FLO's Debut Album, 'Access All Areas' (Listening Party)

Summary

Podcast Summary: ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart – Flo's Debut Album "Access All Areas" (Listening Party)
Release Date: December 11, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest Artists: Georgia Douglas, Stella Karizma, Renee Downer (Flo), Cynthia Erivo (Narrator)
Podcast: ALL OF IT by WNYC

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Introduction

In this special episode of ALL OF IT, hosted by Alison Stewart, listeners are invited to join an exclusive listening party celebrating the debut album of the London-based R&B trio, Flo. The episode delves into the creative journey, inspirations, and collaborative dynamics that shaped Flo's highly anticipated 16-track project, "Access All Areas." Featuring insightful discussions with Flo's members—Georgia Douglas, Stella Karizma, and Renee Downer—the episode also includes contributions from producer Mnek and acclaimed artist Cynthia Erivo.

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Artist Background and Album Development

[00:18 - 01:04]
Georgia Douglas introduces Flo, highlighting their breakthrough in 2022 with the single "Cardboard Box," which quickly gained viral attention. The trio's debut album, "Access All Areas," encompasses themes of love, relationships, success, sisterhood, and the challenges of navigating the music industry as young Black women.

[02:02 - 02:56] Renee Downer on Album Creation
Renee discusses the two-year, non-linear process of creating the album, emphasizing their roots in 90s and early 2000s R&B while also drawing inspiration from contemporary artists like Ariana Grande, Summer Walker, and SZA. She remarks:

“We tried to experiment with different sounds... didn't put too much pressure on ourselves and just kept writing, listening to different songs and just seeing where it took us.”
[02:56]

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Production Insights with Producer Mnek

[03:13 - 03:44] Cynthia Erivo on Mnek's Influence
Cynthia Erivo highlights producer Mnek's pivotal role in shaping Flo's sound. Mnek's extensive experience with artists such as Dua Lipa and Little Mix provided Flo with the confidence to explore diverse musical ranges and perspectives. Erivo describes him as:

“...the secret fourth member. He adds the spice and Sequoia because he really knows about... R&B music.”
[03:44]

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Musical Influences and Nostalgia

[04:01 - 04:41] Stella Karizma on 90s R&B Revival
Stella discusses the resurgence of 90s R&B influence among contemporary artists. She attributes this trend to the passion and craftsmanship of past artists who created music from the heart, prioritizing emotional expression over commercial success. Stella notes:

“...music was just impeccable. So we really admire those eyes [artists].”
[04:07 - 04:41]

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Flo's Origin Story and Formation

[04:53 - 08:01] Introduction by Cynthia Erivo and Group Formation
The album opens with Cynthia Erivo reciting Flo's origin story, positioning them as the new torchbearers of iconic girl groups like Destiny's Child and SWV. The narration sets a grandiose tone for the album:

“A trio ready to receive the baton passed on by the likes of Destiny's Child, Destiny's Sugar, SWV... a pact was formed, a promise was made...”
[05:48 - 06:46]

Georgia, Stella, and Renee share anecdotes about their audition process and the serendipitous formation of the group, emphasizing their natural chemistry and shared musical influences.

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Listening Party Highlights: "Access All Areas"

[08:18 - 13:53] Listening to Key Tracks
The trio guides listeners through selected tracks from their album. Notably, the song "Excess" receives praise from a YouTube commenter for allowing each member to shine, which Stella confirms is a deliberate aspect of their group's dynamic:

“We all write... different songs, maybe from someone's point of view... we all have to shine.”
[09:45]

[10:25 - 12:28] Group Dynamics and Individual Strengths
Flo members discuss their individual contributions:

• Renee Downer: Her deep basement notes add a powerful low end.

  “Renee's sweet spot is her basement note... having so much power down that bottom end is really special.”
  [10:32]

• Stella Karizma: Her vocal agility allows her to navigate complex melodies seamlessly.

  “The agility to travel through a hundred different notes in two seconds.”
  [10:32]

• Cynthia Erivo on Georgia's Power: Georgia brings remarkable vocal strength and control.

  “Where does it come from? That strength is incredible. You can hold it.”
  [11:21]

Stella further elaborates on Renee's versatility and Georgia's impressive vocal runs, highlighting the seamless collaboration within Flo.

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Album Tracks Discussion

[12:51 - 14:53] Exploring "Soft" and Album Timing
After listening to the track "Soft," the conversation shifts to the timing of the album's release. Georgia addresses why "Access All Areas" took longer to release than initially anticipated:

“Nobody wanted it to come out sooner than we did... our perspective is definitely... seeing through the rose-tinted glasses... we had to find people whose perspective that we could really trust.”
[14:09 - 15:39]

Renee credits their management company, Lvrn, for providing honest feedback that pushed them to refine their songs to the desired level, despite delays caused by label processes.

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Conclusion

As the listening party wraps up, Flo expresses gratitude to the show and listeners for their support. Alison Stewart teases future episodes, including an upcoming interview with Ramel Ross, director of the film adaptation of Colson Whitehead's "Nickel Boys."

“My guests have been Georgia, Stella, and Renee. They are Flo. Thank you for your time today.”
[15:39 - 15:55]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Renee Downer on Album Creation:
  “It was a very strange, like, up and down, back and forth process... inspired by 90s and noughties R&B.”
  [02:02]

• Cynthia Erivo on Producer Mnek:
  “He adds the spice and Sequoia because he really knows about... R&B music.”
  [03:44]

• Stella Karizma on Musical Passion:
  “Music was just impeccable. So we really admire those artists.”
  [04:41]

• Stella on Group Dynamics:
  “We all have to shine, and we love that. We love listening to each other go. We love hyping each other up.”
  [09:45]

• Georgia on Album Delays:
  “Our perspective is definitely... seeing through the rose-tinted glasses... we had to find people whose perspective that we could really trust.”
  [14:09]

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Final Thoughts

This episode of ALL OF IT offers an in-depth look into Flo's artistic process, the collaborative spirit within the group, and the influences that shape their unique sound. Through engaging dialogue and exclusive music previews, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of "Access All Areas," making it a must-listen for fans of contemporary R&B and emerging artists shaping the cultural landscape.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

Listener supported WNYC Studios.

[Georgia Douglas]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Let's wrap up today's show with a listening party with the London based trio Flo, who earned the music world's attention in 2022 when they released a single and it went VI. Take a listen to Cardboard Box. Now Flo is back with their anticipated debut album. It's titled Access all areas. The 16 Track R and B project includes songs about love, relationship, success, sisterhood, and navigating the industry as three young black women. Let's listen to their single In My Bag.

[Alison Stewart]

I know you heard it baby rhythm is a dancer can nobody do it like I do it do it better all right all day, all night, all day I say as right as I'll make my body mind and so connected what I got is manifested I don't even got to try when you see me know I'm in my bag My weapon.

[Georgia Douglas]

A New York Times review states Flo wants to reinvent the girl group for a new generation. Access All Areas is out now. Flo's member, Georgia Douglas. Hi, Georgia.

[Alison Stewart]

Hi.

[Georgia Douglas]

And Stella Karizma. Hi, Stella.

[Stella Karizma]

Hi.

[Georgia Douglas]

And Renee Downer. Hi, Renee.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey.

[Georgia Douglas]

They're joining us now for a listening party. So this is a solid R and B album. Georgia, what were some of the ideas or concepts the three of you got together? You were toying around when you started working on your debut album?

[Renee Downer]

Well, we've been working on the album for about probably. It was probably for two years from the start to finish. But it was a very strange, like, up and down, back and forth process. It wasn't linear, but obviously we're inspired by 90s and noughties R B. We love Brandy, we love Beyonce, we love Mariah Carey. And then also we're extremely influenced by Ariana Grande and Summer Walker and Scissor. So really for us, it was striking the balance between nostalgia, nostalgia, but also we want to be, you know, looking towards the future. So we tried to experiment with different sounds. For example, I'm Just a Girl, which is a little bit rock. Yeah, we just. We just didn't put too much pressure on ourselves and just kept writing, listening to different songs and just seeing where it took us.

[Georgia Douglas]

Renee, you lurked alongside producer Mnek. He produced your Cardboard Box single, but he's also produced Dua Lipa Little Mix. How did his insight as sort of a seasoned producer help you get the sound you wanted?

[Cynthia Erivo]

Well, it definitely made all the difference. I mean, from writing to recording to production. He's Very well versed in all the different areas. So since we've been working with him, really like he's made us feel confident. He's helped us explore different ranges, different points of views. And he's like the secret fourth member. He adds the spice and Sequoia because he really knows about. He really knows R B music and has worked with a lot of our inspirations.

[Georgia Douglas]

Yeah, I'm, I'm very interested in what you think, Stella. I guess we'll, we'll ask you why so many R B artists now? Folks like Ella Mae and Ray, they're so into the R b of the 90s. Why do you think it's popular now?

[Stella Karizma]

I think that music back then was like, it was made by people who had such passion for it.

[Georgia Douglas]

Yeah.

[Stella Karizma]

And they really studied their craft and music for us is all about feeling. And I think those artists as well, they just want to create music that comes from their heart and they want to say what they want to say. You know, I think it's not all about the numbers and the money. Like it's just about doing what your passion is. And I think they all feel that. And that was definitely the vibe back then. So we definitely resonate with those artists and the music was just impeccable. So we really admire those eyes. So it's very understandable why they're inspired by those artists.

[Georgia Douglas]

So the first track in the album is this gorgeous introduction from Cynthia Erivo who recites Flo's origin story. Georgia, whose idea was to have Cynthia come on down and do this.

[Renee Downer]

Well, I mean, everything really is collective, but we were just deliberating on who we wanted to kind of obviously present us to the world. And it was really important that they were both black and that they were British. And we've met Cynthia a couple of times and both times we've been like extremely fangirling, borderline embarrassing. And we, we, we're genuine fans of hers and her talent is just, you know, unmatched. There's nothing like it in the UK especially. So it was kind of a no brainer. It wasn't. It was taking us like, I don't know why it hadn't clicked sooner that we wanted to be her. But literally one moment it was light bulb. What about Cynthia Revo? And then we were like, oh my God, duh. It was just the best decision we ever made.

[Georgia Douglas]

Let's listen.

[Narrator]

I would like to introduce you to a tenacious trio of talented young ladies. But before we proceed, a brief history lesson. Now, between the years of 2001 and 2002, there simply was not, not enough brilliance in the world. You see, planet Earth was in dire need of bad dish replenishment. A trio ready to receive the baton passed on by the likes of Destiny's Child, Destiny's Sugar, swv, and countless other iconic baddies of the past. And thus, in the fateful year of 2019, a pact was formed, A promise was made, a movement began. Our girls found each other and meticulously prepared a feast for our ears.

[Georgia Douglas]

Who wouldn't want an introduction like that? I'm telling you, every time you walked in the room, Renee, that sounds like sort of the fancy version of it. But what was the reality of what it was like to audition for this group?

[Cynthia Erivo]

Oh, that's a great question. I mean, it was really fun because we were young and we were just like posting our videos on social media. So when I received an email from Island Records, it felt like, wow, this is the real deal. And the audition process was quite light hearted. I mean, the first audition was in the Universal building and I saw George there for the first time. So it was like, oh, we know each other, which was really nice. And we just talked about music and like what we want to achieve as artists. And Sunglasses sung some songs. And then the second time around, it was pairing girls together. So I was with two random girls and it was just about seeing if we had the same musical influences, if we could get along. And it wasn't great. But the second time around, it was me, Georgia and Stella, and it made a lot of sense. Like we just naturally got along and we all had similar upbringings and similar music tastes, and so it felt like the perfect fit.

[Georgia Douglas]

We're talking to the group Flo about their debut album, All Access all areas. My guests are Georgia, Stella, and Renee. This is a listening party, so let's play a song. Let's take a listen to access all areas and we can talk about it on the other side.

[Stella Karizma]

Are we ready? Okay, let's go.

[Alison Stewart]

What's done in the dark got me catching feelings this ain't about my heart it's about the feeling or when you push up on me Fire jupiter I keep it closing what I know for certain you got me open let me expose it Touching feeling get it bright all the time no how you want it.

[Georgia Douglas]

That'S excess. All areas from Flow. So, Stella, I want to read this comment from YouTube. It says, I don't think I have in my generation seen a girl group that allows every girl to shine and sing lead. They blend so well. But can still stand out. I look forward to seeing how they continue to build on their legacy. How is. You know, how important is it that each member gets a chance to sing lead?

[Stella Karizma]

I think it's very important. You know, we all. We all bring our different strengths to the group, and we do that in so many different ways, and I think that's what makes flow flow. And we all are so in awe of each other's talent, and we're so inspired by each other, so it's only right, you know? And we all. We all write. We will help write the music that we put out so, you know, we all have something to say. And different songs, maybe from someone's point of view, more so what they're going through at the time. So we all have to shine, and we love that. We love listening to each other go. We love hyping each other up. No, it's very. It's very important.

[Georgia Douglas]

All right, Georgia, hype up. Tell me what Renee and Stella each bring to the group.

[Renee Downer]

Well, besides, you know, everyone bringing, like, everything, you know, Renee's. Renee's sweet spot is her basement note that, you know, I have to put my chin all the way back into my neck to be able to read. And just being. Having so much power down that bottom end is really special. And then for Stella, for me, it is the agility. The agility to travel through, like, a hundred different notes in two seconds. That's it for me.

[Georgia Douglas]

How about for you, Renee?

[Cynthia Erivo]

For me, I would have to stay. For Stella, it's her tone. I really haven't heard anyone with that tone. I think it's so soulful and rich. And for Georgia, I'd have to say the power. Where does it come from? That strength is incredible. You can hold it.

[Georgia Douglas]

Stella, it's your turn.

[Stella Karizma]

So for me, Renee is also the low tones, but, like, she can get the tone. It's hard to get an amazing tone when you're singing low. And a real good feeling down there. And I just feel everything she sings. And she's actually very versatile as well. Like, she can be so soft with her voice, but, like. And I'm just the girl. She'd be growling and Georgia, the same things, the runs. It's almost like I don't know how her brain moves so fast.

[Renee Downer]

What note is next? Literally?

[Stella Karizma]

Yes. I'm absolutely in awe. Yes. Very, very quick, very fast. Very crazy.

[Georgia Douglas]

All right, listeners, take all that you just heard, and let's listen to another track from access all areas. This is titled soft.

[Alison Stewart]

Baby. I know you been Gone on tell me, tell me you wanna see me Water from the ceiling make me hot like summer grain Tripping boy you trippin Trippin on his fantasy I tell you it's for dinner I'm flowing like a river Hush baby, do you wanna touch the guy? You make me blush so hello so never solved Try me, you ain't ain't nobody like me Nothing underneath this whitey better make a movie spikely Try me it's godly that's why you want to be inside me and I don't want to be by myself yes, you that I've been waiting on Tell you what's for dinner, dinner, dinner I'm flowing like.

[Georgia Douglas]

A river baby that soft From Flo, My guests are Georgia, Stella and Renee. The album is called Access All Areas. All right. Why did it take you so long? Why did it take your time to put out a debut album? Georgia, go.

[Renee Downer]

Well, listen, nobody wanted it to come out sooner than we did. We genuinely thought we would be releasing our debut album last Christmas or beginning of the year. And Bo, were we wrong? It was so not ready. And it's really. I feel like when you're in it, when you're creating, you know, when you're the kind of the creator, your perspective is definitely, you know, you're seeing through the. What's it called? The rose tinted glasses. And like, we're biased and we're always. We think a song's really bad, but then there's the perspective that, well, the fans might really love it, the public might really love it. So there's. Your perspective is so skewed.

[Alison Stewart]

And I think.

[Renee Downer]

Think that's what made us take longer because we had to find people whose perspective that we could really trust. Because if we were like, cool, if we need to take a step back, who are we going to trust to take a step in? And we found those people at the time, they were this management company called lvrn. And they really gave us the honest, real truth and we respected it. And that was a turning point for us. We went back to the drawing board, added new songs, you know, made the songs that we did have, you know, the level that they should have been. I think that's what took long. And then obviously all the other stuff, like, you know, being signed with a label that always makes things kind of take a bit longer. But it's all in good time.

[Georgia Douglas]

All in good time because we have access all areas. My guests have been Georgia, Stella, and Renee. They are Flo. Thank you for your time today. When I really Appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and thank.

[Cynthia Erivo]

You for playing our music.

[Renee Downer]

Yes, we really appreciate it.

[Alison Stewart]

Go out on flows I date it probably should be jaded Feels like I've been waiting for him all the lies he's taking me to cloud nine I manifested him I know the best is him so now my friends ask me Is he loyal? Check he's for you does he clear that check? Before you met him did you do your background check? Is he faithful? Check gentleman check the way I trust him I ain't got a check Cuz you g so good Cuz you g so good no doubt Cuz you give it so good Cuz you give it so good no doubt Always put some maybe confidence that go crazy enough Ain't no what do I call him Baby Everything I want he got it if I had to put another on it I'm looking at a perfect 10 I'm telling you now There ain't no way There ain't no way I'm going to let him get away There ain't no way the way he got to me for me There ain't no way I'm going to let him get away There ain't no way yes me Is he loyal? Check he's for you does he clear that check? Before you met him did you do your background check? Is he faithful? Check gentleman check the way I trust him I ain't gotta check.

[Georgia Douglas]

That was Flo. Coming up on tomorrow's show, Ramel Ross, the director of the film Nickel Boys joins us. It's an adaptation of Colson Whitehead Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

[WNYC Studios]

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