This feature appears in V141 Spring 2023 issue, now available for purchase

In a world of splashy solo acts, it seems popular culture is shifting from the heyday of girl squads—the Spice Girls, TLC, Destiny’s Child. It’s a wistful goodbye to a class of acts that soundtracked, and defined, listeners throughout the turn of the millennium. Though, through a forwardly nostalgic air and candid lyrics, FLO—the British trio composed of Renée Downer, Jorja Douglas, and Stella Quaresma—haven’t turned the page on the girl group fad. Better yet, they’re writing their own deeply personal stories.

While the three artists have unique upbrings, they share a common thread: a love for R&B and an unflinching chemistry. Downer, a North-London native and Quaresma, who lived in Mozambique until age 5, initially connected as classmates at theater school. Douglas, who was born in Germany and moved to London at eight months old, took an increasingly modern approach to her craft, posting covers to social media and appearing on the talent show Got What It Takes. “I was not a performer, [but] I wanted this to be my job,” Douglas states. “The only way to get myself out there was to post videos on Instagram—I’d say it’s paid off.”

The close-knit Downer, Douglas, and Quaresma hit girl group gold at a 2019 audition. “We were able to compare to the groups before [us] in the process—they were not good,” Quaresma recalls. “We liked the same music [and] singing with each other, the chemistry was there.” After that fateful moment, the group burst onto the mainstream with their punchy debut single, “Cardboard Box.” On the MNEK-produced track, the trio say goodbye to an unfaithful partner, letting their pitch-perfect tone and immaculately harmonized melodies shine. Not long after, the unassuming Londoners received a barrage of streams, TikTok success, and cosigns from the likes of Brandy and Kelly Rowland.

Their debut EP The Lead proves a musical and thematic prowess well beyond their years. Opening with the aforementioned single, the 6-track offering is a love letter to friendship, packed with musings on situationships, womanhood, and twentysomething realities. On “Immature,” the squad scolds an indecisive lover, singing, “Baby, lovin’ you is such a chore / ‘Cause you’re steady movin’ immature,” while on “Summertime,” a girl-powered escapade comes into full focus. Their latest single, “Losing You,” shows a more pensive FLO, one that is introspectively confident and vocally defiant. “We’re putting out our first album this year, and we’re gonna be performing everywhere,” Downer says of what’s next. “You can expect the unexpected.”

With Downer, Douglas, and Quaresma, there is no “main” singer—each is equally as captivating as the next, each intent on revitalizing the once booming girl group phenomena. Each a contributing author to the must-read narrative that is FLO. Now, the trio’s rapid ascent is continuing with their latest high-octane single “Fly Girl” featuring Missy Elliot—a sultry track that playfully samples Elliot’s all-time hit “Work It.” Listen below!

Fly Girl (feat. Missy Elliot) is available on all streaming platforms

This feature appears in V141 Spring 2023 issue, now available for purchase