‘’ANNOUNCEMENT playing Saturday in the Big Top at #iow2023 we have @brits Rising Star & @bbcradio1 Sound of 2023 winners @flolikethis Grab your tickets now!”

The Isle of Wight 2023 headliners were announced as Pulp, George Ezra, The Chemical Brothers and Robbie Williams. FLO has since joined the line-up with other announced performers, NDubz, Example, Anne Marie, Sam Ryder, Blondie, Niall Horan, James Bay, One Republic, Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ella Henderson, Scouting For Girls and many more. The festival is scheduled to take place 15-18 June at Seaclose Park in Newport, Isle of Wight.

The British girl group from London, who were formed in 2019, consists of Renée Downer, Jorja Douglas and Stella Quaresma. Their debut single ‘’Cardboard Box’’ was released 24 March 2022, after they signed with record label, Island Records. Throughout their career so far, they have worked closely with UK chart topper, Mnek, with him producing their debut EP, except from the track ‘’Another Guy’’ . The trio released their debut EP, The Lead, in July 2022. The ‘Happi remix’ of their debut single ‘’Cardboard Box’’ become the number one used sound on Tik Tok UK, when a creators dance routine went viral. The song on Tik Tok now has 1.2 million videos using the sound. The group made their television debut performing their single ‘’Cardboard Box’’ on US late night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and later performed the song the following month on UK show, Later…with Jools Holland.

At the end of January, FLO announced their 2023 North American Tour. Before heading to the states, FLO will perform in London at the Here at the Outernet venue and at Manchester’s New Century Hall. The North American tour will kick off in Atlanta, Georgia in April. They announced the news to their social media, with the caption

‘’Cats out the bloodclart bag!
We’re heading out on our first NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!
Sign up for pre-sale access to our tickets across the states! We can’t wait to see you’’

FLO recently won the Rising Star award at the Brits 2023. Nia Archives and Cat Burns were also short listed for this years award. The previous winners of the award have gone on to form incredible careers, such as Adele (2008), Emeli Sandé (2012), Florence and the Machine (2009), Ellie Goulding (2010), Sam Smith (2014), Jessie J (2011) and Tom Odell (2013).

In a statement to the Brits, the girl group reflected on their big win: “From growing up watching the BRITs, to finding each other and forming FLO, releasing our first body of work in 2022 and winning a BRIT award in the same year!! We are so shocked and grateful. We are the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star! We’ve just made history and couldn’t have done it without our wonderful fans and supportive families. It’s truly a dream come true. We feel so empowered creating the music we love and we hope others feel that too.”

To access tickets for the Isle of Wight festival, click here.

Many stars attended an after party, which was hosted by Universal Music, at 108 The Strand In Convent Garden, on Saturday evening. Aitch, Lewis Capaldi, Mabel, Shania Twain, Mnek, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ardee, Sigrid and Talia storm were all among musical talent who attended the after party event. Lewis Capaldi was seen turning up to the event, following on from Mo Gilligan introducing him to the Brits audience as ‘Sam Capaldi,’ to which he then performed his single, ‘‘Forget Me.” He was seen turning up in a cheerful and ecstatic mood.

Designed by Matt Dosa, the event hosted a range of DJ’s throughout the evening. Universal Music Group and Universal Music UK, posted a video to their Instagram’s, providing an exclusive insight into the after party event. During the video, posted to the Universal Music Group’s Instagram, Lewis Capaldi is seen posing in front of the camera and sprawling himself on the floor. He also posed for snaps with fellow Chart topper, Mabel.

The caption to their post stated,

‘’A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for the Universal Music BRITs party 2023 – our first party in three years and certainly one to remember!

Special shout out to our incredible @umusicar team and the brilliant @matt.dosa for bringing his art to the room.
#UmusicBRITs ‘’

Coca Cola hosted a private after party in support of their new Movement drink, on a boat in the River Thames. Maya Jama, AJ Odudu, Chunkz and Snoochie Shy were among the attendees. DJ’s Continental GT, Tiffany Calver and DJ Corey provided music for the guests.

Harry styles celebrated his big four Brit award wins at the Sony Music afterparty at Londons Nobu hotel. Roman Kemp, Tom Grennan, Ellie Goulding, Mimi Webb and Cat Burns were among stars who also attended the Sony Music after party. Sony Music UK posted a series of snaps of the stars at the Brits after party with the caption,

‘’step right this way for the sony music brits afterparty  #brits”

DJ Jodie Harsh, Sugababes, Mike Skinner and Eliza Rose all provided entertainment at the Ciroc x Warner Music, Brits after party, which was held at the NoMad hotel in London’s Convent Garden. Charli XCX, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Sam Ryder, Mahalia and Sugababes, all attended the after party. Charli XCX poked fun at her loss to Harry Styles in the Pop/R&B category, as she was pictured wearing a t-shirt which had written on it ‘Real Winner.’

Warner Music UK posted a video to their Instagram, which provided an insight into the event.

The caption to their post said,

‘’ The Warner Music UK x Ciroc #brits (capitals) afterparty was NEXT LEVEL

Shout out to our partners Ciroc and our incredible global events team! ”

There was sure to be a few sore heads following the 2023 Brits after parties, as artists who attended the event all celebrated the biggest night of the year for British music.

Stormzy performs Hide & Seek at The Brit Awards 2023.#Stormzy #BRITs #Brits2023 #MayaJama #britawards2023 pic.twitter.com/fOJJIAtJ0z

— EmpireArtStudios (@EmpireArtStudio) February 11, 2023

He was one of the many performers on that night. In the background of his performance, were different shades of orange and brown, alongside the backing band, the strings and the choir for the turn. He performs his Afroswing/UK Hip-Hop single “Hide And Seek” first, then he transitioned to his over laid-back, mellowed, Hip-Hop (with choir) song, “I Got My Smile Back.” He was nominated for three awards but was unsuccessful in winning even one as Harry Styles takes the cake with four trophies instead.

Hide And Seek was produced by the likes of PRGRSHN and Owen Cutts, including featured vocals from Nigerian singer and rising star, Oxlade and vocalists Ayanna and Teni. A little context behind the meaning of “Hide And Seek”, the lyrics, “When your soul needs alignin’/ It’s me you confide in/ Seekin’ and hidin’/ Nowhere to find me, yeah.” Stormzy is quite open and confident about his faith in God, so those lyrics imply his spiritual worth and greater beings, whilst still putting his faith and trust in God. In the album as a whole, Stormzy talks about his grounding in God as his ultimate source of inspiration behind his project.

The lyric, “Seekin’ and hidin’, is a reverse of the song title that follows Stormzy’s journey in the limelight, where he was very vocal about finding God and strongly holds on to the importance of finding relaxation and peace.

“I Got My Smile Back” (the second to the last track of the album) represents the album’s conclusion, which shifts back to the symbolism the listeners experienced. The backing vocalist for this single was Debbie Ehirim until the last verse. Throughout the song, she provides a calm, soft and mellow approach, leading to Stormzy ending smoothly on this constructing album that lyrically emphasises moving forward, healing and letting go.

One of the tracks in the album, “Sampha’s Plea,” is spotlighted with “I Got My Smile Back.” Stormzy has admitted to not openly addressing mental health issues as music in his previous music, while there is a slight darkness in the subject matter, it is mostly uplifting and hopeful overall and he hopes his fans get the right message from his album.