Florrie

This article is about the English musician. For other uses, see Florrie (disambiguation).
Florrie

Florrie live at La Maroquinerie, Paris (2011)
Background information
Birth name Florence Ellen Arnold
Born 28 December 1988
Bristol, England
Genres Pop, synthpop, dance-pop, indietronica
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, drummer, model
Instruments Vocals, drums, guitar
Years active 2008–present
Labels Sony Music, Epic
Website florrie.com

Florence Arnold (born 28 December 1988), better known as Florrie, is an English pop singer, songwriter, drummer and model. Closely associated with the Xenomania production house, since joining as their in-house drummer in 2008 she has played live and on record for popular artists such as Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and the Pet Shop Boys.

In 2010, she began a solo career. She has drawn positive reaction from the online music community for releasing her own material in collaboration with remixers such as Fred Falke for download without charge. In 2010, Florrie released a four-track EP titled Introduction, followed by the six-track EP Experiments in 2011, and by the four-track EP Late in 2012. In 2013, Florrie released a single, "Live a Little", that was used in promotion for Sony's XBA-C10 in-ear headphones campaign. In 2014, she announced that she had signed to a major label, Sony Music, and released an EP, Sirens, with an album to follow in 2015.

Biography

Early years

Florrie was born Florence Arnold on 28 December 1988 in Bristol, where she attended Colston's Girls' School. She became interested in playing the drums when she was in Greece on a family holiday at age six.[1] As a teenager she started her own band called Fi Fi Saloon, which performed Avril Lavigne covers.[2][3] She moved to London when she was seventeen after signing a development deal with Guy Chambers, and gigged with several bands including Selfservice.[2][3][4]

Career

A meeting with the manager of Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi led Florrie to a successful audition as the drummer in the houseband of Xenomania, the successful Kent-based production team.[5] Her first job was playing on Girls Aloud's 2008 song "The Promise", although she also assisted with administration work.[2] She also co-wrote the song "One Touch" for the short-lived female duo Mini Viva.[6] Producer Brian Higgins encouraged Florrie to sing one of the songs she had written, which prompted her to pursue her own music career.[2] Her debut release, a Fred Falke remix of "Call 911", reportedly had over one thousand downloads around the world after only a few days.[7]

Florrie performing at Berlin Festival 2011.

In mid-2010, Florrie was announced as the face of the then-new Nina Ricci fragrance Nina L'Elixir. She starred in the TV advert for the campaign performing a cover of Blondie's "Sunday Girl", and also featured in print advertisements shot by Ruven Afanador.[8][9]

In July 2010, Florrie featured on The Guardian's column, "New Band of the Day".[10] The article's writer, Paul Lester, said about Florrie that "she completely bypasses the sweaty authenticity of groaning determination for a slicker, brighter sort of pop desire. This comes across in her music. It's breezy".

Florrie released her debut EP, Introduction, in November 2010 through iTunes Store, containing the tracks "Call of the Wild", "Give Me Your Love", "Summer Nights" and "Left Too Late".[11] The EP was made available for free download on her official website,[12] as well as on 12" vinyl pressings limited to 500 copies.[13] Music blogs Popjustice,[14] ArjanWrites.com,[15] electronic rumors,[16] Dödselectro[17] and Sundtrak[18] all praised the quality of the music, while noting the free availability of the tracks and expressing interest for future material. Others have identified how the awareness of Florrie's music has been assisted by online social networks and a grassroots strategy.[19] Florrie told Ponystep:

"I think it's really important to have that contact with fans and for them to be able to buy into your world or you as a person without any pressure from a corporation [...] It's a better way of doing it because people can feel like they discovered you as opposed to a major label. I want my fans to feel like they have some sort of ownership."[20]

Florrie's second EP, Experiments, was released in June 2011 and included the songs "Speed of Light", "Experimenting with Rugs", "What You Doing This For?", "I Took a Little Something", "Begging Me" and "She Always Gets What She Wants".[21] The lead single "Begging Me" was released in April 2011.[22] The music video for the second single, "I Took a Little Something", was a collaboration with fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.[23]

A third EP, Late, was released in May 2012 on iTunes.[24] Florrie announced on her website the same month that she would sign to a major record label, thus making this EP her final release as an independent artist;[25] this label was later reported as being Sony Music.[26] In February 2013, Florrie was announced as the face of denim label Vigoss for its spring 2013 campaign.[27] Florrie appears in the commercial for Sony's XBA-C10 in-ear headphones, which debuted in April 2013 and features the track "Live a Little".[28]

Florrie released her fourth EP, Sirens, in April 2014, with music videos accompanying three of the tracks. A single, "Little White Lies", followed in August 2014.[29] Her debut album is planned for release in early 2015.[26] The music video for Florrie's 2015 single "Too Young to Remember" was premiered online via fashion retailer H&M.[30]

Musical style

In an interview with Ponystep, Florrie described her style as "a big mixture: Kind of a sixties, organic feel merged with modern pop beats and electronics".[20] She also told Metro, "I grew up listening to my dad's Beatles records but I love electronic music, I like doing upbeat stuff to make people dance."[2] Time magazine wrote in 2014 that "Her brand of pop music is playful, propulsive, and built around rhythm, bearing the influence of her work as a session drummer for the songwriting/production squad Xenomania".[31]

Discography

Florrie discography
Releases
↙EPs 4
↙Singles 7

Extended plays

Title Album details
Introduction
Experiments
  • Released: 14 June 2011
  • Format: CD, Digital download, LP
  • Label: Independent
Late
  • Released: 31 May 2012
  • Formats: CD, Digital download, LP
  • Label: Independent
Sirens
  • Released: 28 April 2014
  • Formats: Digital download
  • Label: Sony Music

Singles

Title Year Album
"Call 911" 2010 N/A
"Sunday Girl"
"Begging Me" 2011 Experiments
"I Took a Little Something"
"Shot You Down" 2012 Late
"Live a Little" 2013 N/A
"Panic Attack" (Adrian Michaels Remix)
"Little White Lies" 2014
"Too Young to Remember" 2015

Music videos

Title Year Director
Give Me Your Love 2010 N/A
Sunday Girl (Nina L'Elixir advert) Nez
Begging Me 2011 Price James
Experimenting with Rugs Lee Jenkins
I Took a Little Something Justin Wu
Shot You Down 2012 Tom Gallon
Live a Little 2013 Elisha Smith-Leverock
Seashells 2014 Ferry Gouw
Free Falling Jack A. Bowden
Wanna Control Myself
Little White Lies Zaiba Jabbar
Too Young to Remember 2015 Mathy & Fran

Other appearances

Year Artist Album Title Role
2008 Girls Aloud Out of Control "The Promise" Drummer
Sarah Harding St. Trinian's 2 Soundtrack "Too Bad" Co-writer
2010 Mini Viva N/A "One Touch"
2012 Girls Aloud Ten "Something New"
2014 The Saturdays Finest Selection: Greatest Hits "What Are You Waiting For?"

References

  1. ↑ Gaynor, Ciarán (16 February 2011). "Meet Florrie: The Xenomania drummer turned pop star". State. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Williams, Andrew (17 October 2010). "Florrie Arnold: The studio where I record is haunted by a ghost dog". Metro. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/music/just-beat-it-126882
  4. ↑ http://thisisaneko.wordpress.com/2010/11/25/florrie/
  5. ↑ Daw, Robbie (27 May 2010). "Popping Up: Florrie". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Mini Viva's "One Touch" is out now". Xenomania News. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Florrie (18 February 2010). "Florrie has got over 1,000 downloads of 'Call 911'". florrie.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  8. ↑ Forrester, Sharon (21 July 2010). "Florrie Arnold To Front New Nina Ricci Fragrance Nina L'Elixir". Vogue UK. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "Nina, Le Nouveau Conte". Marie Claire. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  10. ↑ Lester, Paul (2 July 2010). "New band of the day – No 817: Florrie - Music - guardian.co.uk". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "Introduction – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  12. ↑ Florrie (10 November 2012). "Introduction EP by Florrie – Free MP3 Download". florrie.com. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  13. ↑ David (27 August 2010). "Interview: Florrie". Feed Limmy. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Song Of The Day: Florrie – 'Panic Attack' (Fred Falke mix)". Popjustice. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  15. ↑ Timmermans, Arjan (15 April 2010). "Free MP3 Download: Florrie "Call 911" (Florrie Remix)". ArjanWrites.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  16. ↑ Crash (25 March 2010). "Florrie + Fred Falke". electronic rumors. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  17. ↑ "Fred Falke & Florrie.". Dödselectro. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  18. ↑ Jon (19 April 2010). "Florrie Attack". Sundtrak. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  19. ↑ "Florrie – Panic Attack / Call 911 (Various Remixes)". The Chemistry is Dead. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Soteriou, Andreas (27 May 2010). "FLORRIE. She Bangs The Drum...". Ponystep. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  21. ↑ "Experiments – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  22. ↑ "Begging Me – Single by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  23. ↑ http://www.luxurydaily.com/dolce-gabbana-taps-up-and-coming-artist-for-curated-music-video/
  24. ↑ "Late – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  25. ↑ Florrie (23 May 2012). "Florrie – update for you... a little 'Late'". florrie.com. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 http://staffslive.co.uk/2014/10/singer-florrie-performs-newcastle-lyme/
  27. ↑ Joanna (24 February 2013). "Vigoss Taps Florrie for its Spring 2013 Campaign by Mario Sorrenti". Fashion Gone Rogue. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  28. ↑ Lansky, Sam (3 April 2013). "Florrie Hits The Drums In Amazing "Live A Little" Music Video: Watch". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  29. ↑ http://www.muumuse.com/2014/07/little-white-lies-florrie-makes-a-proper-bid-for-pop-stardom-with-gorgeous-new-single.html/
  30. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qNdW6AQe-k
  31. ↑ http://time.com/2966429/florrie-little-white-lies-video/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Florrie (vocalist).