The album was also released in the UK with additional tracks, one of which features British singer/songwriter and producer Sebastian Rogers. In 2002, they signed with DreamWorks Records and released their debut album Floetic, which featured the singles "Floetic", "Say Yes" (released March 2003), and "Getting Late". Flo'Ology is out on November 7 on Polydor.Since moving to the United States in 2000, they have written for Jill Scott, Jazz of Dru Hill, Glenn Lewis (Marsha only), Bilal, and Michael Jackson, for whom Marsha penned the hit 2002 single "Butterflies".We're working really, really hard at this thing". To make that happen, you have to show up, be on time and be in the moment, on stage and off.
You want to get as many people to know your work as you can. "How can you be living your dream and be mad about it all the time? Complaining about doing a show or giving interviews or getting on another plane? That sounds pretty blessed to me. "Too many people see this as a burden," says Stewart. In the meantime, Floetry are patiently waiting for us to catch up and enjoying every moment until we do. People might not recognise them in the street, but soon they will get the domestic exposure they have been lacking. They will take the new album, Flo'Ology, on the road as soon as they can. Having averaged 160 live shows a year since their debut album's release, Stewart and Ambrosius have just been touring with Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. One of main factors behind the group's success in America has been their work rate. It is very important that your movement be backed by everyone - black, white, Indian - everyone." Ambrosius concurs: "You have to be all-encompassing." The first is about the numbers in this country. "There are a couple of things that you have to be realistic about. I hope the person who saw Floetry perform and said, 'Yeah, it's alright but you can't really do anything with it,' realises that their opinion is just that - an opinion."ĭo they have any advice for aspiring musicians in the UK? "Have your own distinctive voice," says Stewart. "I hope the person who thought Butterflies was just an interlude realises that they don't have the best ear for music. Still, she can't help having a little dig at the industry that let Floetry get away. We can't think about what could have been. "That just meant the time in between the song being turned down in the UK and picked up in the US was necessary time." She compares it with pining for a long-lost ex. "I don't blame anyone over here for not thinking Butterflies was going to be a hit in 1997 when we first tried to get people interested," Stewart insists. The demo Ambrosius originally recorded and which contained Butterflies was rejected by every British record exec who heard it. Had Floetry remained in the UK, such opportunities would almost certainly not have materialised. The single was one of the album's most successful songs, reaching no 14 on the Billboard chart. Jackson heard Butterflies, and had to have it for his 2001 album Invincible.
Work with A Touch of Jazz, the record label founded by Jeffrey "Jazzy Jeff" Townes, of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fame, led to Floetry writing music for some of neo-soul's biggest names - Bilal, the crooner Glenn Lewis, even Michael Jackson. They thrived in this creative environment, and decided to move to Philadelphia. Then they accepted an invitation to perform with Black Lily, the Philadelphia women's collective that introduced the world to singer/songwriter Jill Scott.
As Floetry, the duo found moderate success on the London circuit, attracting a small, dedicated fanbase. When at last they combined their skills, the result pleased and excited them. At the same time, Ambrosius landed a publishing deal for her songs. Stewart was a founding member of the spoken word collective 3+1. Ambrosius and Stewart kept in touch after graduation in 1995, while separately trying to make names for themselves. The journey to becoming fixtures in the US neo-soul movement, alongside artists like Erykah Badu and Angie Stone, began at the Brits Performing Arts School in Croydon, where both were students.
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