Occasionally you run across someone with just too much luck and
talent. This month's example: Florrie Arnold. For her day job, this
21-year-old holds down the drummer's stool in Xenomania's in-house
band. If that name doesn't ring a bell, Xenomania
is Brian Higgins' and Miranda Cooper's big-league pop production house
based in leafy Kent, in the Southeast of England. They crank out hits
for everyone from Kylie Minogue to the Pet Shop Boys, yet they also
work with fringe pop stars, like Annie and Emeli Sandé.
Then, there is the fact that this young lady can sing. And write catchy tunes. So much so that Fred Falke, the uber-cool French house DJ has remixed several of her tracks.
And if that weren't enough, she's also striking enough to be the new face of Nina Ricci in the UK. But please don't hold all of these natural gifts against her.
"Left Too Late" is a perfect slice of sleek Euro-pop. The first few measures could easily be mistaken for a Yaz outtake. Then Florrie's cool vocals sweep in, the keyboards swoosh and swoon ramping up the energy, and by the time we get to the big-sing-along chorus, well, we're in fourth gear. This is no audition reel; it's a forceful statement. And because she's the girl from Xenomania (Forgive me, Astrud!) that is a good, good thing.
On iTunes: Florrie / "Left Too Late"
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