• 2019-

  Jorja Douglas

  Stella Quaresma

  Renee Downer
• Flo may be a London girl group, but the members' origins span the globe. Jorja was born in Eastern Germany before her family relocated to Hertfordshire when she was 8 months old. Stella was born in Kingston upon Thames but moved to Mozambique at 4 weeks old, where she experienced African musical traditions through her father's taste before returning to the British countryside at age 5 and eventually settling in London. Renee was born and raised in North London, where her mother's playlist of Aaliyah, Ciara, and gospel music would shape the sound Flo would later make their own.
• Jorja Douglas is the daughter of Stephi Douglas, an English sprinter who represented Great Britain at both the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. Jorja found her calling on stage rather than on the track. In 2017, she competed in and won the second series of the CBBC talent competition Got What It Takes?, earning a chance to perform on the main stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.
• Stella Quaresma and Renee Downer met as students at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London's Marble Arch, one of the most storied performing arts schools in Britain. The school's alumni list reads like a who's who of British pop: Adele, Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora and Lola Young all passed through its doors. Quaresma and Downer connected there before tracking down Jorja Douglas through her singing videos on Instagram.
• Before Flo became one of Britain's biggest girl groups, each member had a very different life. Jorja worked at an accountancy firm, Renee was on the shop floor at H&M on Regent Street, and Stella had been waitressing.
• Long before the music industry caught up, Missy Elliott was one of Flo's earliest champions. She co-signed the group in April 2022 - before most of the world had even heard of them - after fans sent her clips of their debut single, "Cardboard Box." That moment of recognition eventually led to a full collaboration: "Fly Girl" (2023), which interpolates Missy's own "Work It."
  
  "I remember a few of their fans sent me clips of their performances, and I immediately felt the authentic '90s vibe," said Missy. "I loved the fact they all sang lead so well - great vocal control - so when I was asked to be a part of the 'Fly Girl' record, it was a no-brainer."
• In December 2022, Flo became the first girl group - and only the second act that wasn't a solo artist, after Florence and the Machine in 2009 - to win the Brit Rising Star award since its inception in 2008. Previous recipients of the award, formerly known as the Critics' Choice, include Adele, Sam Smith, and Ellie Goulding.
• Flo's debut album, Access All Areas, earned them a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. They were the first British female R&B act to receive a Grammy nomination since Floetry more than 20 years earlier.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Constant Cravingk.d. lang

"Constant Craving" by k.d. lang deals with principles of Buddhism, including the cycles of birth and death.

Open ArmsJourney

"Open Arms" was a pioneering power ballad. Stadium rock bands like Journey shied away from slow songs, but when they reluctantly agreed to record the song, it became their biggest chart hit.

Evening StarJudas Priest

Judas Priest's "Evening Star" is a Christmas carol that describes the journey of the Magi from a first person perspective.

Heads Carolina, Tails CaliforniaJo Dee Messina

Jo Dee Messina's 1996 country classic "Heads Carolina, Tails California" was inspired by a book released the previous year called Border Music by Robert James Waller, where the main character flips a coin to decide his next destination.

Cradle Of LoveBilly Idol

When singing "Cradle Of Love," Billy Idol typically changes a line to, "This song is so cheesy."

When Doves CryPrince

Prince kept doves at his Paisley Park mansion. And yes, sometimes they did cry.

Editor's Picks

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.