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Artist News Awards Media
Flo win BBC Sound Of 2023
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 5 January 2023
Girl group Flo have been announced as the winners of the BBC Sound Of 2023 poll, ahead of producer Fred Again who came in second.
“Wow, we did it”, say the trio. “To win this accolade not even a year after we released our debut single ‘Cardboard Box’ is wild. We feel so connected to our British music roots winning BBC Radio 1’s Sound Of and admire the artists who have come before us, especially our gal PinkPantheress winning last year!”
“Thank you to everyone who voted for us and put girl groups back on the map”, they continue. “To be recognised for our music, and people to believe in our vision, inspires us to go further this year! 2023 we’re ready!”
The group were told of their “very worthy” win in a video message from Stormzy, who called them a “breath of fresh air” and added that he believes “we’re going to see you guys for the next ten, fifteen, 20 years”.
Radio 1 presenter Jack Saunders – who was with Flo as they learned of their win – added in a statement: “This year is one of the strongest long lists we’ve seen in a while. Full of vibrant, creative and exciting artists that want to push the boundaries. Radio 1 continues to champion the innovators and the stars of the future and this list will prove that. Flo are a revelation to the scene and a worthy winner of the Sound Of list this year”.
Signed to Island Records in 2020, Flo were formed after a rigorous auditions process, although the final three members – Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma and Renée Downer – already knew each other previously. Downer and Quaresma studied together at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, and had already connected with Douglas – who won CBBC talent show ‘Got What It Takes’ in 2016 – on social media.
They released their debut single, ‘Cardboard Box’, in March last year, followed by their first EP, ‘The Lead’, in July. They performed on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ in October, and last month were also named winners of the BRITs Rising Star award.
Here’s the final Sound Of 2023 top five:
1. Flo
2. Fred Again
3. Nia Archives
4. Cat Burns
5. Gabriels
