Flo

Flo, comprised of members Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer, officially formed in 2019, uniting their individual talents under Island Records. Stella Quaresma, born in Kingston upon Thames in 2001, spent her early childhood in Mozambique before returning to the UK and attending Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she met bandmate Renée Downer. Jorja Douglas, born in Eastern Germany in 2002, moved to Hertfordshire at eight months old and later won the CBBC competition series ‘Got What It Takes?’ in 2017. Renée Downer, born in 2002, grew up in North London and also attended Sylvia Young Theatre School. Their shared passion for R&B, influenced by their mothers’ tastes for artists like Mary J. Blige and Amy Winehouse, laid the groundwork for their collective musical direction. Prior to forming Flo, Jorja worked for an accountancy firm, Stella as a waitress, and Renée at H&M, experiences that preceded their musical ascent.

The group gained significant traction with their debut single “Cardboard Box” in March 2022, which quickly achieved viral popularity across social media and earned a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). This success was followed by the release of their debut extended play (EP), “The Lead”, in July 2022, which received positive critical reception. Their momentum continued with a re-released deluxe EP featuring “Not My Job,” television debuts on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘Later… with Jools Holland’, and performances for VevoDSCVR. By December 2022, Flo had achieved significant accolades, topping the annual BBC Sound of… survey and winning the Brit Award for Rising Star, marking them as the first female group to win both in the same year.

Flo’s career progressed rapidly with their participation in Stormzy’s “Hide & Seek” remix in January 2023, and a collaboration with Missy Elliott on “Fly Girl” in March 2023, which further highlighted their influence. They embarked on their sold-out ‘Flo Live’ concert tour across North America and Europe and performed at major festivals including Capital’s Summertime Ball and Glastonbury Festival. In July 2023, they surprise-released their second EP, “3 of Us,” described as a ‘gift’ to their patient fanbase. The group’s debut studio album, “Access All Areas”, released in November 2024, peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and included collaborations with artists like Cynthia Erivo and GloRilla. Their achievements also include multiple BET Awards and Soul Train Awards nominations, and being named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2024.