Here's a little interview I did in Tatler... and big thanks to Miu Miu for picking me for the shoot :D
]]>Yay! Begging Me hits 400,000 views on YouTube. Thanks for all your support! X
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Here's a little interview I did in Tatler... and big thanks to Miu Miu for picking me for the shoot :D
]]>UPDATE: Tickets are SOLD OUT - if you bought one, SEE YOU THERE! X
Ello ello!
I hope you're all enjoying the Begging Me Remix? As promised last week, here is the second part of my Christmas SURPRISE for you! It's a little video of my year, it took a few weeks to go through all the footage but I've picked out all the best bits for you, and I think it's looking preeeeeetty prefect :)
Can't wait for 2012...it's gonna BLOW YOUR MIND. :D X
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Hello, hello hello!
I hope you're all getting SUPER excited about Xmas!
I know I've kept you waiting for new music, but once I knew I wasn't going to finish any new material and release it by the end of November, I knew it was better to wait until the new year and avoid all the Xmas madness!
BUT... to thank you for all of your patience and support , I've decided to release the FRED FALKE special remix of 'Begging Me'! I've had it in my iTunes for a while and now seems like the perfect time to get it out there. You can listen and download the remix below, or even buy on iTunes. I hope you like it! :) To go with Fred's mix, I've also put together a little video of some of the best bits of my year, out very, very soon...
It's for all you guys who have come to my gigs, downloaded my music, shared it with you friends, danced round your living rooms like crazy and left me your funny, inspiring (sometimes a little strange!), comments on Facebook and Twitter.
I'll be in the studio right up to 23rd of December and you won't have to wait long in 2012 before you start to see and hear my plans (for world domination!) ;) I cannot WAIT!
Hope you all have a BRILLIANT Xmas... and eat lots of mince pies YUM! X And thank you again for a brilliant 2011.
Love,
Florrie xxx
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You can also buy Begging Me (Fred Falke Remix) on iTunes. Search your local store for 'Florrie Begging Me Fred Falke Remix' or click a store below:
Today I reached 20,000 fans on my Facebook page, and I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to YOU guys, who have supported me for the last 18 months. We've come a looooooong way, and it's only going to get bigger and better from here! I'll be back tomorrow with another blog on what I've been up to the last few weeks :) Muchas besos X
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Heylo!
I've just got back from Portland, Oregon after two (and a bit) weeks of lyric writing. It's the first time I've been anywhere in the US other than LA or New York. Totally different experience but a really cool place!
SO... I have eight new songs that I'm gonna sing down when I get back to the studio in a few days, and fingers crossed I'll get away without much jet lag as I have sooooo much to do. I am definitely behind where I would wanna be right now, in terms of giving you guys some new music to listen to, but I know that I mustn't rush anything.
I think the songs that I've written over the past few months, the ones I started in LA in August, are the best I have ever written and I CANNOT WAIT for you to hear them! I think in all honesty I'm going to struggle to get my next EP out in November, but I'm not gonna worry too much about it, and instead concentrate on making the tracks as good as they possibly can be, because they're worth it.
I'll update you with more info on new music really soon :) Keep checking back for new blogs too yup?
I PROMISE it's going to be worth the wait.
Florrie X
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Photo: Markus Glas
Heylo!
It feels like only a few days ago that I wrote my last blog...but it's been nearly 3 weeks! Yikes! Since I last wrote to you I've spent a few days back in LA for more meetings, then it was straight off to Dublin to play at Arthurs Day! I flew out with Annie and had a day of interviews, then met the other guys the next morning and our new bass player Lee :) We played with Ed Sheeran, Aloe Blacc and the Scissor Sisters at the Olympia theatre, then did a secret pub gig at the end of the night. The pub gig was quite interesting to say the least! We ended up blowing both PA speakers AND the bass amp...oops! Still, they seemed to enjoy it ;) I spent the next day in Dublin, although I didn't get round to seeing much because I woke up at 3pm (silly jet lag!). But I did have time to discover that it seems to be one of the the friendliest cities in the WORLD! :)
Next, it was on to Hamburg for a gig at the Reeperbahn Festival. We landed and went straight to the venue, straight into sound check then straight into the gig! it was a bit of a mad rush but the crowd made up for it - all 600 of you were wixked! We played a full 45 minute set which we haven't done in a while... I CANT WAIT to put some new songs into it! Going to get busy rehearsing them over the next few weeks. AND I'll be working hard on writing the brand new tracks. Already they are so exciting, can't wait for you all to hear them :)
Off to Paris tomorrow for fashion week...Going to see the Miu Miu show AND it's supposed to be super sunny!
I'll write another update soon....hopefully with some good news about BooBoo, (my missing rabbit). Thanks for all your help trying to find him, it really means a lot, fingers crossed he'll turn up eventually! :)
Adios amigos! X
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Hello there!
I'm sat on the train back to London so thought it was time I did another update for you guys :)
I arrived back from Los Angeles last Tuesday, after an amazing trip with lots of writing and drumming and meetings! I love spending time out there, there's something quite inspirational about it...maybe it's the sunshine ;) I met a new writing buddy called Brit, who is super nice. I also met the wonderful Perez Hilton who was really enthusiastic about my project and what I'm trying to do. I can't wait to come and play some gigs for you guys in the U.S. Can't believe I haven't come to see you yet!
The new tracks are sounding beyond amaaaazing! There are so many of them :) I have no idea how I'm going to pick the ones for the next EP... I don't have a release date for it yet, but it's looking like November...
I spent a couple days trying to get over my jet lag when I got back, then went to Vogue Fashion Night out on Thursday. I wore a Stella McCartney dress and my Miu Miu yellow sparkly heels, i looked pretty snazzy!
On Friday night I flew to Berlin, ready to play at Berlin Festival on the Saturday. I woke up at 5am and ate an ENTIRE bag of salted peanuts, trying not to wake Annie up with my crunching...but secretly hoping she would so she could entertain my jetlag ;) It was nice to play again after having 3 weeks of no gigs, we were on quite early so didn't have a massive crowd, but big thank you's to everyone who came to watch!
I'm actually back to LA tomorrow for a few days, for more work on the EP and more meetings...it's all raaaather exciting!
Right! Its almost my stop, so i'm off!
Will write again from the land of La...BIG squeeze. Florrie x
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Massive luuurve!
Florrie XX
Photograph: Sara Rose
Hello! After a busy few weeks, I'm back in the studio and writing LOTS. I'm working on a new EP and possible album tracks (for when I release a full album). I've got about 18 new songs on the go, so it can get a little crazy at times! I played three great gigs - The Magic Loungeabout, Underage Festival, and a warm up one at the Tunbridge Wells Forum; thanks to everyone who came to watch, and it was nice to finally meet some of you guys too!
I've got a little break from gigs for a few weeks now, to concentrate on writing and put some new things into the live set. I think it's time I changed it up a bit :) Oh, and I found a ukulele in the studio the other day, so i've been teaching myself how to play it, and I'm determined to get it into the show some how ;)
Next week, I've got a photo shoot for the new EP cover, so I've been trying to run every day (in my shnazzy new Reebok trainers), and I've been doing weights with jars of Sharwoods curry sauce! Then on Thursday it's off to LA with the gang to write some new tracks and meet some new people who can help with 'The Florrie Project'.
It's only been a couple of months since Experiments came out, but already it feels like forever ago... I can't wait for you guys to hear some new music :) Oh, and don't forget to check out where I'm gigging over the next few months here. Will do another update sooon! BIG love, X
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Hello! It’s been so hectic over the last four or five weeks that I haven’t had the chance to sit down and write to you all with an update - sorry it's been a while - but here it is now! So, I wanna tell you all what I’ve been up to since 'Experiments' came out last month. Actually while I’m on the subject, THANK YOU again to everyone who bought the EP and got it charting all over the world! For a few days, Experiments went to No. 111 in the American iTunes album chart, No 7 in Spain, No 44 in France and No 41 in the UK chart, which was totally unexpected, and definitely one of the most exciting times for me since I started releasing music a year ago.
My last update was from 'Oslo Live' festival in Norway. I met loads of lovely people, did a day of interviews, ate a VERY expensive pizza, and played a great gig. It was a little quiet at first, I guess cause we were on quite early in the day, but we had a really good crowd by the end of the set.
After surviving our Ryan Air flight home from Oslo, I had a few days back in the studio (and went to see Take That at Wembley!), then it was on to Pohoda Festival in Slovakia! I think I need to get myself a world map… half the time I don’t even know where I am in the world and it most likely will catch me out one day, hmm. SO, Pohoda is a really big festival in Slovakia, and is renowned for it’s line up of artists from all over the world. Stage time wasn’t until 10pm, so we spent the day wandering around the festival and checking out the other stages in the boiling HOT sun. I wasn’t really sure what to expect of the gig, we we’re playing in quite a big tent (1500 capacity) but we were also on at the same time as Pulp and Imogen Heap. It got to 9.30 and I was just finishing my makeup when Annie ran in shouting 'Come look at this!!!' The tent was rammed, and all 1500 people were shouting 'Florrie, Florrie', which was quite a surreal experience… and I suddenly got quite nervous! The gig though was AMAZING. The best to date, and it’s such a different feeling playing to a crowd that have listened to all your songs, sing along to every word, and have come just to see you. Don’t get me wrong, all the gigs I’ve done have been a valuable experience and I’ve learnt so much about performing on stage, but this was a different level, and totally unexpected, which made it even better! Thank you Slovakia!
I was back in the studio for another couple of days after Pohoda and then I was off again, this time to Shanghai to play a gig for Miu Miu! They were holding a HUGE fashion show in the third tallest building in the world…it looked incredible! I was pretty over excited, AND I got to wear a snazzy Miu Miu outfit, with an amazing pair of yellow sparkly heels. We played two half an hour sets on the 92nd floor and boogied the night away afterwards… which made it a little tricky getting up the next morning for my flight to Tokyo, oops. BTW they have these toilets that are like little robot people and, erm, well, do everything!
SO. Tokyo. I’d never been out there before, and the first thing I noticed was a) how ridiculously hot it was and b) IT'S TRUE, Japanese people are among the most friendly, helpful and courteous people in aaall the world! Only there for 2 days but I managed to squeeze in a couple of meetings with some people about putting out my tracks over there, which is pretty exciting. On the sightseeing front, I spent most of my time in the fashion districts, Harajuku and Shibuya. Can't wait to go again soon!
Once back in the UK I had a few days in the studio, then off again to the South of France to play a gig in Arles with Bryan Ferry in an old roman amphitheatre! The gig itself was a bit strange… I guess because Bryan Ferry attracts a (slightly!) older audience,they were quite ‘sensible’ but seemed to enjoy it in the end.
Oh! A few other things DEFINITELY worth mentioning…
However, the best bit of news came yesterday, when I was told that in the 5 weeks since the release of the 'Experiments EP' 16,407 Florrie tracks were downloaded worldwide on iTunes. Again, I can’t thank all of you enough for backing me and what I’m trying to do. We are (very) slowly but surely TAKING OVER THE WORLD!! Mwahahaha! (evil laugh)
So, before I go, I’ve just done the Magic Loungeabout in Skipton, and I've still got gigs coming up (Underage Festival in London this Friday, then Austria, Berlin, Hamburg, Madrid, Bilbau, Barcelona and Dublin!)
And I’m gonna be playing a warm up free gig in Tunbridge Wells at The Forum on Monday 8th August. Hope some of you can make it down :) More news soon!
BIG chunks of love, Florrie x
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I'm performing a FREE gig at The Forum in Tunbridge Wells - TN4 8YU - on Monday 8 August. Cats Hero are providing support. Sign up for free entry at the Tunbridge Wells Forum Facebook page. Doors 19.30 - get there early to avoid disappointment. U16s need to be accompanied by an adult. See you there? X
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Experiments EP - photo by Lee Jenkins
Hello everyone :)
It's a really exciting time for me, so first of all (and most importantly) I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for your support, enthusiasm, and encouragement over the last year. You guys have been more than amazing and I feel like now is a good time to fill you in a bit more on what I'm up to, and how the project is going…
Everything involved within my music project is paid for 100% by the money that I make - that means recordings, management, videos, my band, press agents etc etc
So this is how it works …The first thing I did once I’d decided to stop the in house drumming, and dedicate myself 100% to becoming a recording artist, was to try and get a sync for my music. Getting my music on an advert or in a film can really help build an audience, and generate income. I went to my publishers (Warner Chappell) and introduced myself to the lovely people in their sync team. Two weeks later they asked if I was interested in writing music for a perfume campaign for the famous french fashion & fragrance house Nina Ricci. I looked at the brief and wrote 2 songs which I then sent off with a short video clip of me singing them. Lalala! A week or so later I was asked to go to Paris, and sang one of my songs accapella to the board of directors. It was terrifying, but it worked, and the next day I was offered the chance to front their new world wide campaign! WOW.
I did a 10 day shoot in Paris and agreed to represent the brand by doing gigs at various worldwide launches. I perform all my own songs plus my version of the Blondie classic “Sunday Girl”. I get paid for doing these appearances as well as the fee I was given for appearing in the film. This is one of the ways that I support what I’m doing.
As well as this i get paid an advance once a year for my songwriting and publishing by Warner Chappell. The money that I get from both these sources helps me to keep doing the things that aren’t making any money (yet!), but are really important. I love gigging and getting out there to play for you guys, and although it doesn’t always pay for itself - I lose around £450 per gig when I am on tour, the experience is invaluable and it’s the only way to make sure my live show is the best it can be. However, I’m getting lots of offers offers of bigger gigs, like supporting BRYAN FERRY this summer in a roman amphitheatre in the south of France (!!!!). It’s gigs like this that help pay for the gigs where I lose money.
Along with the paid gigs, my music also continues to pick up syncs. For example "Left too late" a song from my previous EP has recently been selected for a Scandinavian TV advert for a Fashion company. They’ll pay a fee for using both the song and the recording. All of this money is 100% profit which I can then put back into the project. It’s SUPER exciting when stuff like that happens cause it means I can keep doing what I’m doing!! AWW YEAH.
And lastly, I want to thank you guys for buying my tracks on iTunes, my t-shirts and vinyl, and coming to the gigs.
In total the project makes more money than it spends, which allows me to keep my independence :)
PHEW. Now we’ve got that bit done, I wanna talk to you about….
A lot of you come up to me at gigs and say “I can’t believe you’re not signed!”
I want to make it clear that it is my choice to stay independent, BUT at the same time I am absolutely NOT anti label and I am definitely not on some sort of crusade!! I just want to succeed and keep moving forward. For me right now it’s about gigs, releases, videos, building a fan base (you guys!), and making sure I look after you guys too :) - all that sort of stuff, never giving in, never worrying about how long this is gonna take, cause I’m in it for long run!!
As I mentioned a while back, I continue to get a lot of enquiries from major labels in the UK and, very importantly, North America. If anything can tell me that I am on the right road, it is enthusiasm from North America for an unsigned UK based artist. So, when the time is right, I’ll find the best one to partner up with.
As much as I LOVE both of my EP's I don’t think my music is particularly “chart friendly” right now, but I have this incredible opportunity to make the music I want to…AND you guys like listening to it, which is the most important thing!
I’m not trying to follow the trends of the day and I’ll continue to put out material that I love and enjoy making. I hope one day enough people will like my music for it to become “chart friendly” but without specifically trying to achieve that. I’ve heard the expression “chasing a hit” and I don’t think I’d be much good at it to be honest. I obviously want to be successful but I also want to keep being me.
Having said that (fear not my friends) "Call 911" has not been forgotten!!! Of all my songs I think this one is the most “friendly” to the radio waves so I’m gonna get stuck into preparing the definitive version of this song, which will be released later in the year, hopefully around October! YEEEEEHAAAAA! COME GET YOUR BEAT BACK! boomboooomboombo
RIGHT, back to the EP! Iv’e got a new video coming out for a track off the new EP – “Experimenting with rugs” THIS THURSDAY, a little something for you before the EP next week!! I hope you like it!
I’ve also collaborated with Dolce and Gabbana on a short film with another new song “I took a little something” as the soundtrack. Its not a music video as such, more of a cool fashion/music project. They’ve been great to work with, and very supportive!
I’ve met some incredible people in the last 12 months particularly in the fashion world, and I want to give a special mention here to two in particular. Richard Mortimer and Phoebe Arnold. They are the creative directors on the non-music side of the project, and help shape the images you guys see in my photos and videos. They know all sorts of amazing people (like Price James who directed the Begging Me video) and have pulled so many favors…from shoots to shoes!! They’re brilliant.
PHEW!! Well, I’m JUST about finshed ;) Guess you guys might need a little nap now? It’s a lot to take in but I think it’s important that you know whats going on… BYE! X
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