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Flo on Working with Missy Elliott and the 'Magic Number' of 3 | SWAY’S UNIVERSE
May 11, 2026
The UK R&B sensation Flo stops by Sway in the Morning for a massive interview about their rise to the top of the music scene. Jorja, Stella, and Renée break down everything from their secondary school days to the release of their highly anticipated album Access All Areas.
In this episode, the trio discusses the unique dynamics of being a three member group and why they believe three is the lucky number for legendary success. They share behind the scenes stories about their early days, including how they had to do their own hair and makeup on tour and braid each other's hair to keep the dream alive. The group also opens up about their collaborations with icons like Missy Elliott and Cynthia Erivo, explaining how those connections helped shape their professional journey and sound.
We also get an inside look into the UK R&B scene as Flo shares their favorite artists from across the pond that you need to be listening to right now. They dive into the creative process behind their music videos, the symbolism of relevance in their visuals, and the importance of writing powerful bridges that truly move the listener. To wrap things up, the ladies showcase their incredible vocal talent with a live harmony that leaves the entire room speechless.
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Welcoming Flo to the Show
3:15 The Origin Story of Flo
6:45 Why Three is the Magic Number for Girl Groups
10:30 Solo Dreams and the Mission of the Group
14:00 Bonding Through the Struggle and DIY Glam
17:30 Staying Strong Through Humor and Communication
21:00 Working with Missy Elliott and Cynthia Erivo
24:30 The Importance of Song Bridges and AAA
27:45 UK R&B Artists You Need to Know
31:00 The Symbolism in the Leakage Music Video
33:30 Live Harmony Performance and Final Thoughts
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
That's it. That's what won me over, had
0:02
to be.
0:03
I like it. [laughter]
0:05
I like it.
0:05
>> And I saw these amazing um talented
0:08
artists uh as a trio, and even even when
0:11
I was looking at them, I could tell that
0:13
they all had their own individual
0:14
stories as well.
0:16
Um and as I started doing the research
0:18
and started seeing the different ways
0:21
um they've been, you know, hitting the
0:22
scene, whether they're performing on
0:23
Jimmy Fallon or Colbert, all these
0:26
different night shows they've done, from
0:28
the early music that they released. Um
0:31
and and just watch some of the people
0:32
they work with. They work with Missy
0:34
Elliott. I mean, my god, get out a big
0:36
round of applause for them.
0:37
MISSY. COME ON.
0:39
THEY WORK with a a UK legend. Uh they
0:42
work with Stormzy, who we had on the
0:44
show as well, who um I'm a huge fan of
0:47
as well, have been for years. I used to
0:49
go to the UK to host uh Give me that
0:52
echo out. I used to go to the UK to host
0:54
the um MTV EMAs, right? So, I worked
0:57
with MTV for like 20 years, and so
1:00
and I remember coming across a lot of
1:02
artists that were over there,
1:04
and I realized that people have as much,
1:07
if not more of an appreciation for soul
1:09
music over here than I'm seeing um in
1:13
the United States. And so, when I saw
1:15
you on Tiny Desk, you guys are my proof
1:18
of concept, right? And so, I want to
1:20
welcome you to the show. Give it up for
1:22
Georgia, Stella, and Renee. This is Flo.
1:26
COME ON, MAN.
1:27
>> [applause]
1:30
>> MAN, Y'ALL ARE DRESSED UP THIS EARLY,
1:32
RENEE? YEAH, we going to come correct.
1:35
What?
1:36
Yeah. Y'all just walk around like this?
1:38
>> Yes. No.
1:40
>> [laughter]
1:40
>> We had to show up for Sway.
1:42
>> Okay, there you go. I like that. I like
1:44
that. Now, y'all y'all got to tell me
1:46
your origin story. Like, how did it come
1:48
together?
1:49
All right. Well, No, go on.
1:52
>> [laughter]
1:52
>> And introduce yourselves to everybody.
1:53
Let's get started.
1:54
>> Okay, this is Renee speaking.
1:56
>> Yes. Um we were put together. Mhm. And
1:59
the person that put us together was
2:01
looking to put together a girl group.
2:03
They didn't know we were all kind of
2:04
connected. So, Stella and I went to
2:06
secondary school and college together,
2:08
but we're a year apart. And then we both
2:10
knew Georgia on Instagram. Mhm. Um, and
2:15
the first day I went into Universal, I
2:17
saw Georgia and we had never met in real
2:19
life before and it was like, "Oh, like,
2:20
hi. We know each other. We could be in a
2:22
girl group together. That's really
2:23
cool." And a couple Well, months passed
2:26
and Stella and Georgia were put together
2:28
with two other girls.
2:29
>> Mhm. And I was put with two girls for a
2:31
day just to like test out some
2:33
combinations and it was not the vibe.
2:36
>> [laughter]
2:38
>> It was not the vibe at all, right. And
2:39
the second time around, it was me,
2:41
Georgia, and Stella, but Georgia had had
2:43
a phone call with the person that put us
2:45
together. And um, he was like, "What do
2:47
you think of like the two girls?" She
2:49
was like, I like Stella.
2:52
>> [laughter]
2:53
>> CUZ THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D MET HER
2:54
in real life as well. But Tracy, go for
2:57
it.
2:57
>> Yes, we in hybrid mode. Hey, Stella.
2:59
Hey, Renee. Hey, Georgia. You guys look
3:01
incredible. The conversation sounds
3:04
good. The music sounds good. Um, I want
3:06
to say Stella, it was you who mentioned
3:09
girl groups when you see four or five
3:11
women and often times it's only working
3:14
out on air, but behind the scenes is a
3:17
hot mess. Do you feel like three is the
3:20
magic number? Like, what is the upside
3:22
to being in a trio versus when you start
3:26
adding more bodies?
3:28
Yeah, I think
3:30
even like three time, it feels like
3:32
three just kind of works. It's a lucky
3:35
number. And but I think part of it is
3:38
your
3:40
two people might agree on something.
3:42
Like, you're what's it called?
3:44
It's a It's a democracy. So, like, if
3:46
there's something that one person may
3:47
think that's slightly different, you
3:49
just have a conversation and if the
3:51
other two agree, then it's like, "Okay,
3:52
well, the majority rules." And it's
3:54
nothing is really that deep, you know?
3:57
There's less opinions
3:58
>> There's less opinions. Like, it just
4:00
seems to be the perfect number in all
4:02
scenarios.
4:03
>> most successful girl groups are threes.
4:05
What are the Supremes? Mhm. Okay.
4:08
>> Let's start with Diana Ross, right? And
4:10
then she had the two. Yeah. Well,
4:12
Destiny's Child was TLC.
4:13
>> TLC. SWV. SWV.
4:17
3LW.
4:17
>> 3LW. Wow.
4:19
>> Wow. I didn't even think of that. FLO.
4:21
FLO.
4:22
>> [screaming]
4:24
>> SEE HOW THAT WORKED OUT? WOW. That's how
4:27
you do it. En
4:31
>> then, you know, they had issues.
4:32
>> were bigger go to three. Yeah, they go
4:34
to three, right?
4:35
>> Yeah, to three. Same with Destiny's
4:37
Child. Yeah. Started at like five or
4:39
four. More than three. That's
4:40
interesting. A lot of them. I think they
4:42
started at four. Four of them? Yo, y'all
4:44
got good math.
4:45
>> At first, we started OUT REAL COOL.
4:48
>> [laughter]
4:49
>> AND IT STARTED SHRINKING AFTER THE
4:51
REMIX.
4:53
THAT'S A GOOD ONE. But I feel like three
4:54
that ends up being like three
4:57
individuals. We'll see eventually a lot
5:00
of the members have their own solo paths
5:03
and endeavors. Did you guys have that
5:05
conversation early?
5:07
About if that dream were to be born?
5:11
I think it's everybody's dream at the
5:13
end of the day to like be, you know, a
5:16
solo artist, but for us, it's very much
5:19
like right now, the world needs a girl
5:21
group. And also, we need each other.
5:24
We've been doing this since we were
5:27
17, 18 years old. Very young, very
5:30
naive, and we couldn't have done it
5:32
without each other. So, until we've
5:34
completed, successfully completed our
5:36
mission as FLO,
5:39
uh there's no opportunity for No. F L O.
5:44
>> I love it. It's just FLO. I [laughter]
5:45
love it.
5:47
I like this, man. See, Mike, told you
5:49
they were dope.
5:49
>> Yes, they are. I'm enjoying this I'm
5:52
enjoying this conversation, too, as
5:54
well, everyone. I'm just Flo, you are
5:56
right. We do need more girl groups, but
5:58
I'm a big fan of groups, girl groups,
6:00
boy groups. I just bring back the
6:02
groups. I think they're so entertaining.
6:04
But, with all the lessons learned from
6:06
previous groups that have like
6:08
dismantled or come up short, have you
6:10
guys talked about the groups that are
6:12
not around today and the lessons that
6:14
can be learned
6:16
from their failure of not being able to
6:18
still be cohesive and and what you guys
6:20
can can take away from those lessons.
6:23
Well, definitely, we've had some amazing
6:26
advice from previous group members, as
6:28
well. And the number one thing they say
6:30
is like stick together, always talk. And
6:33
so, that's something we just it's second
6:36
nature to us, really. Like, we don't
6:38
really think about
6:41
How do I
6:42
put this into words?
6:46
YOU COULD SING IT.
6:48
>> [laughter]
6:50
>> I'LL ACCEPT THAT.
6:52
>> I THINK BECAUSE WE DON'T have any
6:54
sisters, as well, we have a special
6:56
bond. So, that's
6:58
like understand each other and if a
7:00
conversation is needed, then we will
7:02
have a conversation. Oh, y'all don't
7:04
have sisters? Or brothers. Or brothers?
7:06
Y'all don't have
7:07
>> Yeah. Okay.
7:08
>> We've been raised as only children.
7:09
>> Y'all as only children and y'all get
7:11
along? I know, I know, crazy. That's
7:14
very interesting.
7:15
>> there are two different types of only
7:16
children. Like, you're either really
7:17
selfish or you're like
7:19
>> [laughter]
7:19
>> I want family.
7:22
Okay.
7:22
You're either selfish or lonely? Oh, no,
7:25
like you want companionship.
7:27
>> for companionship. You want a sister.
7:29
Okay, I like that. The Pointer Sisters.
7:31
Who said that? Okay, Oakland, cuz
7:33
they're from Oakland, California. The
7:34
Pointer Sisters are legendary. I was I
7:36
remember sitting in a meeting one time
7:38
with a male and a
7:40
executive and he said to me, "You know,
7:42
Heather,
7:43
we're not signing, um, a lot of female
7:46
artists because they're expensive."
7:48
Yeah. Oh, we are.
7:49
We are. This Here we have free
7:51
>> EVERY TIME.
7:52
>> YEAH.
7:52
>> [laughter]
7:53
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT you can't skimp out
7:55
on. I was going to say that. It it it's
7:57
There's an upkeep and a and and a look
8:00
that you have to have as a female
8:02
artist. You can't show up everywhere in
8:04
a baseball cap and jeans and a T-shirt
8:07
and expect it to be taken seriously. It
8:09
makes a difference, but when you're
8:10
first starting out, you can't always
8:12
afford the glam and the expensive
8:15
stylist and all these different things.
8:17
Did you have to learn to like put on
8:19
your own make You got Y'all all showed
8:20
up to
8:21
>> makeup. We do our own makeup. I love it.
8:23
I love it. When we went on tour, we were
8:25
doing our own makeup. We brought one
8:27
hair person for the three of us. We were
8:28
starting getting ready at like 12:00
8:30
12:00 in the
8:30
>> [laughter]
8:31
>> afternoon. Yeah. Um, we used to do each
8:33
other's hair. We used to We were
8:35
braiding each other. Oh, it was
8:37
>> [laughter]
8:38
>> And I think that's actually contributed
8:40
a lot to our relationship. Just really
8:42
doing things for each other and
8:44
supporting each other when, you know,
8:45
money's been a little tight. Yeah. But
8:48
it's it's getting less. No, that's so
8:50
good. The budgets are coming. Yeah, the
8:51
budgets are coming. That was That's what
8:53
I was going to suggest. Some For every
8:55
any future group out there, someone
8:57
should learn makeup, learn hair. It just
8:59
helps and to share the management and to
9:01
share the stylist because it helps, you
9:03
know, because the label It's a different
9:05
situation in a different time now. So,
9:07
congrats on that.
9:08
>> Thank you. There's something to be said
9:09
about about that, Heather, that you just
9:11
leaned in on. And and thank you, Flo,
9:12
for sharing the fact that you guys, you
9:14
know, had to share like one hairdresser.
9:17
Those dynamics create like bonding
9:19
moments. And I think we've seen these
9:21
other super groups that have been put
9:23
together that have been well-oiled,
9:25
well-financed.
9:26
And I think you guys seem to have a
9:28
different approach, right? Like you guys
9:29
have not been well-oiled and
9:31
well-financed. And so, as a result, you
9:32
guys have been having to do it
9:34
yourselves and together. And I think
9:36
that helps build the bond. I think that
9:37
helps build camaraderie But it comes
9:40
together. And so I think that's an
9:41
interesting note that you guys just
9:43
said. I think that's something to pick
9:44
up on for the audience is to watch your
9:46
journey going forward
9:47
forward.
9:49
We've definitely had lucky in some
9:51
aspects, you know, being signed very
9:53
early on, but we've had to work very
9:55
hard every single day from the very
9:57
beginning.
9:57
>> It was a perfect balance. Like it wasn't
9:59
too hard, but it wasn't too easy.
10:01
>> [laughter]
10:02
>> Definitely wasn't easy. Yeah. But but
10:05
here you are, right? Here you are. Flo
10:07
is here. 888-742-3345.
10:11
We got JT on the line from Cape Cod
10:13
citizen.
10:14
You have some really quality
10:16
smart questions. Call up 888-742-3345.
10:20
JT, what up?
10:22
What's up? Good morning. Good morning.
10:24
Sway's family, how are you guys doing?
10:26
Beautiful. How are you?
10:28
I'm taking the positive energy with you
10:30
guys. I appreciate you guys every day.
10:32
True fan, been following. But the girls,
10:35
um I found I found you guys about two
10:36
years ago on Spotify.
10:40
First song I heard was Three of Us, am I
10:42
correct? Oh my goodness. Okay, niche.
10:45
>> [laughter]
10:46
>> Yes. Yeah. Oh yeah, I went I went back.
10:48
Um I was very impressed and I and I love
10:51
it and want you guys nothing but
10:52
success. I've seen a lot of girl groups
10:54
come up and then they just they fall and
10:56
I don't know and we never hear from them
10:57
again. I don't think that's going to be
10:59
the same with you guys. What's that one
11:00
thing that keeps you guys strong
11:01
together going through this whole
11:04
system? And I I appreciate you guys
11:05
doing it. I wish you nothing but love
11:06
and blessings. Giving you the flowers.
11:08
What's that one thing that's going to
11:09
keep you guys different from all the
11:11
other ones?
11:12
Well, first of all, thank you. We
11:14
appreciate you, too. Um I think it's
11:16
humor.
11:17
>> [laughter]
11:18
>> We laugh. Like
11:19
you have to find like amongst the the
11:23
dark times, the sad times, the stressful
11:25
times, like you just have to be prepared
11:27
to laugh and also
11:29
I feel like move on. Yeah. It's easy for
11:32
us because we're always thinking nothing
11:35
is that be all end all. There's always
11:37
going to be something else. There's
11:38
always going to be another thing. So,
11:39
you literally just have to
11:41
keep happy. It's not too not too
11:43
serious. Obviously, Laugh or you cry.
11:45
Laugh or you cry.
11:47
>> [laughter]
11:48
>> I like that.
11:50
I like that.
11:51
True true I also find going to the
11:53
source. Not listening to the rumors,
11:54
just go to the source and don't let it
11:56
blow up in front of you guys. So,
11:57
nothing but blessings by us. KEEP IT
11:59
GOING.
12:01
BABY.
12:03
MY MAN JT, YOU SUPER CITIZEN, BROTHER.
12:05
>> MORNING, BABY.
12:06
>> 888-742-3345
12:09
Lani Light is on the lines. We going to
12:12
come back with some more flow.
12:14
Um they got a song called um I don't
12:17
know if you call it Triple A or AAA.
12:19
Yes. Yes. Access All Areas. Triple A.
12:22
What is it called? Access All Areas. You
12:24
know like when you have a AAA pass?
12:26
>> Oh oh oh that's what oh. I didn't even
12:28
make the correlation between the album
12:30
and the song. Damn, that's
12:31
Cuz you never need a pass way.
12:33
>> [laughter]
12:34
>> They just let you in. They let Sway in
12:36
all the time. Yeah. Yo Renee, that
12:37
happened last night. I went to a
12:38
screening and the security was sweating
12:40
us and then the main security came out
12:43
and said, "Hey Sway, let me let you in."
12:45
>> [laughter]
12:45
>> He got you. All right there. I get it. I
12:47
get it, right? He going to play this
12:48
song. They got a crazy sample in this
12:50
song too that I that really stuck out to
12:52
me.
12:53
Uh see if you can name the sample, but
12:54
give us a call. Flow or here
12:56
888-742-3345.
13:00
That's the one, honey. Sounds so good.
13:02
Don't you agree? I agree.
13:05
Got me humming. That's crazy. Oh, now
13:07
you trying to do a feature. I could be
13:09
featured.
13:09
>> Sway. No, I'm not going to I'm just
13:10
going to let them live right now. Let
13:12
them I want them to establish themselves
13:14
before I do a feature.
13:14
>> Before you get on there right now. Okay.
13:18
>> [laughter]
13:19
>> You got to make sure they ready. They
13:19
ready up a little. You know, they ready.
13:21
You know, I don't want to just, you
13:21
know, if I get on a feature. A
13:23
[laughter] good friend of mine, matter
13:24
of fact,
13:26
a critically acclaimed actress actually
13:28
complimented me on my vocals and we seem
13:31
to have her in common.
13:33
Um, who is it that starts off your
13:35
album? Cynthia Erivo. Oh, she said
13:37
you're good?
13:38
OKAY, MIC DROP. GOSH, did you really
13:42
just use that?
13:44
Talk your stuff.
13:44
>> what happened? You know what happened,
13:46
you guys? Mike, thank you, Mike. Cynthia
13:49
Cynthia has Now, here comes the voice of
13:52
reason. Okay.
13:53
Okay. Cynthia has amazing manners. She's
13:58
British. She's very She's British. Yeah.
14:00
I told you no tea. She's British. Okay.
14:02
>> So, she came here as an amazing guest
14:05
and Sway built up his confidence to hit
14:09
a note in front of Cynthia. The wicked
14:11
note. Oh my goodness. The wicked note.
14:13
Oh my goodness.
14:15
That's brave. It's brave in front of
14:18
Cynthia. And we [laughter] all knew it
14:20
was bad. But Cynthia said, "That's
14:23
actually amazing, Sway."
14:24
>> [laughter]
14:26
>> You We're going to play I'll play it for
14:28
everybody. You want to hear Y'all want
14:29
to hear [laughter] this? Yes, please.
14:31
Push play. Torch, you got me? Push play.
14:33
All right, hold on.
14:37
Wait.
14:38
Sway, that's the Hey, OKAY, WAS THAT
14:40
BAD?
14:41
OKAY, [crying]
14:42
>> [laughter]
14:42
>> WAS THAT DEFINITELY BAD?
14:44
IT WAS DEFINITELY IN KEY. IT SCARED THE
14:45
out of me the first time.
14:47
When it first started, it scared the
14:49
OUT OF ME.
14:50
>> [laughter]
14:51
>> YO, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE SAW STELLA. SHE
14:53
JUMPED BACK AND IT WENT OH, WAIT. WAIT.
14:56
>> [laughter]
14:59
>> WAIT A MINUTE. CYNTHIA STARTS OFF YOUR
15:01
ALBUM THOUGH, RIGHT? She does. Oh, bless
15:03
her. A privilege and honor. Yeah, cuz we
15:05
we watched Wicked
15:07
and we're just in tears. Like, it was
15:09
incredible. And she's one of the best
15:11
vocalists from the UK ever. Yeah.
15:14
ever. So, Amy I mean, she's she's in
15:18
that league. Yeah. Oh, yeah. is. Like,
15:21
if you actually deep it, like, she's
15:23
insane. So, her doing that was so sweet.
15:25
Well, y'all had with her, like, she was
15:27
present or she just sent it in? She sent
15:29
it in? Yeah, she We spoke on the phone
15:31
to her. She was doing like promo for
15:33
Wicked at the time, so it was really
15:35
nice that she found the time. She
15:36
recorded it in her studio. She added
15:39
like all her little ad-libs. Like, it
15:40
was just so lovely. What I think is
15:43
amazing, all of the British artists have
15:45
amazing New York, New Jersey like I'm
15:49
amazed when I find out certain actors
15:51
are from the UK. I'm like, "How did they
15:55
nail our accents and our tones?" Do you
15:58
all Do you all do a New York accent?
16:00
>> YEAH. WE
16:02
>> [laughter]
16:04
>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S EASY FOR US CUZ
16:05
EVERYTHING we watch is American.
16:08
And like people even say to us, "Why do
16:10
you guys sing in American accent?"
16:12
>> Yeah. But it's it's not on purpose. It's
16:14
just what we've been around and what we
16:16
hear. Mhm. So, I think it's easier for
16:19
us. Got it.
16:21
How did y'all work with Missy?
16:23
Um How did that happen? She She was
16:27
showing us love online.
16:29
Like, on Twitter. She'd comment under
16:30
our pictures, little love hearts and
16:32
stuff. So, when we had this song
16:35
it was like the perfect feature for it.
16:36
And so, we were like, "Well, she Maybe
16:38
she might say yes cuz she's showing us
16:40
love. Let's at least try it." And our
16:42
label asked her and she was down, which
16:44
was That's crazy cuz we were
16:46
it was like near the beginning of our
16:48
career.
16:49
So, And she supported from there? Mhm.
16:51
Yeah. In Missy fashion, right? Up on it.
16:55
On the post. Mike Muse, you wanted to
16:57
interject? Yeah, that last song, AAA, I
17:00
I can't get that out of my head right
17:01
now. And then Tracy G and I were just
17:03
talking about that off mic. And
17:06
it For me, I think it highlighted the
17:08
vocal ability that you guys have. And I
17:10
think this is the first song I've heard
17:12
where I can hear the vocal ability. So,
17:13
it made me want to go here. And forgive
17:16
the comparison, but I think it's great
17:18
to use them as a blueprint and it's
17:20
Destiny's Child. One thing about
17:22
Destiny's Child was their vocal ability.
17:24
All three of them had have incredible in
17:27
vocal ability and they're also unique.
17:30
I believe what separated Destiny's Child
17:32
and made them so great is what they did
17:34
on the bridge.
17:35
Every Destiny's Child song has a very
17:38
memorable unique bridge. How do you guys
17:42
think about bridges on your songs and
17:45
are you guys going to incorporate that
17:46
as part of your secret sauce?
17:49
Of course.
17:50
>> It's the It's the funnest known like to
17:52
flow that we love a bridge. Yeah. It
17:55
just really gives the song makes the
17:59
song a song. I feel like when a song is
18:01
just a verse, pre-chorus, verse,
18:03
pre-chorus, maybe another chorus.
18:07
>> [laughter]
18:09
>> Boring, boring, boring. Like the bridge
18:10
is what like you're going up, it brings
18:12
it back down so you can go even higher.
18:15
It just that's uh Wow.
18:18
Wow, that's a great question, Mike. I'm
18:21
going to go to the phone lines. Ty Ty Is
18:23
it Tyron? Tyron T? Ty?
18:26
Yeah, that's me. I'm here.
18:27
>> Tyron.
18:28
Ty in the Bay Area, what part of the Bay
18:30
are you in?
18:33
That's by you Oh, if you go to the Bay
18:35
Area, Northern California, you got to
18:36
learn how to go "Yee!"
18:39
Damn, y'all jumped ON ALL THAT. THEY
18:40
SAID they heard everything in the Bay.
18:42
>> [laughter]
18:43
>> It sounds like they're from Oakland
18:45
right there. Ty, go ahead, what's your
18:46
question?
18:48
Hey, I just want to say that Triple A
18:50
song was amazing how you guys were
18:53
talking about that bridge. It just kept
18:55
It kept building and building and
18:57
building and building and I was like,
18:59
"Okay, I I need to go to work right now,
19:02
but I had to finish listening to that
19:04
song." And it's like, "I'm listening to
19:06
this, I'm telling everybody about this
19:08
cuz that was fire." Thank you SO MUCH.
19:10
FOR
19:14
>> [laughter]
19:15
>> WELL DONE. I LOVE THAT. HEY TY, MAKE
19:17
sure you support their music, too, okay?
19:20
And you you you're a super citizen,
19:23
brother.
19:24
>> in the morning. Let's go to Houston.
19:25
>> Have a good day at work.
19:27
>> [laughter]
19:27
>> Get money, Ty. Mhm. All right, we got TK
19:30
in Houston, Texas. TK, what up? Hey Ty,
19:33
what's up, TK?
19:35
Good morning, good morning. Sway the
19:36
architect of hip hop radio. Heather B
19:38
the first black American queen of
19:40
reality TV. Yes, that's me, baby.
19:42
>> [laughter]
19:43
>> I know, THAT'S RIGHT.
19:47
WHAT'S UP? WHAT'S UP? YEAH, HEATHER B,
19:48
WHAT'S UP? Just for just for clarity.
19:50
Oh, they did have a real world, London.
19:52
>> a real world and did it start in London
19:54
or did
19:54
>> No, it started in New York. How dare
19:55
you? Okay, so Heather was on the first
19:58
>> [laughter]
19:58
>> ever season of Real World
20:00
>> [screaming]
20:00
>> reality show. She is the first reality
20:03
show
20:04
star cuz she was the actually first ever
20:07
fight ON REALITY TV.
20:08
>> [laughter]
20:10
>> I
20:11
THOUGHT IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT. NO, I'M
20:12
JUST SAYING, THAT WAS BACK THEN,
20:13
HEATHER.
20:13
>> You can make it better. You can say I
20:15
was the first female rapper to ever star
20:18
in a television series. Okay. Boom.
20:21
Boom. Boom, y'all. Yee. Was that
20:23
fighting?
20:24
>> [laughter]
20:25
>> It was A LITTLE FIGHT.
20:27
LET ME CLEAR MY NAME. LET ME CLEAR MY
20:29
NAME.
20:30
We was doing an illegal party selling
20:32
alcohol and somebody tried to steal a
20:33
cup. The cup was worth $3 in the house.
20:36
I cut a side deal to get $1.50 for every
20:38
cup that was sold.
20:39
>> [laughter]
20:40
>> So, when she stole a cup, she stole MY
20:42
$1.50. CRACK.
20:44
>> [laughter]
20:46
>> BOOM.
20:47
THAT'S THE REAL BOOM RIGHT THERE.
20:50
ALL RIGHT. All right. Hey TK, what's
20:51
your [laughter]
20:52
what's your question?
20:54
Yes, sir, man. I just want to say I'm so
20:55
proud of Flo, man. Just like the
20:57
previous caller, I discovered them on
20:59
the on Spotify, man. Congrats on the
21:01
Grammy nomination. They just navigated
21:03
the UK scene very well, very well. They
21:06
navigated navigated the UK scene and
21:08
then they had that same ascension and
21:10
and and grind as Craig David did 26
21:13
years ago transcending the US. So, to
21:16
just see them the way they did it, I'm
21:18
just so proud of them. But, I would ask
21:20
the man for all of the Sway in the
21:22
Morning citizens, for even the Sway in
21:24
the Morning team, I have favorite UK R&B
21:26
artists. Can y'all put the citizens on
21:28
to some of your favorite UK R&B artists
21:32
to them cuz they might be new to the UK
21:34
R&B scene at this moment.
21:36
Yes.
21:38
K1.
21:40
Oh, yeah. Killer. K1. Yeah, okay. Let me
21:42
write this down. Go ahead.
21:44
>> Okay.
21:45
Jvck James.
21:47
Jvck James.
21:49
>> Okay. Period. I'm going to go with our
21:51
good friend Bellah. She just put out
21:53
some new
21:54
music.
21:55
So talented.
21:56
>> That's Bellah with an H on the end.
21:58
Amma.
21:59
Absolutely. Yes. Rae. The trio. The
22:03
sisters. Okay.
22:05
Um
22:07
those are definitely the tops.
22:08
>> Yeah.
22:09
There's a There's an up-and-coming girl
22:11
called Natanya. Yeah, she's a little
22:14
queen. She's very like old R&B pop.
22:18
So cool. Glad. I like that.
22:20
>> Okay. Yo, that was a great And they
22:21
giving They giving flowers which is
22:23
beautiful.
22:23
>> I like that, man. Hey TK, you's you's a
22:26
citizen, TK.
22:26
>> much.
22:27
>> All right. Um
22:29
A couple of things I want to ask you
22:31
about when I look at the leak
22:33
leak it video, you know, and
22:36
and there's a lot of symbolism in it.
22:38
There's a couple of versions, right?
22:40
It's more than Is it There's two. The
22:41
two versions, right?
22:42
>> Yes. Yes. Um and and correct me if my
22:45
interpretation is wrong, but it the one
22:47
version I was looking at where you guys
22:49
are entering to look like a
22:51
a retreat,
22:52
right? And um
22:54
is it a retreat to help irrelevant
22:57
artists become relevant?
22:59
>> Exactly. Okay.
23:01
>> [laughter]
23:03
>> Oh, man. my. This is Yo, you know I love
23:05
this, though. You know, this got to
23:06
stop. I love trying to figure out
23:07
people's interpretation, even if mine is
23:09
wrong.
23:10
And what And to me, I feel like that was
23:13
a statement you guys were making. For
23:14
show. RIGHT? LIKE THIS
23:16
>> [laughter]
23:18
>> YEE.
23:19
UM
23:20
THAT'S STILL GOING ON, THOUGH. Like uh
23:22
you know, people are pushing artists to
23:24
do things that they don't necessarily
23:26
want to do or that they're not aligned
23:28
with to so-called become relevant.
23:31
Whether it's being controversial,
23:33
being
23:34
bad, if you will, in quotations. Just
23:37
doing things that has nothing to do with
23:38
necessarily the music.
23:40
>> Yeah. Is that what this video is about?
23:42
I think it's also about the artist
23:45
wanting to do it as well. Like it's a
23:47
mutual exchange. I wouldn't say it's so
23:49
like being forced to do something that
23:52
you don't want to do, because I think
23:53
the artist needs to have that
23:55
willingness and hunger to be able to do
23:57
whatever it takes to be quote-unquote
24:00
successful.
24:01
You know? Are there things
24:03
like that you guys will probably stay
24:06
away shy away from when it comes to your
24:08
artistry? Like a lot of people uh
24:12
their presence in in the entertainment
24:15
has become more about what they're
24:16
saying on Instagram or who they're
24:19
fighting with or It's always going to be
24:21
about the music for us. Like that's the
24:23
most important thing. So, it's very
24:25
clear that we're established and known
24:27
for that. Mhm.
24:30
A little you know, a little conversation
24:32
never hurt anyone. I think it just
24:34
depends.
24:35
It's never contrived, either. Like
24:37
anything that we have been wrapped up in
24:40
has simply just been because we
24:43
we've spoken. Yeah. We didn't even know
24:45
it was going to pop off. And all of a
24:47
sudden it's popped off. But like that
24:49
happens nowadays. You can really just
24:51
say whatever you're thinking and it can
24:52
be interpreted like in the worst way
24:55
possible. But listen. Yeah, and there's
24:58
some there's some
25:00
there's some artists that people want to
25:02
twist what they do more than others, and
25:05
I think sometimes especially female we
25:07
felt like guys like
25:09
if this person just said that you guys
25:10
wouldn't or if we if this person wore
25:13
this outfit you wouldn't be getting on
25:14
them. It's like so we were just like
25:16
let's just let's just push it.
25:17
>> Yeah. Let's just let's just like make it
25:19
way bigger. Okay. Selective outrage.
25:21
Selective [snorts] outrage. Yes,
25:23
selective outrage.
25:25
That's a song title. That's actually our
25:26
that's going to be our third album.
25:28
>> [laughter]
25:29
>> Selective outrage. Um there's certain
25:31
artists who tell you man if you know I
25:33
think you know everybody when when it
25:34
comes to Taylor Swift or different big
25:37
songwriters that if if you go out with
25:39
them or chances are you might become a
25:41
subject in a in a chorus, right? You
25:43
might be a verse. Is that something you
25:45
guys kind of do too? Do you when you
25:47
write do you write from your personal
25:49
experiences and Yeah.
25:51
>> put that in so somebody you date can
25:52
actually become a song.
25:54
>> Of course.
25:55
No names but the content [laughter] is
25:57
there.
25:59
Sometimes some of our songs are like
26:01
made up.
26:03
Like Carbon Box our first song was kind
26:04
of just like a bit of fun. None of us
26:07
had been in that position
26:08
[clears throat] before.
26:09
But like I feel like now as we're
26:10
growing up for sure we're going to go
26:13
and going to have some therapy in the
26:14
studio.
26:16
Why not, right? Okay man, I can't wait
26:18
to hear about it man. This is Flo y'all.
26:20
Mike Muse go ahead.
26:22
The previous [clears throat] caller
26:24
just made me think about something and
26:27
listening to the responses that you gave
26:29
Flo of your favorite UK artists right
26:31
now.
26:32
And I'm just curious about what how is
26:34
British radio stations receive R&B? So
26:38
often here in the United States we talk
26:40
about blue-eyed soul, right? And I love
26:42
Lola Young, right? I love Olivia Dean, I
26:45
love Ray.
26:47
But I'm just curious like how is it
26:50
perceived as
26:51
blue-eyed R&B soul that's dominating the
26:54
crossover charts. Are non blue-eyed soul
26:57
people
26:58
are they prominent on display on the
27:00
crossover radio? So, if you can give us
27:02
just some insight into that cuz here in
27:04
the States we are very blue-eyed soul
27:07
forward. Yeah.
27:10
It's definitely making its way back or
27:14
making its way up, but it's not as
27:16
popular as pop music. It's quite hard to
27:18
get like your R&B soul songs on the
27:21
radio. Yeah. Wow.
27:23
>> For sure. There's like
27:25
There's like subsidiary versions of
27:28
record station I mean
27:30
radio station that will play R&B, but
27:33
it's not ever the main ones.
27:34
>> Yeah. And it might be just at night time
27:37
or you know.
27:38
>> Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy.
27:39
>> That is crazy. We play it here. Yeah,
27:42
honestly. Thank you. Thank you. No, we
27:44
got a lot of channels here, right?
27:46
>> Absolutely. We have the heat. We have
27:48
heart and soul. We have Um oh gosh. Oh.
27:52
It's over 100 Flo. We have over 150
27:56
channels.
27:57
Yo, J1. Where's J1 our VP of
27:59
programming? Yeah, you should do the
28:02
countdown.
28:03
We going to make that happen.
28:05
That makes so much sense.
28:06
>> Yes, Flo. Flo.
28:09
Is your name an acronym too? Because
28:11
seeing it in all caps it feels like a
28:13
statement. It feels incredibly
28:15
intentional. So, I wanted to know if
28:18
it's an acronym. And now that you've
28:20
been living inside of this name for a
28:23
bit of time now, does it feel like
28:26
there's even an evolved meaning for all
28:29
three of you guys now versus when you
28:32
first came up with that name?
28:34
>> [laughter]
28:35
>> There is no acronym. But definitely when
28:38
we came up with the name it didn't have
28:41
a lot of meaning, but as like the years
28:44
have gone by
28:46
it just makes so much sense. Like the
28:48
meaning was there before we even knew
28:49
the meaning.
28:50
>> Yeah. And especially when we'll be
28:51
talking to someone, having a
28:52
conversation with someone, and they'll
28:54
use like flow in their sentence
28:56
unrelated to us being called Flo, just
28:59
as an f l o w. And then they're like,
29:02
"Oh."
29:02
Like because the way that they use the
29:04
word is exactly what it means for the
29:07
group.
29:08
>> Yeah. So, that's very beautiful.
29:10
>> Yes, it's very beautiful. All right. We
29:12
just flow. Flo are here. They're here,
29:14
man. Give them a round of applause.
29:18
I did pull a quote, Renee, I was going
29:20
to read to you. Ooh, what's this quote?
29:23
Something you said.
29:26
Um I think we just had to be honest with
29:29
ourselves about where we are at at the
29:30
time. We found it difficult to make
29:32
really loving songs, but we were all in
29:34
really loving relationships, and we were
29:36
all lover girls at heart. You just have
29:38
to own it. I feel like we explain love
29:40
in a unique way. Like it's never just
29:43
like, "Oh, I'm in love with you, and I'm
29:45
all yours. I'm in love, but yes, I'm
29:47
still a bad bitch."
29:48
>> [laughter]
29:50
>> That is the essence of Flo.
29:53
I didn't see that coming towards the
29:54
end, but it's so true.
29:56
I think this was about like, um the
29:59
creation of Access All Areas. Like we
30:01
were all in very loving relationships.
30:02
It was and we struggled in the past to
30:04
make
30:05
songs about love that we didn't find
30:07
cringey. Like, "Ugh, this is just like
30:09
eh, let me know, let me know." But I
30:11
think a big, um part of why people love
30:13
Flo is that even in our vulnerable
30:15
moments, even when we're sad or talking
30:18
about a topic that's really deep, it's
30:20
always kind of like, "I'm still going to
30:22
be the baddest." Or like, "I'm still
30:24
good." Or
30:25
me even showing you guys that I'm going
30:27
through a tough time means that I'm a
30:29
bad Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.
30:32
Hey, I got it, man. I can relate to it.
30:34
All right.
30:35
>> bad You're a bad too. I
30:36
know, that's right. I'm more like,
30:37
"Bitch, I'm bad."
30:39
>> [laughter]
30:39
>> All right.
30:42
Come on, chisel.
30:43
>> [laughter]
30:45
>> Come on, Chisel.
30:47
You know, Mike, Cynthia Cynthia said I'm
30:49
bad, too, right? All right, but listen,
30:52
uh me you comma, [laughter] I'm
30:54
bad.
30:55
You heard the comma in there, right? Um
30:58
this was a absolute pleasure to have
31:00
you, a treat on this show today.
31:03
Thank you for joining us this small I
31:05
know it was hard and early.
31:07
It was so awesome.
31:09
Thank you. Good, good, good to know cuz
31:11
I want to book you. No, I'm just
31:12
kidding. Garage series.
31:14
>> Garage series.
31:15
When is the next time you My gosh, um
31:18
the next one No, the next time they're
31:20
in California.
31:21
>> When you in Well, we do we have a
31:23
June, and May, and May. We have a
31:25
full-blown studio in the garage of this
31:27
building. Yes. So, we call it a garage
31:30
um um series.
31:32
I can't name everybody that we've Tracy,
31:35
can you name some of the names? We had
31:36
Ella Mai Ella Mai.
31:39
We just did Kehlani who's featured on
31:41
You guys done a You did a
31:42
collaboration with Kehlani.
31:45
Kehlani
31:46
two Kehlani's from Oakland, where I'm
31:47
from,
31:48
where we say "Yee."
31:51
We're going to go and say that to her
31:52
tomorrow. We're just [laughter] going to
31:53
say it in our ear. Ooh, nice.
31:56
Jagged Edge.
31:58
Yeah, we've had a We've had I can't even
32:00
name everybody we had.
32:04
It's a beautiful experience. We invite
32:06
the subscribers to your series XM. Yes,
32:09
and to come while you perform and ask
32:11
questions. And this
32:12
Yeah, Jazzy is a beautiful Yeah, it's a
32:15
beautiful time and experience, intimate,
32:17
fun, and it's a good time with the
32:19
audience and people that support you.
32:21
And for people who did not uh know about
32:23
Flo, they will know about Flo.
32:27
Y'all love to do that.
32:29
Okay, J1, he's the one who programs the
32:31
channel Flo, as well. So, we'll we'll
32:33
make all of that happen. You guys are
32:36
amazing.
32:36
>> Yes. Thank you for joining us today.
32:40
>> Um and then we'll we'll get some vocals
32:42
when y'all do the garage.
32:43
>> [laughter]
32:44
>> Georgia is like, IS HE GOING TO
32:48
OH, THEY FREESTYLE? THEY GOT BARS? THEY
32:49
GOT THEY trying to rap?
32:51
>> I wanted them to harmonize or something.
32:53
We need to practice.
32:54
>> Okay, y'all prac- Okay. All right. Okay.
32:56
Okay.
32:57
Okay. What What No, it's not.
33:00
Sway. Okay, cool.
33:02
Okay.
33:08
Go get the key. Okay. All right. Okay,
33:09
hold on. They've got to get the right
33:10
key, guys.
33:13
Oh, wow.
33:14
>> [laughter]
33:15
>> You sing for them in the meantime.
33:20
No, that was just But I love their proof
33:22
and this doesn't happen by accident.
33:25
Right. This happens intentionally
33:26
practice.
33:28
Here we go.
33:29
3 2 1 and
33:32
Sway.
33:33
>> [singing]
33:35
>> Sway.
33:39
>> [singing]
33:42
>> You want to see
33:44
swaying in the morning.
33:49
[screaming]
33:51
YEAH. WOW.
33:53
LET'S GO.
33:55
PERFECTION. YO, WE GOT SOME HIGH EATERS
33:57
IN HERE.
33:58
>> [laughter]
34:01
[cheering]
34:04
>> THAT WAS LIVE, THERE YOU GO.
34:07
>> [laughter]
34:09
>> WOW.
34:10
>> YO, Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR GEORGIA. Give
34:12
it up for Stella. Give it up for Renee.
34:14
>> [applause and cheering]
34:15
>> They are flow. Thank you.
34:17
Y'all have our support.
34:18
>> You have all our support. And man, I'm
34:21
just going to end the show with that
34:22
one.
34:22
>> That's all. That's it. Drop it while
34:24
while you hot. Leave while you hot.
34:29
we bad.
34:31
>> THERE YOU GO.
34:31
>> [laughter]
34:33
>> ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE NOTHING
34:35
LEFT TO SAY. PLAY THE SONG, TORCH.
#Arts & Entertainment