Flo
Flo performing on their Tour in 2023 (left to right: Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas and Renée Downer)
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active2019–present
Labels
Members
  • Stella Quaresma
  • Jorja Douglas
  • Renée Downer
Websiteflolikethis.com

Flo (stylised in uppercase) is a British girl group from London, consisting of members Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer. They formed in 2019 and signed with Island Records. The group gained popularity on social media with their debut single "Cardboard Box". They released their debut EP, The Lead, in 2022. They topped the BBC's Sound of 2023 poll and won the 2023 Brit Award for Rising Star.[3][4]

Members

I saw the girls and we screamed across the room. I knew from that moment we were about to start something big.

— Douglas on when the members met for the first time[5]

Stella Quaresma was born in Kingston upon Thames, and at four weeks old, she moved to Mozambique. She moved back to the British countryside at the age of five, before returning to London, where she began attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she met bandmate Renée Downer.[6] Quaresma was a year above Downer. She grew up listening to African musical artists and her mother later introduced her to Etta James and British artists like Amy Winehouse. Prior to being in the group, she worked as a waitress.[7]

Jorja Douglas was born in Eastern Germany, before moving to Hertfordshire at eight months old.[5] She grew up listening to R&B music introduced to her by her mother.[7] She is the daughter of former sprinter Stephi Douglas, and in 2017, she competed in and won the second series of the CBBC competition series Got What It Takes?.[8][9] Prior to being in the group, Douglas worked for an accountancy firm.[7]

Renée Downer was born and raised in North London. She attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she met bandmate Stella Quaresma, who was a year above Downer. She grew up listening to R&B, house and church gospel. Prior to being in the group, she worked at H&M on Regent Street.[7]

Career

2019–2022: Cardboard Box and The Lead

Flo formed in 2019.[10] Quaresma and Downer knew each other having met studying at Sylvia Young Theatre School and discovered Douglas from her singing videos on Instagram.[7] Their debut single, "Cardboard Box", was produced by British record producer MNEK and was released on 24 March 2022, after they signed to Island Records.[11] The song performed well on social media,[12] and weeks later, an accompanying music video followed in April 2022, which amassed 900 thousand views in a few days.[13][14] An acoustic version of the song was released the following month.[15] Also produced by MNEK, their second single "Immature" and its accompanying music video was released in July 2022,[16] ahead of their debut extended play The Lead on 8 July 2022.[17][18] A music video for "Summertime", also produced by MNEK, was released.[19] Flo re-released The Lead in September 2022 along with a promotional single, "Not My Job".[20]

Flo performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the first time on 6 October 2022, which was their television debut.[21] They made their UK television debut on Later... with Jools Holland the following month.[22] On 1 November 2022, they were included in Vevo DSCVR's Artists to Watch 2023.[23] They performed their songs "Feature Me" and "Not My Job" on the channel.[24] The same month, they took to social media to announce their upcoming concert tour in North America and Europe during spring 2023.[25][26]

Flo then made their first award show performance at the 2022 MOBO Awards with a medley of the songs "Immature" and "Cardboard Box".[27][28] In December 2022, Flo became the first female group to top the BBC's Annual Sound of... poll and win the Brit Rising Star at the Brit Awards in the same year.[3][4]

2023–present: Breakthrough and 3 of Us

In early January 2023, Flo were featured on "Hide & Seek" by British rapper Stormzy. The song is from the latter's third studio album, This Is What I Mean (2022).[29] In an Apple Music promotional interview with Elton John, Flo revealed that their debut album is expected to be released in 2023, adding that "There sure is. It's going to be amazing".[30]

In late January 2023, Flo joins the line-up of a number of Summer 2023 festivals including: Big Weekend, Isle of Wight, Longitude, Park Life, TRNSMT, Wireless Festival, and the 2023 Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan.[31][32] On 23 March 2023, Flo released the single "Fly Girl", featuring American rapper, singer, songwriter Missy Elliott. The song interpolates Elliott's 2002 single "Work It", plus a new rap from her.[33][34]

On 30 March 2023, Flo embarked on the "Flo Live" tour, which sold out all tickets in North America and Europe.[35] Prior to their next show in Chicago, Flo made an appearance on The Tonight Show, performing "Fly Girl" for the first time on television.[36]

Flo at Mighty Hoopla in 2023, which took place in Brockwell Park
Flo at Mighty Hoopla in 2023, which took place in Brockwell Park

On 11 June 2023, Flo performed at Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium in London, in front of 80,000 people.[37] On 23 June 2023, they played at the Woodsies stage at Glastonbury, Britain's biggest Festival.[38] In the same month, they received their first three nominations at the 2023 BET Awards, including Best Group, which they lost to Drake and 21 Savage.[39][40]

On 3 July 2023, Flo released the surprise extended play titled 3 of Us, including the tracks "Control Freak" and "Change".[41][42] These songs had already been performed during their previous "Flo Live" tour. The surprise release was a decision made by them while finishing their debut album. On social media, they called it "a gift to the FLO Lifers who have been waiting so patiently for new music."[43][44] Their performance of "Losing You" on the MTV's Push series in June 2023 has been nominated for Push Performance of the Year at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.[45][46]

Artistry

Musical style

Flo's style distinctly draws upon classic R&B and hip-hop, particularly from the 1990s and early 2000s. The visuals for their debut music video "Cardboard Box" invited comparisons to that of TLC's "Unpretty" (1999) and the Sugababes' "Overload" (2000). In addition to the likes of Destiny's Child and the Spice Girls, H.E.R. was named as a more contemporary influence.[14]

Influences

Aaliyah (left) and Amy Winehouse (right) have influenced Flo.

All three girls described being shaped by the music they grew up listening to; Downer's mother would play Aaliyah and Ciara in the car, and Douglas' mother was into "old school R&B". Quaresma heard African music from her father, while her mother would play Amy Winehouse and Etta James.[47]

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details
Home Session: FLO
The Lead
  • Released: 8 July 2022[49]
  • Label: Island, Republic
  • Format: Streaming, digital download, LP
The Lead (Apple Music Edition)
  • Released: 21 September 2022[50]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
3 of Us
  • Released: 3 July 2023[51]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: Streaming, digital download

Singles

List of singles, showing year released, peak chart positions, and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[52]		 JPN
Over.
[53]		 NZ
Hot
[54]
"Cardboard Box" 2022 761719 The Lead
"Immature" ———
"Summertime" ———
"Losing You" ——— TBA
"Fly Girl" (featuring Missy Elliott) 2023 38720
"—" denotes a recording that failed to chart, was ineligible for the chart, or was not released.

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, with year released, other artist(s), and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Hide & Seek" (Remix)[55] 2023 Stormzy Non-album remix

Promotional singles

List of promotional single(s), showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Not My Job" 2022 The Lead

Tours

Filmography

Television

List of television and films credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Themselves (musical guest) Episode dated 6 October 2022 [21]
Later... with Jools Holland Themselves (musical guest) Episode dated 29 October 2022 [22]
2023 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Themselves (musical guest) Episode dated 20 April 2023 [36]

Videography

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Other artist(s) Director(s) Length Ref.
As lead artist
"Cardboard Box" 2022 — LOOSE 2:47 [57]
"Cardboard Box (Acoustic)" Saorla Houston 2:55 [58]
"Immature" Avesta Keshtmand 2:55 [59]
"Summertime" Saorla Houston 3:58 [60]
"Losing You" Meeks and Frost 3:45 [61]
"Fly Girl" 2023 Missy Elliott Tajana Tokyo 3:32 [62]

Awards and nominations

List of Flo's awards and nominations
Award Year Nominee(s)/work(s) Category Result Ref.
Guap Gala 2022 Themselves Music Artist to Watch Won [63]
MOBO Awards 2022 Best Newcomer Nominated [64]
2023 Best Female Act Pending [65]
Popjustice Twenty Quid Prize 2022 "Cardboard Box" Best British Pop Single Shortlisted [66]
Rated Awards Themselves Female Artist of the Year Nominated [67]
BBC Sound of... 2023 Themselves Sound of 2023 Won [4]
BRIT Awards 2023 Rising Star Won [3]
BET Awards 2023 Best Group Nominated [40]
Best New Artist Nominated
Best New International Act Nominated
Deezer Awards 2023 Artists to Watch Shortlisted [68]
Global Awards 2023 Best Hip-hop or R&B Nominated [69]
Rising Star Won
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 "Losing You" Push Performance of the Year Nominated [45]
Themselves Group of the Year Nominated [70]
MTV Europe Music Awards 2023 Best Group Longlisted [71]
Best New Nominated
Best Push Nominated
MTV Push 2023 MTV Push UK & Ireland Won [72]
Soul Train Music Awards 2023 "Fly Girl" (with Missy Elliott) Best Collaboration Nominated [73]
Themselves Best Group Nominated
Best New Artist Nominated
Urban Music Awards 2023 Best Female Act Nominated [74]
Best Group Nominated
“Cardboard Box” Best Single Nominated
Themselves Most Creative Artist Nominated
Most Inspiring Act Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Samuel, Ruth Etiesit (26 October 2022). "Girl Group FLO Is Ushering In A New Era Of R&B". HuffPost. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Phillip, Riann (21 September 2022). "FLO just can't stop making hits: 'We've always held ourselves to a high standard'". gal-dem. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Savage, Mark (8 December 2022). "Girl band Flo win the Brits rising star award". BBC News. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Savage, Mark (5 January 2023). "Girl group Flo win the BBC Sound Of 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 Ackroyd, Stephen (24 March 2022). "Brand new London-based trio FLO have shared their debut single, 'Cardboard Box'". Dork. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Wickes, Jade (12 May 2022). "Could FLO be Britain's next great girl group?". The Face. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Up Next: FLO" (Podcast). Apple Music. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Stevenson, Amelia (19 June 2017). "Interview with Jorja Douglas at Big Weekend". TresA Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Got What It Takes? - The Winner's Story". BBC. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  10. ↑ Coffey, Cailean (24 March 2022). "London's newest girl band FLO kick cheating partners to the curb on debut single "Cardboard Box"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Keith, James (4 April 2022). "UK R&B Trio FLO Step Out With MNEK-Produced "Cardboard Box"". Complex. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Ackroyd, Stephen (1 April 2022). "New London three piece FLO have shared a video for their debut single, 'Cardboard Box'". Dork. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  13. ↑ Murray, Robin (5 April 2022). "UK Girl Group FLO Share 'Cardboard Box' Video". Clash. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  14. 1 2 Gordon, Lauren (20 April 2022). "FLO: radiant London trio leading the next generation of girl groups". NME. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Kelly, Amelia (8 May 2022). "FLO share acoustic version of their debut "Cardboard Box"". GRM Daily. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  16. ↑ June, Sophia (6 July 2022). "Your Next Favorite Girl Group FLO Is About to Debut Their EP". Nylon. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  17. ↑ Olaoya, Ezra (8 July 2022). "R&B Trio FLO's Debut Project, 'The Lead', Is An Essential Listen". Complex. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  18. ↑ Mier, Tomás (8 July 2022). "FLO Is the R&B Girl Group We Never Knew We Needed". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Keith, James (17 August 2022). "FLO Take Us On A "Summertime" Trip To Greece In New Video". Complex UK. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. ↑ O'Connor, Siobhain (21 September 2022). "FLO share new single 'Not My Job'". Dork. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  21. 1 2 Richards, Will (12 October 2022). "Watch FLO make TV debut, bringing 'Cardboard Box' to 'Kimmel'". NME. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  22. 1 2 Holden, Finlay (31 October 2022). "British trio FLO have appeared on 'Later… with Jools Holland' with a live performance of 'Cardboard Box'". Dork. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "Vevo announces DSCVR Artists to Watch for 2023". Frontline. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  24. ↑ Regina, Cho (29 November 2022). "FLO shares new live rendition of "Not My Job"". Yahoo. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  25. ↑ @flolikethis (4 November 2022). "The secret's out, and it's just the beginning…" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ @flolikethis (25 November 2022). "Selling out our show in less than a minute made us realise we need another date 🤩" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  27. ↑ Keith, James (17 November 2022). "Kojey Radical, Tion Wayne, Fireboy DML, Cat Burns & FLO To Perform At This Year's MOBO Awards". Complex. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  28. ↑ Sinclair, Leah (1 December 2022). "MOBO Awards 2022: Little Simz, Mahalia and more win top prizes". Stylist. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  29. ↑ Shutler, Ali (6 January 2023). "Stormzy shares brilliant FLO remix of 'Hide & Seek'". NME. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  30. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys (23 January 2023). "FLO confirmed to Elton John on his Apple Music 1 show Rocket Hour that their debut album is due to arrive this year". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  31. ↑ Mamo, Heran (25 January 2023). "Travis Scott, Playboi Carti & D-Block Europe to Headline 2023 Wireless Festival". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  32. ↑ Raza-Sheikh, Zoya (28 February 2023). "Mighty Hoopla 2023 announces incredible full Sunday line-up". Gay Times. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  33. ↑ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (23 March 2023). "Flo and Missy Elliott Share Video for New Song "Fly Girl": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  34. ↑ Williams, Sophie (23 March 2023). "FLO team up with Missy Elliott on new single 'Fly Girl'". NME. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  35. ↑ Lisa, Wright (31 March 2023). "FLO at Outernet review: this knockout gig felt like an intimate stop on their road to superstardom". Standard. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  36. 1 2 Kyra, Alessandrini (21 April 2023). "FLO Delivers Fiery Performance On Jimmy Fallon Amid Successful, Sold-Out Tour". Blavity. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  37. ↑ "Capital's Summertime Ball 2023 Line-Up: Niall Horan, FLO, Anne-Marie & More". Capital. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  38. ↑ Tabberer, Jamie (24 June 2023). "Flo at Glastonbury review: 'Impossibly polished'". Attitude. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  39. ↑ Rouhani, Neena (8 June 2023). "GloRilla & Drake Lead 2023 BET Awards Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  40. 1 2 Aswad, Jem (26 June 2023). "Beyonce, SZA, Busta Rhymes Win Big at Painfully Long BET Awards". Variety. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  41. ↑ Yalcinkaya, Günseli (7 July 2023). "New Music Friday: 6 albums to stream this week". Dazed. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  42. ↑ Lejarde, Arielle Lana (3 July 2023). "FLO share surprise three-track EP 3 of Us". The Fader. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  43. ↑ Duran, Anagricel (5 July 2023). "FLO surprise release new EP '3 Of Us'". NME. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  44. ↑ Murray, Robin (3 July 2023). "FLO Drop Surprise EP '3 Of Us'". Clash. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  45. 1 2 Blistein, Jon (8 August 2023). "Taylor Swift, SZA, Doja Cat Lead 2023 MTV VMA ions". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  46. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (8 August 2023). "MTV VMAs 2023 Nominees Announced: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  47. ↑ White, Brooklyn (2 June 2022). "FLO Is Your New Favorite Girl Group". Essence. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  48. ↑ "Apple Music Home Session: FLO". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  49. ↑ Folk, Antwane (8 July 2022). "R&B Trio Flo Releases Debut EP The Lead". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  50. ↑ "The Lead (Apple Music Edition) - EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  51. ↑ Mier, Tomás (3 July 2023). "FLO Celebrates the '3 of Us' With Surprise EP Release: 'Made With Love'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  52. ↑ "Flo | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  53. ↑ Peaks on the Billboard Japan Hot Overseas chart:
  54. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  55. ↑ "Hide & Seek (FLO Remix) [feat. FLO] - Single by Stormzy". Apple Music. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  56. ↑ Heran, Mamo (31 January 2023). "FLO Announces First North American Headlining Tour: Here Are the Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  57. ↑ "FLO - Cardboard Box (Official Video)" (Music Video). FLO. Retrieved 1 April 2022 – via YouTube.
  58. ↑ "FLO - Cardboard Box (Acoustic)" (Music Video). FLO. Retrieved 6 May 2022 – via YouTube.
  59. ↑ "FLO - Immature (Official Video)" (Music video). FLO. Retrieved 8 July 2022 – via YouTube.
  60. ↑ "FLO - Summertime (Official Video)" (Music Video). FLO. Retrieved 12 August 2022 – via YouTube.
  61. ↑ "FLO - Losing You (Official Video)" (Music video). FLO. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  62. ↑ "FLO - Fly Girl ft. Missy Elliott (Official Video)" (Music video). FLO. Retrieved 23 March 2023 – via YouTube.
  63. ↑ Smith, Letty-Rose (9 October 2022). "The winners from The Guap Gala 2022". Guapmag. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  64. ↑ Ahluwalia, Navi (30 November 2022). "These are the Winners of the 2022 MOBO Awards". Hypebae. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  65. ↑ Collins, Riyah (14 December 2023). "Mobo Awards: Little Simz and Stormzy dominate nominations". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  66. ↑ "The 2022 Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize: shortlist". Popjustice. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  67. ↑ Grein, Paul (24 October 2022). "2022 GRM Rated Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  68. ↑ Amos, Madeleine (25 November 2022). "Who are the biggest artists on Deezer in 2022?". RouteNote. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  69. ↑ "Central Cee, Raye, FLO & More Win At The Global Awards 2023". capitalxtra. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  70. ↑ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (1 September 2023). "Renaissance vs. Eras: Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to duke it out over Show of the Summer at MTV VMAs". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  71. ↑ Rizzo, Carita (6 November 2023). "Taylor Swift Tops 'Canceled' 2023 MTV EMA Awards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  72. ↑ "Flo announced as MTV PUSH 2023 winner". Music News. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  73. ↑ Pierre, Mekishana (26 November 2023). "2023 Soul Train Awards: The Complete Winners List". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  74. ↑ "Chris Brown wins big at 2023 Urban Music Awards". Music News. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
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