FLO

**FLO** is a British girl group based in London, comprising members Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer. Established in 2019, the trio secured a record deal with **Island Records** and quickly rose to prominence through social media with their debut single, "Cardboard Box." In 2022, they unveiled their debut EP, "The Lead." Notably, FLO achieved significant recognition, leading the BBC's Sound of 2023 poll and earning the prestigious *2023 Brit Award for Rising Star*.

## Career

### 2019–2022: Formation and The Lead

FLO officially came together in 2019, with Quaresma and Downer crossing paths during their studies at the **Sylvia Young Theatre School**. Douglas caught their attention through her impressive singing videos on Instagram. Under the guidance of British record producer **MNEK**, they dropped their debut single, "Cardboard Box," on March 24, 2022, shortly after securing a deal with **Island Records**. The track gained traction on social media, and within weeks, a captivating music video, amassing 900 thousand views in just a few days, was released in April 2022. Following this, an acoustic rendition of the song was released the subsequent month.

Continuing their collaboration with MNEK, FLO released their second single, "Immature," accompanied by a music video in July 2022. This preceded the launch of their debut extended play, "The Lead," on July 8, 2022. The EP featured another MNEK-produced track, "Summertime," along with its music video. In September 2022, FLO reissued "The Lead" along with the promotional single, "Not My Job."

The momentum grew as FLO made their television debut on **Jimmy Kimmel Live!** on October 6, 2022, followed by their first appearance on UK television with **Later...** **with Jools Holland** the next month. Recognized as one of Vevo DSCVR's Artists to Watch 2023 on November 1, 2022, FLO showcased their talent by performing "Feature Me" and "Not My Job" on the platform. The same month, they excitedly announced an upcoming concert tour in North America and Europe scheduled for spring 2023 via social media.

FLO's presence escalated further with a medley performance of "Immature" and "Cardboard Box" at the **2022 MOBO Awards**. Their groundbreaking achievements continued in December 2022 as they became the first female group to lead the BBC's Annual Sound of... poll and clinch the **Best Rising Star** award at the **Brit Awards** in the same year.

## 2023: Forthcoming debut album

In early January 2023, **FLO** collaborated with British rapper **Stormzy** on the track "Hide & Seek," featured in Stormzy's third studio album, "This Is What I Mean" (2022). During an **Apple Music** promotional interview with **Elton John**, FLO excitedly shared that their debut album is slated for a 2023 release, expressing anticipation for its amazing impact.

Later in January 2023, FLO announced their participation in several Summer 2023 festivals, including **Big Weekend, Isle of Wight, Longitude, Park Life, TRNSMT, Wireless Festival**, and the 2**023 Summer Sonic Festival** in Osaka, Japan. On March 23, 2023, FLO dropped the single "Fly Girl," featuring American rapper, singer, and songwriter **Missy Elliott**. The song, incorporating Elliott's 2002 hit "*Work It*" with a fresh rap, marked a significant release for FLO.

Starting March 30, 2023, FLO embarked on the "**FLO Live**" tour, selling out all tickets in North America and Europe. Prior to their Chicago show, they made a memorable appearance on **The Tonight Show**, performing "Fly Girl" on television for the first time.

On June 11, 2023, FLO graced the stage at **Capital's Summertime Ball** at *Wembley Stadium* in London, entertaining an audience of 80,000. Subsequently, on June 23, 2023, they performed at the **Woodsies stage** at *Glastonbury*, the UK's largest music festival. In the same month, FLO received three nominations at the **2023 BET Awards**, including Best Group.

July 3, 2023, marked the surprise release of FLO's extended play titled "3 of Us," featuring tracks like "Control Freak" and "Change." These songs, previously showcased during the "*FLO Live*" tour, were presented as a gift to their dedicated fan base, the **FLO Lifers**, who patiently awaited new music. Additionally, their rendition of "Losing You" on MTV's Push series in June 2023 earned a nomination for **Push Performance of the Year** at the **2023 MTV Video Music Awards**.

## Artistry and Influences

**FLO**'s musical style distinctly embraces **classic R&B** and **hip-hop**, drawing inspiration from the sounds of the *1990s* and early *2000s*. The aesthetic of their debut music video, "Cardboard Box," has been likened to the iconic visuals of **TLC**'s "Unpretty" (1999) and the **Sugababes'** "Overload" (2000). Alongside influences from music legends like **Destiny's Child** and the **Spice Girls**, the trio also credits **H.E.R**. as a contemporary source of inspiration.

The individual musical journeys of the three members reflect diverse influences from their upbringing. Renée Downer's musical landscape was shaped by her mother's car playlist featuring **Aaliyah** and **Ciara**. Jorja Douglas' mother introduced her to the enchanting world of "**old school R&B**." Stella Quaresma's musical exposure included **African beats** from her father and a mix of **Amy Winehouse** and **Etta James** courtesy of her mother. This rich tapestry of influences contributes to the unique sound that defines FLO.

## Discography

### Extended Plays

* Home Session: FLO(2022)
* The Lead(2022)
* The Lead (Apple Music Edition)(2022)
* 3 of Us(2023)

### Singles

* "Cardboard Box"(2022)
* "Immature"(2022)
* "Summertime"(2022)
* "Losing You"(2022)
* "Fly Girl" (featuring Missy Elliott)(2023)