Today we are blessed with UK-based singer-songwriter Flora, who’s been featured on BBC’s live lounge and had a streak of successful singles. She’s set to release her new single entitled ‘Easy’ with its accompanying music video that depicts a day full of inconveniences and small annoyances that keep getting under Flora’s skin. I had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Flora and asking her a few questions.
- First of all, I’d like to thank you for giving us some of your precious time. I’m pretty sure you’ve been busy lately preparing for your music video release and other projects. Would you please tell me how you started making music in the first place?
Music is something that has been around me since before I can remember- both my parents were heavily influenced by music and so I don’t really remember a time where it hasn’t been in my life, but I started my own writing career when I was gifted a ukulele for Christmas 2016, I was 12 at the time.
2. What was your biggest inspiration, if any, when growing up? Did you consider making a living off of music when you were young?
This is a tough one for me because I’m not sure I have one out right inspiration- I’ve always been more inspired by how everyone in this industry has their own image and message to send, and how people stay true to themselves whilst they do it. As for myself, I honestly saw myself going into theatre- which is still something I plan to do at some point. It wasn’t until I started writing songs that I realised I could make a living off of it.
3. So on your previous singles and music videos you’ve had some really remarkable moments and some recognition that most beginner artists don’t get. Would you mind telling me what moment or achievement surprised you the most?
Honestly the biggest shock to me was looking on my Spotify one day and seeing that I had hit 60,000 monthly listeners after the release of long road home- I couldn’t get my head around the fact that so many people had taken interest in my music! I’m incredibly grateful for that, as well as some of the gigs I’ve had the honour of playing- plying in the Union Chapel is not something I’ll forget anytime soon.
4. The new single ‘Easy’ is clearly about inconveniences and having a bad/messed up day, but I want you to elaborate and tell us what inspired you to write those lyrics and the video concept.
‘Easy’ is truly a reflection on my discontent towards insignificant interactions- to put it simply, I’m fed up of people in passing saying ‘you okay?’ with no regard for a response more than ‘yeah, you?’ for me, Easy was about putting my foot down and saying ‘stop asking if you don’t care’. It was written in the studio on a day where the negative in my mind far out weighed the positive, and to be frank, I just wanted to go home- as for the video, the outfit inspiration was that of a typical business look, and the idea behind it was that office feel of doing the same things day in and day out, just to make ends meet- in this video, I, as flora am using that narrative but breaking out of it, wondering about in these fancy clothes, not doing the things I should be doing, but instead dancing around talking about the fact I hate doing these things- it was supposed to be a fun way of saying ‘I’m over it, from now on, no fake niceties’
5. What are your plans for the near future? An album? A tour?
As for the near future, I’m currently working on an EP with plans to release it on the way- but for now, I’ve got gigs lined up, and I’m doing my best to promote myself and try build up a fan base!
6. It’s a no-brainer being a musician can be so dire nowadays, but are there ways to make money with music or to maintain a certain level of income from a musical project?
Honestly to live off music money by its self is not something I’ve been able to achieve yet, it would be a wonderful scenario but in this day and age, you only get that when you hit a big peak- money can be made from gigs and streams but at this current moment- I’m also working a second job to keep me afloat.
7. Do you play your own instruments/ beats in the songs or have guests and collaborators record? Please take me through your music making process and how you demo/record new projects.
When recording my demos, it’s all me and the help of the trusted Garage band- I use a mix of the garage band presets and Spitfire audio labs to create my demos, before working with my producer, the amazing Livingstone Brown- who helps me bring my ideas to life- I play most of the live instruments like the Guitar, Baritone (and sometimes some fun accents on the glockenspiel) and Livingstone programs the drums makes some wicked bass lines and puts it all together in a way that resonates with both of us- it would be impossible for me to do it completely on my own and I’m so grateful for the support I get!
8. Do you write lyrics about any and every topic that comes to mind or do you have (a) certain topic(s) you usually include in your lyrics?
There are certain topics that tend to come up more in my songs, but really I could write about anything. Music for me is an outlet, so pretty much any scenario I’ve ever been in probably has a song written about it, but the more impacted by it I am, the more likely it is to come up again and again- the biggest thing for me is making sure I tell the story accurately to how I felt within that moment.
9. I’m not the kind of person that likes to label or stereotype songs, but if you were explaining your material to a person who’s discovering it for the first time, what genre would you call your songs?
The genre of my songs is something I find really difficult to pin point myself, in all honestly, I ask other people what they think it is in order to get a clearer idea myself- but for now I’ll say, they start of pretty influenced by folk and the production elements give it more of an indie/pop feel… so maybe folk/indie/pop?
10. Thank you for answering my question. I hope the new single gets the mainstream success and exposure it deserves.
Thank you so much for having me! It’s been a pleasure answering these questions! <3