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Florrie

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For other uses, see Florrie (disambiguation).

Florrie
Florrie live at La Maroquinerie, Paris (2011)
Florrie live at La Maroquinerie, Paris (2011)
Background information
Birth nameFlorence Ellen Arnold
Born (1988-12-28) 28 December 1988 (age 35)
Bristol, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • drummer
  • model
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • drums
  • guitar
Years active2008–present
LabelsSony Music, Epic
Websiteflorrie.com

Florence Ellen 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.

Biography

Early life and career

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 and original songs she described as "really trash, punky girl rock-pop".[2][3][4] She moved to London when she was 17 years old and gigged with several bands including Selfservice, who signed a development deal with songwriter Guy Chambers.[2][3][4][5] Florrie performed with Selfservice at night and worked part-time as a nanny during the day.[4]

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.[6] Her first job was playing on Girls Aloud's 2008 single "The Promise", although she also assisted with administration work.[2] She provided drums and drum programming on Xenomania-produced tracks by Alesha Dixon, Rebecca Ferguson, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and The Saturdays.[4][7] She also co-wrote the 2010 single "One Touch" for the short-lived female duo Mini Viva,[8] "Something New" (2012) for Girls Aloud, and "What Are You Waiting For?" (2014) for the Saturdays. Xenomania producer Brian Higgins encouraged Florrie to sing one of the songs she had written, which prompted her to pursue her own music career.[2]

Independent releases

Florrie performing at Berlin Festival 2011

Florrie's debut release, a Fred Falke remix of "Call 911", reportedly had over 1,000 downloads around the world within a few days of its February 2010 release.[9] 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.[10][11] In July 2010, Florrie featured on The Guardian's "New Band of the Day" column.[12] Besides these two tracks, three more were released as remix-only versions: "Panic Attack" (April 2010), "Fascinate Me" and "Come Back to Mine" (May 2010).

Florrie released her debut EP, Introduction, in November 2010 through the iTunes Store.[13] The EP was made available for free download on her official website,[14] as well as on 12" vinyl pressings limited to 500 copies.[15] Music blogs Popjustice,[16] ArjanWrites.com,[17] electronic rumors,[18] Dödselectro[19] and Sundtrak[20] praised the quality of the music, while noting the free availability of the tracks and expressing interest for future material. Others identified how the awareness of Florrie's music has been assisted by online social networks and a grassroots strategy.[21] Florrie told Ponystep magazine:

"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."[22]

Florrie's second EP, Experiments, was released in June 2011 to a five-star review from About.com.[23][24] The lead single, "Begging Me" was released in April 2011.[25] The music video for the second single, "I Took a Little Something", was a collaboration with fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.[26] A third EP, Late, was released in May 2012 on iTunes, accompanied by the single "Shot You Down".[27] MuuMuse wrote of the EP, "Every inch of the record is one carefully crafted hook after another; each pulsating beat more danceable and jaw-dropping than the next".[28]

Sony Music

Florrie announced on her website in mid 2012 that she would sign to a major record label, thus making Late her final release as an independent artist;[29] this label was later reported as being Sony Music.[30] In February 2013, Florrie was announced as the face of denim label Vigoss for its spring 2013 campaign.[31] 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".[32]

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.[33] The music video for Florrie's 2015 single "Too Young to Remember" was premiered online via fashion retailer H&M, who selected the singer to front their worldwide H&M Loves Music campaign.[34] Her debut album was originally was announced for 2015[30] and was planned for release in late 2016, following a series of festival appearances and other live dates.[35] Florrie has been recording with songwriters and producers including Joel Little, Tim Anderson, MoZella, Jesse Shatkin, and Twin, the latter of whom produced and co-wrote Florrie's single "Real Love" (released in early 2016).[35]

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".[22] 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] The Guardian 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".[12] 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".[36]

Discography

Main article: Florrie discography

Extended plays

References

  1. ^ Gaynor, Ciarán (16 February 2011). "Meet Florrie: The Xenomania drummer turned pop star". State. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b mirror Administrator. "JUST BEAT IT". mirror. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "The 405 Meets Florrie". The 405. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Florrie". ANEKO WAVES. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ Daw, Robbie (27 May 2010). "Popping Up: Florrie". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Florrie Arnold". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Mini Viva's "One Touch" is out now". Xenomania News. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  9. ^ Florrie (18 February 2010). "Florrie has got over 1,000 downloads of 'Call 911'". florrie.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Nina, Le Nouveau Conte" (PDF). Marie Claire. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  12. ^ a b Lester, Paul (2 July 2010). "New band of the day – No 817: Florrie - Music - guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Introduction – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  14. ^ Florrie (10 November 2012). "Introduction EP by Florrie – Free MP3 Download". florrie.com. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  15. ^ David (27 August 2010). "Interview: Florrie". Feed Limmy. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Song Of The Day: Florrie – 'Panic Attack' (Fred Falke mix)". Popjustice. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  17. ^ Timmermans, Arjan (15 April 2010). "Free MP3 Download: Florrie "Call 911" (Florrie Remix)". ArjanWrites.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  18. ^ Crash (25 March 2010). "Florrie + Fred Falke". electronic rumors. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  19. ^ "Fred Falke & Florrie". Dödselectro. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  20. ^ Jon (19 April 2010). "Florrie Attack". Sundtrak. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  21. ^ "Florrie – Panic Attack / Call 911 (Various Remixes)". The Chemistry is Dead. 18 April 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  22. ^ a b Soteriou, Andreas (27 May 2010). "FLORRIE. She Bangs The Drum..." Ponystep. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  23. ^ "Experiments – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  24. ^ "Florrie - 'Experiments' EP Review". About.com Entertainment. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Begging Me – Single by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Dolce & Gabbana taps up-and-coming artist for curated music video". luxurydaily.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Late – EP by Florrie". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  28. ^ "Florrie: Late (EP Review)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  29. ^ Florrie (23 May 2012). "Florrie – update for you... a little 'Late'". florrie.com. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  30. ^ a b James McDougall. "Singer Florrie performs in Newcastle-under-Lyme". StaffsLive Journalism. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  31. ^ Joanna (24 February 2013). "Vigoss Taps Florrie for its Spring 2013 Campaign by Mario Sorrenti". Fashion Gone Rogue. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  32. ^ Lansky, Sam (3 April 2013). "Florrie Hits The Drums In Amazing "Live A Little" Music Video: Watch". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  33. ^ ""Little White Lies": Florrie Makes A Proper Bid For Pop Stardom With Gorgeous New Single - MuuMuse". MuuMuse. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  34. ^ Joe Anderton (25 February 2015). "Florrie interview: 'Writing songs is like putting a puzzle together'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  35. ^ a b "The 405 Pop: A premiere of Florrie's 'Real Love' video". The 405. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  36. ^ Jamieson Cox. "Florrie's "Little White Lies" Video: Watch". TIME.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.

36. NEW EARGASM: FLORRIE by Youthgasm.com - 2 February 2016

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