Popping Up: Florrie
Popping Up is our recurring look at new artists making noise on the music landscape. Because, hey, Madonna and Britney were once unknown, too.
This week we turn our attention overseas, to British singer/multi-instrumentalist Florrie, who’s been causing quite a fuss online since she began offering addictive dance-pop tracks like “Call 911” and “Panic Attack” up as free downloads. She had the good fortune to fall into producer Brian Higgins’ Xenomania team as their drummer two years ago. And with such friends in high places as Higgins and French producer Fred Falke, we’re guessing it won’t be long before Florrie is marching to the beat of her own drum. Let’s head below to learn a bit more about this new talent who says, “I like to make music that people want to dance to.”
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Bristol, England
HOW LONG SHE’S BEEN DRUMMING: Since she was 7. As Florrie notes on her official site, you can “check out the dodgy 90s photos of me on Flickr.”
HER BIG BREAK: Moving to London with her former band Self Service, where she befriended the manager of Australian pop star Gabriella Cilmi.
HER BIGGER BREAK: Getting a phone call three days after leaving Self Service to go audition to be the house drummer for the Xenomania production team. “I didn’t really know what Xenomania was, or who Brian [Higgins] was, so I Wikipedia’d him,” Florrie told PonyStep. “I came down on the Thursday then again the next day, and he offered me the job.”
ON HER JOB AS XENOMANIA’S DRUMMER GIRL: “We have days where it’s mad and I don’t see people upstairs for three days because they’re working away. It’s a different process to how you would expect to write songs and make a record. It is relaxed, but I have complete control into what I do, which makes it very hard work. I guess we have a good balance.”
Florrie drumming at Xenomania’s recording studio in Kent, England.
ARTISTS SHE’S PLAYED THE DRUMS FOR: Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud (on their Brit Award-winning UK hit “The Promise”), Mini Viva and the subject of Idolator’s very first Popping Up, Alex Gardner.
FLORRIE’S FIRST TRACK AS A SOLO ARTIST: “Call 911,” which was co-written by French producer Fred Falke (who’s done mixes for Annie, Grizzly Bear, Robbie Williams and La Roux).
[wpaudio url=”//static.idolator.com/uploads/2010/05/Florrie-Florrie-Remixes-Call-911-Florrie-Remix-320kbps.mp3″ text=”Florrie – Call 911 (Florrie Remix)”]
AND SPEAKING OF FRED FALKE: Below is his “extended mix” of Florrie’s floorfiller “Panic Attack.”
[wpaudio url=”//static.idolator.com/uploads/2010/05/Florrie-Florrie-Remixes-Panic-Attack-Fred-Falke-Extended-Mix-320kbps.mp3″ text=”Florrie – Panic Attack (Fred Falke Extended Mix)” dl=”0″]
WHAT’S UP WITH THE FREE DOWNLOADS, FLORRIE? (NOT THAT WE’RE COMPLAINING!): “As yet I’m not signed to a label. I want you guys to sing/dance/download/love and play my music as much as possible, and for free, before I do that! I will carry on releasing all my tracks as free downloads for the foreseeable future—OR UNTIL SOMEONE TELLS ME TO STOP!”
