The popularity of girl groups across pop and R&B culture gained momentum around the 50s and 60s with groups like The Supremes and The Pointer Sisters. This golden age further gave us the likes of TLC, Destiny’s Child, SWV, En Vogue, and many more that debuted in the 90s.
Newest girl group to enter the conversation is FLO that recently released their extended playlist (EP) this year, and what a splash they’ve caused in just a few months.
Bursting onto the scene with their cheeky breakup anthem, ‘Cardboard Box’, the British trio – comprising Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas, and Renee Downer – asserted its spot in the girl group history with an ease only a few artists can claim.
I was introduced to FLO via a random tweet of the group’s ‘Cardboard Box’ music video, and from the moment I pressed play, I was sold. ‘Cardboard Box’ sounded familiar yet fresh. There’s no denying that the girls unashamedly borrow from the girl group foremothers, hence the sound instantly transported me back to the early 2000s. When UK bands infiltrated the scene heavily through groups like the Spice Girls and the Suga Babes. When I listened, the lyrics represented the quintessential breakup song. The opening line wastes no time, with Stella admitting she no longer wants her cheating boyfriend. The catchy chorus, “Imma put your sh!t in a cardboard box, changing my number and I’m changing the locks,” is the perfect hook for a debut single. It’s petty, but you’ll find yourself singing it repeatedly.
Riding the momentum from ‘Cardboard Box’, their follow-up single ‘Immature’ made for a perfect fit. Still on that 2000s-inspired sound, ‘Immature’ ironically showcased a more matured version of FLO. “Loving you is such a chore,” Jorja professes on the chorus before the ladies join the bridge (they gave us a bridge!), and outro where their vocal blend flourishes and reminds the listener that they can SING!
Stacking their vocals Brandy-style, their harmonic choices are phenomenal and takes us right back to when girl groups put synchronisation at the forefront.
‘Not My Job’ is a feast for the ears and carries on the theme of refusing to stick around a partner that fails dismally at loving them correctly. “It’s not my job to make you feel like a man,”, the chorus powerfully proclaims. Yet another delicious bridge from Renee drives the point home, with her crooning how teaching a man how to love her has “never been my job, never been my occupation.”
‘Summertime’ served as the girls’ third single and encompassed its title fully. It’s a track you and your gals (or guys) can blast to from when everyone is getting dolled up for the function, on the way there, or at the party itself. It’s a fun, easygoing tune that distinguishes between the first half of the EP and the second, like a recess of sorts. It’s packed full of confidence, self-love, and energy.
The standout track on the EP is ‘Feature Me’. This song amalgamates Aaliyah and Timbaland’s magic on ‘Are You That Somebody’ and ‘One In A Million’. So often, when artists borrow from yesteryear, it can get gimmicky and too on-the-nose, but as is with every song they’ve put out, there’s a newness they add to what has inspired them. ‘Feature Me’ displays a sexy assertiveness towards a partner you want, and you’re not afraid to let them know. “Set the scene and feature me,” they demand, “I’ll take the lead.”
The final song is an acoustic rendition of ‘Another Guy’, a sober realisation that this guy is just like all the others and isn’t worth all the stress and worry. “When it comes to love, you be acting nonchalant”, a relatable reality of what relationships can be. “Won’t waste my time, get out my mind. You ain’t mister right, you’re just another guy”, they softly sing in the chorus as the EP swiftly ends.
