Note 7: Are FLO the next Destiny's Child?
Craving a little chaos on this fine Monday. So yes. My answer is yes...
Outline ~
Incase You Missed it (ICYMI) - What’s being talked about in Music and TV/Film.
The main event - Why FLO are the UK/Gen Z Destiny’s Child. What they get so right and what they should do next?
ICYMI
Music 🎧:
Olivia Rodrigo announced her upcoming sophomore album Guts and released the first single and video ‘vampire’, directed by Petra Collins 🩸
Stormzy is back up on Instagram joking on his stories with Usain Bolt and posting photo dumps. He dropping his new single and music video for ‘Toxic Trait’ featuring Fredo (produced by Dave).
The video had cameos from fellow musicians Wretch 32 and Ivorian Doll, social media star and actor Specs Gonzales and the ONE AND ONLY Alison Hammond!
Dave and Central Cee dropped their EP ‘Split Decision’ with record-breaking single Sprinter topping the UK charts. Dave surprised Glastonbury Day 4 goers, by joining Central Cee on stage to perform the song.
TV/Film 🍿:
HBO’s The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, aired on the 4th of June and it’s all anyone’s talked about. With a 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes and fans getting ‘the ick’ with The Weeknd, it hasn’t been the most favourable reception - the soundtrack though 10/10.
Season 2 of award winning series The Bear was released last month. Will Poulter is in it - so that’s immediately a win.
Love Island is back 🏝️ but 1 million fans aren’t…viewership for the first episode at the start of last month was down 1 million to the same time last year. Has it lost its attraction?
Barbie is having the most EPIC rollout ahead of its premiere on the 21st of this month - this is every major marketing activation/collab so far 🎀
The main event - Why I’m team FLO
British group FLO, made up of members Jorja, Stella and Renée, graced my for you page in late 2021/early 2022, with their single ‘Cardboard Box’ gaining popularity on TikTok.
Their gorgeous vocals, empowering lyrics and MNEK on production made the song a hit amongst UK-Based, RnB-loving audiences - but less so commercially, peaking at 76 on the UK charts.
In just over a year, FLO has continued to release RnB/Pop bangers, including ‘Immature’, ‘Summertime’ and ‘Fly Girl’ collaborating with the likes of Missy Elliott and Stormzy along the way, gained over 3 Million monthly Spotify listeners, won the BRITs rising star award AND managed to tour the UK and North America.
The group are on the up and it’s been a joy to witness their continued ascent and recognition from peers and audiences alike. What it is that is so magnetic about them though?
What FLO get so right?
The 90s/00s Nostalgia
Y2K was all the rage a couple summers ago, and still is now. Fashion, decor, pop culture and even hobbies, took a nostalgic turn right around the time of the pandemic. Disney+ was showing all the good throwbacks and we were heading out (as soon as we could) dressed in baby tees and Juicy Couture tracksuits - long live the baby tee!
FLO are the band/human equivalent of this collective longing for 90s/00s nostalgia in the 2020s. Their matching outfits, synchronised moves on stage, sound, visuals, Bratz-inspired merch and Missy Elliott feature (keep a tally for how many times this is mentioned), all scream 90s/00s.
A gap in the market
In 2022, we said goodbye to Little Mix as they wrapped up their Confetti Tour and went on a break after a decade of music-making and frankly world domination.
The UK hasn’t had a girlband as successful on such a global scale since the Spice Girls and with few girlbands popping up to carry the torch, FLO came just in time.
Committed to their craft
One of the early videos I saw of FLO was of them training with a vocal coach (who supposedly worked with Beyonce). Of course, artists train and this is not noteworthy, but audiences (me🙋🏾♀️) rarely see behind the curtain, instead believing it to be purely God-given gifts.
Recently, on a visit to Capital FM, FLO talked about their experience with vocal training on a treadmill, like Miss Carter does. They were quick to stress they were not using this method, but hearing them discussing the work that goes into their melodic harmonies just makes you want to route for them.
Speaking of Capital, a further display of their commitment is that - FLO. ARE. EVERYWHERE. A couple of weeks ago, they played Park Life in Manchester and Capital’s Summertime Ball in Wembley just hours apart.
Their work ethic is off the charts, it feels like they haven’t stopped in the last year.
What’s missing?
Well, that next level of wider recognition to reach that Top 10 commercial success. How can they achieve this? I don’t know 🤷🏾♀️ but it looks like they’re well on their way.
Performing at Capital’s Summertime Ball 2023 was a great choice, targeting a mix of casual and fanatical pop audiences on a diverse age spectrum, combined with their wide range of festival appearances from Isle of Wight to Wireless. This will undoubtedly increase their awareness, with their talent and craft doing the rest.
We’ve already seen the positive impact collaborating with wider known artists has had for them - with ‘Fly Girl’ ft. Missy Elliott (there she goes again) earning them their first UK Top 40 spot, peaking at 38. More collaborations and perhaps supporting on a major tour for an artist could help them continue to climb the charts.
Lastly, more chances to show their personality! Perhaps as guests on podcasts popular with the 18-34 demographic - like Saving Grace or Cocktails and Takeaways.
That being said FLO don’t need anyone’s help, it’s clear they’re on a winning path and they're supported by people who know exactly what they’re doing. I can’t wait to see what they come out with next!
Nana where are you? Come back. (I didn’t know anything about Flo, will check them out soon)