (NAO), KABBA, Aston Rudi (Mahalia), newcomer Jamal Woon, Hannah Yadi, and female producer Lauren Faith. “Cardboard Box” was one of the first tracks the band ever worked on and was produced by one of their production heroes MNEK (Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Mabel). Blending luscious R&B vocals with dazzling pop melodies and chorus, it’s a demonstration in creating punchy pop perfection and a reminder of the legacy of girl bands that came before.
With lyrics inspired by cheating partners, FLO comments, “Cardboard Box is one of the first songs we wrote as a group and during the process we opened up about relationship struggles and experiences of moving on from an ex,” the band explained of the track. “It was a special bonding moment and feels fitting that it’s our debut single! We are over the moon about our first child entering the world and we want people to feel refreshed and empowered - like it’s okay to close a bad chapter of your life!”
The buzz for FLO is growing daily via a growing community of fans on TikTok and more music on the way. Determined to tell the story of life as 21st-century women - the ups and the downs and the hardships along the way - FLO are ready to make you cry on the dancefloor. Stella, Renée and Jorja are building something beautiful with FLO and “Cardboard Box”, released on Island Records (fittingly the home of the Sugababes), is the perfect evolution of the modern girl band”.
I want to also bring in NME’s interview with the amazing FLO. They asked about the real lack of strong girl groups in the current scene. Maybe a nervous time for FLO to start put and gain traction. They talked about their upcoming E.P. too:
“NME: There’s a lack of major girl groups at the moment, particularly as Little Mix are currently on their farewell tour. How does it feel to be starting out without many peers?
Renée: “We kind of stay in our lane, we wouldn’t say there’s competition because that’s not for us to look at. We want to focus on bettering ourselves and being the best we can be.”
Stella: “I’m glad we’ve had each other and not been on our own. It’s a relief to see the single doing so well, especially since it’s our breakout song. We’re so happy with the reception it’s had.”
Jorja: “There’s a lack of girl groups I guess because it’s hard putting girls together as the chemistry is not easy to find. We haven’t had to sell our friendship or force it to come across authentically, as for us it comes so naturally.”
You worked with MNEK on ‘Cardboard Box’, who has previously teamed up with huge pop stars such as Dua Lipa. What was that experience like?
Stella: “It was more about watching him do his craft and taking it in. He wanted us to be our best, melody and writing wise. He’s Jorja’s biggest inspiration as well!”
Jorja: “I look up to him as he’s so talented and humble. Some writers have taken control of sessions and taken things in their direction, but he doesn’t. He gives us creative reign over the music. He’ll ask us what we think of something and we’re like, ‘Duh! It’s great’”.
The EP notably pulls inspiration from the sounds of ‘90s and early 2000s R&B. What connects you to that era?
Renée: “My mum would play really good music in the car or when cleaning on Sundays, you know, the sounds of that era were all around us when we were young. I’ve grown up around [that music], it was one of my first loves. My uncle is also a producer and rapper, and he motivates me as someone who’s been in this industry for the long run.”
What was the writing process for your forthcoming EP like?
Renée: “This was our first time away, writing and working with people we love on a whole catalogue of songs and just making really good music. We loved it – we want to do a writing camp at least twice a year.”
Jorja: “It’s nice to be away from everyday life and be in the zone of making feel good music. You get into the rhythm of it, it’s amazing.”
Stella: “Each song is like a moment in our lives, each song represents something different. Some are on par with each other but none are the same.”
Navigating the music industry both as newcomers and an all-Black girl group must be daunting. How have you developed the confidence to stick to your vision?
Renée: “As three young Black women, one thing that’s important when you get signed to a label and have to do what people say, is to remember to be strong. We’re not going to be pushed over or go with someone else’s decision without believing in it ourselves. Know that you can say no and do what you genuinely believe in – and it will be successful. That’s something I really believe in with my whole heart.”
Stella: “There were some decisions that we really had to push for with the EP and it paid off – the reception so far has been great. It’s all about trusting your instinct, and [making music] is an experience, and we’re learning a lot.”
@flolikethis Who wants new music?😁
♬ Adjust (Tic Tok) - Marzville
How important is it for you to promote female empowerment through your music?
Stella: “We all grew up with strong women in our lives, and were surrounded by music with that sense of female empowerment, so we want to bring that to a new generation of young women. It’s important to bring it back.”
Jorja: “We also pull inspiration from each other. Since working with each other more, I think, ‘What would Renée do? What would Stella do?’ We’re always writing songs for ourselves, so it’s important for it to come from each of our experiences.”
How do you deal with rising tensions in the group? What keeps you all grounded?
Jorja: “We’ve had no big arguments; we’re mature, and we understand people’s emotions and how to communicate even when our views are different. We talk about it if something comes up but if it does, it’s normally a creative difference. We are gentle with each other since most issues can be out of our hands. We might have discrepancies but it’s never towards each other.”
What can we expect from FLO in the future?
Renée: “Since girl groups are basically non-existent right now, we have a chance to really make music that people can feel and relate to and bring back that sound. We want to sell out arenas and just completely take over!”.
Go and follow FLO on social media. They are going to establish themselves as one of the premier girl groups in the U.K. As Little Mix have sort of stepped back and we are not sure whether they will continue, there is an absence and gulf right now! Even though they are taking their first steps at the moment, they will be a big name…
IN a year or two.
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Follow FLO
