And just like that, Florrie has arrived in 2013.

As the in-house drummer for almighty pop production haus Xenomania, Florrie’s already made her mark behind-the-scenes by helping to craft some of the most essential British pop productions over the latter half of the decade, including Girls Aloud‘s “The Promise” and Mini Viva‘s “One Touch.”

After announcing plans to go solo as an artist in her own right back in 2010, the multi-talented, drop dead gorgeous singer-songwriter started dropping free and brilliant (frilliant) Xenomania-produced EPs each year, including 2011′s Experiments EP (review) and 2012′s Late EP (review), which we’ve been all-too-eagerly gobbling up.

But now, it’s getting real: A proper LP is on the way for 2013, and “Live A Little” is the first taste of what’s to come.

Read more »

Better late than never, right? Way better, actually.

After nine months of recording in between studios in the UK and the US, singer/songwriter/drummer/guitarist/model/pop extraordinaire Florrie has at long last revealed her latest collection of independent tunes, her final self-released set before treading into major label waters later this year.

As with 2010′s Introduction EP and last year’s outstanding Experiments EP, the Late EP finds the multi-talented songstress supplying endless, swinging ’60′s-inspired melodies, delicious disco stomps and razor-sharp hooks, as can only be expertly crafted by someone recruited to the in-house band of Britain’s almighty pop production troupe, Xenomania.

Strutting atop a deep, funky disco bass line, “Shot You Down” kicks off the collection with…well, a bang. “I shot him down, down, down,” Florrie chants during the song’s catchy opening, giving a quick nod to Cher‘s “Bang Bang” (and perhaps Madonna‘s “Gang Bang”), similar to the Ting Tings‘ “Shut Up And Watch Me Go.” And then all at once, the track explodes: “I pulled the trigger on our love/Keep messing me around/Got my finger on the gun/Bang bang, I shot you down,” Florrie repeats atop a swirling, sparkling synth melody.

Each second of the track finds Florrie throwing another hook our way: “Left, right, left, right, left, right,” she quietly purrs after the first chorus. “Thinking about it…ooooh, baby!” she coos seconds later, briefly delivering a Donna Summer moment of dreamy disco falsetto. Everything was catchy, and nothing hurt.

“I’m Gonna Get You Back,” on the other hand, might be the EP’s most left-of-center production, and evidence of Florrie’s growth as an artist. Filled with jagged licks of electric guitar, a reverb-heavy chorus and menacing electronica, the track finds Florrie going more alt-pop than ever: “I won’t stop ’til I get you back/I’m gonna get you back,” Florrie howls, bringing a touch of Sky Ferreira‘s intensity to mind–and perhaps even a little Garbage-lite.

“Every Inch,” on the other hand, plays like the best Girls Aloud tune the ladies never recorded. Between the bridge of haunted moans (pure “Crocodile Tears”), mile-a-minute monotone hooks (pure “Graffiti My Soul”) and sassy kiss-off lyrics (pure “Sexy! No, No, No”), the song could have easily been tackled in the well-manicured hands of Nadine and the girls. “You got money in your pocket and your clothes are looking hot/But I ain’t looking for somebody like you,” Florrie taunts above a ’60′s surf guitar-meets-’90′s Hi-NRG-meets-21st century synth-pop pulse.

Appropriately, the EP closes with “To The End,” a moody, tranced-out production. As the guitar strum quickens and the synthesizers surge dramatically, the track builds to frightening heights–at last bursting into its supersonic chorus that screams Stuart Price (Confessions On A Dance Floor/Aphrodite): “Baby, we will take this to the end!” Florrie declares above the pounding beats, not unlike any of Sophie Ellis-Bextor‘s chilly disco-pop anthems. “Every little piece of me, I’ll give to you for free/Happiness don’t mean a thing until you let it in,” she later chants in the song’s final few seconds, seemingly falling back down to Earth.

Every inch of the record is one carefully crafted hook after another; each pulsating beat more danceable and jaw-dropping than the next. With the Late EP, Florrie’s provided enough of a distraction (and more than a few melodies now forever lodged into our brain) to hold us off until her eventual major label debut. It’s long overdue.

The album is now streaming in full at Florrie’s official website.

Late EP was released on May 31. (iTunes)

The bad news is that we’re not getting new Florrie tunes until 2012.

The good news is that Florrie felt pretty bad about it, so she’s just released a remix of her track “Begging Me”–for free!

Just as she’s done with all her past releases, the incredibly giving, thoroughly amazing former Xenomania house drummer has unleashed the Fred Falke remix as a free download (and also on iTunes worldwide if you’d like to help support her!) for fans.

From Florrie’s official website:

I know I’ve kept you waiting for new music, but once I knew I wasn’t going to finish any new material and release it by the end of November, I knew it was better to wait until the new year and avoid all the Xmas madness!

BUT… to thank you for all of your patience and support , I’ve decided to release the FRED FALKE special remix of ‘Begging Me’! I’ve had it in my iTunes for a while and now seems like the perfect time to get it out there. You can listen and download the remix below, or even buy on iTunes. I hope you like it! To go with Fred’s mix, I’ve also put together a little video of some of the best bits of my year, out very, very soon…

In case you missed it earlier this June, “Begging Me” was released as part of Florrie’s brilliant Experiments EP, which I absolutely loved (and still do). Disco pop perfection at its finest!

Falke’s take on the track only brings it deeper into disco territory, providing a delicious French House lick of synth pulsations and throbbing beats. It’s truly a fire hot remix–so grab it NOW!

One to watch for 2012? Most definitely.

DL: Florrie – Begging Me (Fred Falke Remix)

“Begging Me (Fred Falke Remix)” was released on December 14. (iTunes)

After the release of her critically acclaimed Introduction EP back in 2010, UK singer-songwriter-drummer Florrie is back for another round.

The former Xenomania in-house band member–who first rose to prominence as a solo artist after giving away a handful of electro-pop gems produced by Fred Falke on her official website–returns on June 14 with the Experiments EP, a six-track collection of crunchy electro-pop tunes.

The Experiments EP finds Florrie flirting with an airy ’60′s French pop nostalgia mixed with cutting-edge pop penning and production by the likes of Fred Falke, MNEK and Mike Chapman. From the festive mariachi-electro horn flairs of “She Always Gets What She Wants” to the dreamy strings of the SomethingALaMode-produced “What You Doing This For?”, the entire mini-album meshes well with the carefully cribbed pop perfection of other acts imbued with the Xenomania essence, including Girls Aloud, Annie and Rachel Stevens, while still managing to carve out its own delightful identity.

“I Took A Little Something,” one of the collection’s brightest moments, is a neatly unearthed ’80′s synth-pop summertime smash, as Florrie’s light, dreamy vocals–marked by a Brian Higgins-esque (Xenomania) touch of smooth-spoken, hook-heavy lyrics–float above endless array of sparkling synthesizers.

While Florrie’s music may never enter into the realm of Top 40 pop–the production still feels too left-of-center for radio’s current pop taste buds (which even Florrie herself has said)–the Experiments EP should only further Florrie’s ever-expanding underground following with some of the most lush, listenable synth-pop you’ll encounter this year.

In keeping with Florrie’s incredibly thoughtful, transparent process regarding the release of her music, the UK singer-songwriter has put the entire Experimenting EP on YouTube–as well as on iTunes.

If you like what you hear, please support her!

The Experiments EP was released on June 14. (iTunes)

CALL 911! I’m having a panic attack!

No, wait. It’s just new Florrie. (LOLOL DO U SEE WUT I DID THERE.)

The Xenomania sweetheart is back with yet another free track for the masses: “Give Me Your Love.”

As per usual, the song was produced by Italo-disco mastermind Fred Falke and features Xeno players Jason Resch, Kieran Jones, and Toby Scott on instruments, as well as Florrie herself on drums!

“Give Me Your Love” is as much of a solid disco smash as it is an indie-rock track in disguise. It’s even conjuring some comparisons to Tegan & Sara‘s latest efforts in my mind.

I swear, these are such sweet treats. Fred Falke songs performed by Xenomania house members–and all for free? GIMME MOAH.

Moah, you say? Well, don’t worry–the singer’s already tweeted that there’s another one coming next Friday.

DL: Florrie – Give Me Your Love

For more Florrie, check out her official website.