FLO

Renée Downer of R&B threesome FLO told Apple Music they have lofty career goals: “The ultimate dream is for us to go down in girl group history.” Luckily, the London troupe—Jorja Douglas, Downer and Stella Quaresma—is well on its way to stardom, thanks to a harmony-rich approach that channels the warmth of ’90s R&B girl groups. “We definitely always lean into R&B because that’s just what we love,” said Douglas of the trio, which was named an Up Next artist in 2022 by Apple Music. “We don’t go in and put pressure on ourselves to create something, so we’re always down to try things.” The members of FLO grew up with parents who favoured R&B artists such as Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige and Otis Redding, while they individually gravitated toward modern stars such as Rihanna and Brandy. FLO came together in 2019 and experienced viral success with their 2022 debut single, “Cardboard Box”. Produced and co-written by MNEK, the kiss-off to an ex channelled the vibe of groups like Destiny’s Child and 702. FLO followed it with more sleek throwbacks, led by 2023’s Missy Elliott-featuring “Fly Girl”, which boasts adventurous production and a soulful hip-hop vibe.