Flo arrive at the central London restaurant where our interview is taking place, in this order: first comes 21-year-old Stella Quaresma, arriving before we’ve been shown to our table; then Renée Downer, aged 20, once we’ve been seated but before drinks are ordered; and finally Jorja Douglas, 20, who announces that “the label don’t know how to book a cab!” as she sits down with just enough time to skim the menu and request a cacao smoothie. Their staggered entrances makes the difference between a group of girls and a girl group all the more perceptible; with the important business of what to have for lunch taken care of, the trio shift into a different gear, synchronising as a unit, transforming into Flo.
Barely a year ago, these young women were pretty much anonymous. But then came the release of their debut single Cardboard Box in March 2022. Since then they have clocked more than 35m streams, in excess of half a million followers on social media, sparked a viral TikTok dance trend and impressed audiences with performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Later … With Jools Holland. They open 2023 with the Brits’ rising star award under their belts, and as the first girl group to win the influential BBC Sound Of poll.
