{"id":2065461,"date":"2026-07-28T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2065461"},"modified":"2026-07-28T08:00:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T05:00:05","slug":"growth-girlhood-and-getting-down-for-flo-therapy-at-the-club-captures-the-spirit-of-life-and-love-in-your-twenties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2065461","title":{"rendered":"Growth, girlhood, and getting down: for FLO, \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 captures the spirit of life and love in your twenties"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FLO-TATC-Lead-Press-Image-Credit-Alex-J-Piper.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2947849\" class=\"post-2947849 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>Features<\/span><span>Music Interviews<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Growth, girlhood, and getting down: for FLO, \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 captures the spirit of life and love in your twenties<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Hot off a trip to the Grammys and about to embark on their first Asian tour, the trio\u2019s second album has them stretching their songwriting chops as they level up their addictive R&amp;B and pop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Kayleigh Watson<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-28T09:00:05+01:00\">28th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FLO-TATC-Lead-Press-Image-Credit-Alex-J-Piper-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"FLO\" title=\"FLO - TATC Lead Press Image (Credit - Alex J Piper)\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">FLO credit: Alex J Piper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_82\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_83  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap\">T<\/strong>hey say there is no rest for the wicked. While the three women of FLO may not be quite that, the schedule of an international girl group on the rise is certainly putting them to the test. Touring, music video edits, photoshoots, recording sessions, Tiny Desk performances, jetting here, there and everywhere; at the midpoint of 2026, Jorja Douglas, Ren\u00e9e Downer, and Stella Quaresma have already experienced more than most can fathom achieving in a year.<\/p>\n<p>Habitually viewed through a lens of sexiness over substance, with little recognition for songwriting or ownership of their aesthetic, girl groups are often underestimated. So far, though, the addictive sound and irresistible harmonies of FLO have captured the world\u2019s attention. In February, they whisked their mothers to a \u201cwholesome\u201d evening at the Grammy Awards, where they were nominated for Best Progressive R&amp;B Album for their debut \u2018Access All Areas\u2019. It\u2019s a world away from the Sylvia Young Theatre School where Downer and Quaresma first met (Douglas, daughter of retired athlete Stephi Douglas, joined later after the pair discovered her singing on Instagram). While they didn\u2019t win their category and watched from \u201cin the bleachers\u201d, they walked away eyes wide and with a goal in mind. \u201cNow we have somewhere to go,\u201d says Quaresma.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>When they manage to squeeze time with <em>NME<\/em> in the middle of their hectic schedule, there is a sense that this slate of press may be the last pause they have for a minute. Cuddled up with Douglas\u2019 grey-haired French bulldog, Bunny, the trio seem in good spirits while conserving energy for choreography rehearsals in the evening, and are days away from their anticipated in-store run of acoustic shows. \u201cIt\u2019s so intimate,\u201d says Douglas. \u201cWe get to be in close proximity to the fans, so we always have lots of fun on the in-stores.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the bond of Douglas, Downer, and Quaresma is pure and undeniable, FLO\u2019s fans are certainly part of the girlhood. Now, on their second album \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019, they take listeners under their wing and galvanise each other in the way only women can.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FLO - Leak It (Choreography Version)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WcO_sksjdrY?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>\u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 isn\u2019t really about the club, despite some of its tracks specifically referencing the highs and lows of a night on the town. It is about female friendship, the unexpected camaraderie of the girls\u2019 bathroom, matters of the heart, and using the club as a means to process life \u2013 and let go of negativity through the power of music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Found myself on the floor unexpectedly \/ Chasing that good medicine in the melody \/ I was down, all my girls dancing next to me<\/em>\u201d, sing FLO on their latest single \u2018Remedied\u2019, a high-octane pop smash that captures the anticipation of the night to come and knowing you turned out the look regardless.\u00a0To Douglas, the song is about being unapologetic. \u201cWhen you\u2019re going to the club, you need to leave it all behind [and have] a great time with your mates,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s about us having the best time and using each other as a form of therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>For Downer, part of the allure of a night out is that, for that pocket of time, you can be anyone and anything. \u201cYou can be fully yourself, or you can pretend to be somebody you\u2019re not to make you feel a bit better. I think everybody\u2019s intention is to have a good night and be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quaresma agrees that there is something about music, friendship, and the club that brings out the best in people and makes it a safe space to lower your inhibitions. \u201cYou go into the bathroom and suddenly someone that you feel like you\u2019ve known for years is there. They have a problem [and] all the girls come out of the cubicles to fix it.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAll of the negative things about being a girl all go away [in the club]. I\u2019ll scratch your back, you scratch mine\u201d \u2013 Stella Quaresma<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI feel like all of the negative things about being a girl \u2013 girls being bitchy, side-eye, whatever \u2013 all go away [in the club],\u201d she adds. \u201cI\u2019ll scratch your back, you scratch mine. You got lip liner? OK! I feel sometimes men in clubs are just a bit nasty, and that makes girls stick together even more.\u201d \u201c100 per cent!\u201d says Douglas, while scratching Bunny\u2019s head. \u201cJust bond over your mutual disgust of men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, what is FLO\u2019s most memorable night out? \u201cI remember Stella\u2019s birthday!\u201d says Downer, as they laugh about a dinner and night out on Mayfair that quickly fell apart thanks to a cannabis cake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI commissioned the cake \u2013 I had no idea what had gone into it!\u201d says Douglas. \u201cStella\u2019s friends started dropping like flies! I felt this immense guilt, Rene\u00e9 left, and I thought \u2018My god, I\u2019ve ruined it\u2019 \u2013 but Stella had a great time!\u201d\u00a0\u201cWe only had the tiniest bit,\u201d Quaresma laughs. \u201cIf we had a whole slice, we would have died!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap\">A<\/strong>s an album, \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 is a journey from beginning to end, from wanting love to being scared of getting hurt, then getting hurt and being done with it all \u2013 the whole tumultuous experience of modern dating. Upcoming single \u2018Cry Ugly\u2019 shows off FLO\u2019s killer harmonies and vocal riffing while recounting a lover\u2019s tiff moments before stepping out the door for the night: \u201c<em>1am on the dot, guess it\u2019s bullshit o\u2019clock \/ This man don\u2019t know when to stop<\/em>\u201d, Quaresma sings over skittish beats and chunky bass, as they throw notes seamlessly between them.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FLO - Therapy At The Club (Lyric Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XhXYHpOQqJE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>\u201cI really wanted to talk about the more negative aspects [of relationships and the club],\u201d says Douglas, who drew from personal experience. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is about the stress of getting ready to leave [but] that\u2019s when we start to argue!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Payback is best served cold and through a thirst trap, and comeback track \u2018Leak It\u2019 marked the beginning of their new era with confidence. Serving body tea and channelling the bolshy flirtatiousness of Pussycat Dolls\u2019 \u2018Buttons\u2019, FLO wear their nostalgia on their sleeve while pushing their songwriting chops to thrust girl groups into the future. This time around, they spent a big chunk of time in the US writing day in, day out. Whether collaborating with songwriters or working individually, the trio used the concept of \u2018therapy at the club\u2019 to steer their writing towards its North Star.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to venture out on our own and develop our talent as songwriters and singers,\u201d says Downer, recalling the challenge of getting out of their comfort zone and advocating for themselves in sessions. \u201cIt was a lot of mental preparation. Going in, we\u2019re going to say what we want to say, how we want to feel, and take control of the room.\u201d It\u2019s an ambitious collection at 16 tracks. As Douglas says: \u201cShe\u2019s thicc.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet from undeniable pop anthems to sexy slow jams and earnest tear-jerkers, there\u2019s no filler here. Rappers Juicy J and Kwn feature on \u2018Pose\u2019 (driven by a surprising sample of Technotronic\u2019s \u2018Pump Up The Jam\u2019) and the slick and sultry \u2018Sex In Peace\u2019 respectively. Standout single \u2018Don\u2019t Break Her Heart\u2019 thinly veils threat through honeyed vocals and shimmering production while reinforcing the importance of girls having each other\u2019s backs; while the video is tongue-in-cheek sleuthing, there\u2019s nothing covert about: \u201c\u2018<em>If you break her heart, I will break your face<\/em>\u201d. So, what side of FLO comes out when they see each other go through heartbreak?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201c[Recording this album] was a lot of mental preparation. [We wanted] to say what we want to say and take control of the room\u201d \u2013\u00a0Ren\u00e9e Downer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cYou want to go into the motherly role, but we are sisters,\u201d says Downer. \u201cSo that comes with a balance of maintaining respect for each other\u2019s decisions. So long as we are able to talk about anything, that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know rationality is the only way to get through to each other,\u201d Douglas chimes in. \u201cAs much as you want to\u201d \u2013 she mimes slapping the air \u2013 \u201csometimes you have to not.\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s no handbook,\u201d adds Quaresma. \u201cPeople have tried to write one. It\u2019s not one size fits all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The group are now seven years deep into their quest to be the UK\u2019s biggest girl group, and FLO are excited by what appears to be some healthy competition bubbling up in girl band land. \u201cAt the start it was just us [in the west] \u2013 Little Mix had just left,\u201d says Quaresma, who is excited about KATSEYE\u2019s new single \u2018Animal\u2019. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely more of a buzz. I\u2019m loving GIRLSET and Say Now!\u201d says Douglas.<\/p>\n<p>No longer carrying the torch alone means it\u2019s FLO\u2019s turn to conquer new land. First up is Asia, where they will be touring for the first time this summer. As newcomers no more, there\u2019s little time for the rearview to see who\u2019s coming up behind. With \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019, FLO let go of the past and are focused firmly on the future; plus, there\u2019s plenty of time to be nominated for another Grammy. \u201cNext time, we\u2019re gonna sit at the bottom,\u201d says Quaresma \u201cAnd we\u2019re gonna win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>FLO\u2019s \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 is out on August 7 via EMI.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>FLO<\/li>\n<li>girlset<\/li>\n<li>Pop<\/li>\n<li>R&amp;B<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_88\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_content td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_89  wpb_row td-pb-row tdc-element-style\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-block td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom-spot tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_94  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_96  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_98  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_100  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_102 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_103 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_103\">\n<div id=\"tdi_103\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Tyla announces \u2018A*POP\u2019 world tour with dates across UK, Europe, North America and Africa<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">David Holmes shares details of Sin\u00e9ad O\u2019Connor\u2019s final, unreleased album with messages from the late icon<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div 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from a true modern artist<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Katy Perry condemns White House for using \u2018Firework\u2019 in Iran military strikes video<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_104\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_105  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_107  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_109 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap\">T<\/strong>hey say there is no rest for the wicked. While the three women of FLO may not be quite that, the schedule of an international girl group on the rise is certainly putting them to the test. Touring, music video edits, photoshoots, recording sessions, Tiny Desk performances, jetting here, there and everywhere; at the midpoint of 2026, Jorja Douglas, Ren\u00e9e Downer, and Stella Quaresma have already experienced more than most can fathom achieving in a year.<\/p>\n<p>Habitually viewed through a lens of sexiness over substance, with little recognition for songwriting or ownership of their aesthetic, girl groups are often underestimated. So far, though, the addictive sound and irresistible harmonies of FLO have captured the world\u2019s attention. In February, they whisked their mothers to a \u201cwholesome\u201d evening at the Grammy Awards, where they were nominated for Best Progressive R&amp;B Album for their debut \u2018Access All Areas\u2019. It\u2019s a world away from the Sylvia Young Theatre School where Downer and Quaresma first met (Douglas, daughter of retired athlete Stephi Douglas, joined later after the pair discovered her singing on Instagram). While they didn\u2019t win their category and watched from \u201cin the bleachers\u201d, they walked away eyes wide and with a goal in mind. \u201cNow we have somewhere to go,\u201d says Quaresma.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>When they manage to squeeze time with <em>NME<\/em> in the middle of their hectic schedule, there is a sense that this slate of press may be the last pause they have for a minute. Cuddled up with Douglas\u2019 grey-haired French bulldog, Bunny, the trio seem in good spirits while conserving energy for choreography rehearsals in the evening, and are days away from their anticipated in-store run of acoustic shows. \u201cIt\u2019s so intimate,\u201d says Douglas. \u201cWe get to be in close proximity to the fans, so we always have lots of fun on the in-stores.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the bond of Douglas, Downer, and Quaresma is pure and undeniable, FLO\u2019s fans are certainly part of the girlhood. Now, on their second album \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019, they take listeners under their wing and galvanise each other in the way only women can.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FLO - Leak It (Choreography Version)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WcO_sksjdrY?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>\u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 isn\u2019t really about the club, despite some of its tracks specifically referencing the highs and lows of a night on the town. It is about female friendship, the unexpected camaraderie of the girls\u2019 bathroom, matters of the heart, and using the club as a means to process life \u2013 and let go of negativity through the power of music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Found myself on the floor unexpectedly \/ Chasing that good medicine in the melody \/ I was down, all my girls dancing next to me<\/em>\u201d, sing FLO on their latest single \u2018Remedied\u2019, a high-octane pop smash that captures the anticipation of the night to come and knowing you turned out the look regardless.\u00a0To Douglas, the song is about being unapologetic. \u201cWhen you\u2019re going to the club, you need to leave it all behind [and have] a great time with your mates,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s about us having the best time and using each other as a form of therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>For Downer, part of the allure of a night out is that, for that pocket of time, you can be anyone and anything. \u201cYou can be fully yourself, or you can pretend to be somebody you\u2019re not to make you feel a bit better. I think everybody\u2019s intention is to have a good night and be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Quaresma agrees that there is something about music, friendship, and the club that brings out the best in people and makes it a safe space to lower your inhibitions. \u201cYou go into the bathroom and suddenly someone that you feel like you\u2019ve known for years is there. They have a problem [and] all the girls come out of the cubicles to fix it.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAll of the negative things about being a girl all go away [in the club]. I\u2019ll scratch your back, you scratch mine\u201d \u2013 Stella Quaresma<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI feel like all of the negative things about being a girl \u2013 girls being bitchy, side-eye, whatever \u2013 all go away [in the club],\u201d she adds. \u201cI\u2019ll scratch your back, you scratch mine. You got lip liner? OK! I feel sometimes men in clubs are just a bit nasty, and that makes girls stick together even more.\u201d \u201c100 per cent!\u201d says Douglas, while scratching Bunny\u2019s head. \u201cJust bond over your mutual disgust of men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, what is FLO\u2019s most memorable night out? \u201cI remember Stella\u2019s birthday!\u201d says Downer, as they laugh about a dinner and night out on Mayfair that quickly fell apart thanks to a cannabis cake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI commissioned the cake \u2013 I had no idea what had gone into it!\u201d says Douglas. \u201cStella\u2019s friends started dropping like flies! I felt this immense guilt, Rene\u00e9 left, and I thought \u2018My god, I\u2019ve ruined it\u2019 \u2013 but Stella had a great time!\u201d\u00a0\u201cWe only had the tiniest bit,\u201d Quaresma laughs. \u201cIf we had a whole slice, we would have died!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"dropcap\">A<\/strong>s an album, \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 is a journey from beginning to end, from wanting love to being scared of getting hurt, then getting hurt and being done with it all \u2013 the whole tumultuous experience of modern dating. Upcoming single \u2018Cry Ugly\u2019 shows off FLO\u2019s killer harmonies and vocal riffing while recounting a lover\u2019s tiff moments before stepping out the door for the night: \u201c<em>1am on the dot, guess it\u2019s bullshit o\u2019clock \/ This man don\u2019t know when to stop<\/em>\u201d, Quaresma sings over skittish beats and chunky bass, as they throw notes seamlessly between them.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FLO - Therapy At The Club (Lyric Video)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XhXYHpOQqJE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>\u201cI really wanted to talk about the more negative aspects [of relationships and the club],\u201d says Douglas, who drew from personal experience. \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is about the stress of getting ready to leave [but] that\u2019s when we start to argue!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Payback is best served cold and through a thirst trap, and comeback track \u2018Leak It\u2019 marked the beginning of their new era with confidence. Serving body tea and channelling the bolshy flirtatiousness of Pussycat Dolls\u2019 \u2018Buttons\u2019, FLO wear their nostalgia on their sleeve while pushing their songwriting chops to thrust girl groups into the future. This time around, they spent a big chunk of time in the US writing day in, day out. Whether collaborating with songwriters or working individually, the trio used the concept of \u2018therapy at the club\u2019 to steer their writing towards its North Star.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to venture out on our own and develop our talent as songwriters and singers,\u201d says Downer, recalling the challenge of getting out of their comfort zone and advocating for themselves in sessions. \u201cIt was a lot of mental preparation. Going in, we\u2019re going to say what we want to say, how we want to feel, and take control of the room.\u201d It\u2019s an ambitious collection at 16 tracks. As Douglas says: \u201cShe\u2019s thicc.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet from undeniable pop anthems to sexy slow jams and earnest tear-jerkers, there\u2019s no filler here. Rappers Juicy J and Kwn feature on \u2018Pose\u2019 (driven by a surprising sample of Technotronic\u2019s \u2018Pump Up The Jam\u2019) and the slick and sultry \u2018Sex In Peace\u2019 respectively. Standout single \u2018Don\u2019t Break Her Heart\u2019 thinly veils threat through honeyed vocals and shimmering production while reinforcing the importance of girls having each other\u2019s backs; while the video is tongue-in-cheek sleuthing, there\u2019s nothing covert about: \u201c\u2018<em>If you break her heart, I will break your face<\/em>\u201d. So, what side of FLO comes out when they see each other go through heartbreak?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201c[Recording this album] was a lot of mental preparation. [We wanted] to say what we want to say and take control of the room\u201d \u2013\u00a0Ren\u00e9e Downer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cYou want to go into the motherly role, but we are sisters,\u201d says Downer. \u201cSo that comes with a balance of maintaining respect for each other\u2019s decisions. So long as we are able to talk about anything, that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know rationality is the only way to get through to each other,\u201d Douglas chimes in. \u201cAs much as you want to\u201d \u2013 she mimes slapping the air \u2013 \u201csometimes you have to not.\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s no handbook,\u201d adds Quaresma. \u201cPeople have tried to write one. It\u2019s not one size fits all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The group are now seven years deep into their quest to be the UK\u2019s biggest girl group, and FLO are excited by what appears to be some healthy competition bubbling up in girl band land. \u201cAt the start it was just us [in the west] \u2013 Little Mix had just left,\u201d says Quaresma, who is excited about KATSEYE\u2019s new single \u2018Animal\u2019. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely more of a buzz. I\u2019m loving GIRLSET and Say Now!\u201d says Douglas.<\/p>\n<p>No longer carrying the torch alone means it\u2019s FLO\u2019s turn to conquer new land. First up is Asia, where they will be touring for the first time this summer. As newcomers no more, there\u2019s little time for the rearview to see who\u2019s coming up behind. With \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019, FLO let go of the past and are focused firmly on the future; plus, there\u2019s plenty of time to be nominated for another Grammy. \u201cNext time, we\u2019re gonna sit at the bottom,\u201d says Quaresma \u201cAnd we\u2019re gonna win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>FLO\u2019s \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 is out on August 7 via EMI.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/features\/music-interviews\/flo-therapy-at-the-club-interview-3959344&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FLO-TATC-Lead-Press-Image-Credit-Alex-J-Piper.jpg&#8221;] FeaturesMusic Interviews Growth, girlhood, and getting down: for FLO, \u2018Therapy At The Club\u2019 captures the spirit of life and love in your twenties Hot off a trip to the Grammys and about to embark on their first Asian tour, the trio\u2019s second album has them stretching their songwriting chops as they level [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2065461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2065461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065461\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2065461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2065461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2065461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}