BY NAZ TOORABALLY

LA-based DIY artist flora released their debut single Something today on Valentine’s Day in honour of “the emo kid in all of us”. The emo-tinged bedroom pop track pulls you into overwhelming nostalgia with its mellow guitar riff and flora’s grunge-style vocals in the verses contrasted by a satisfyingly crunchy guitar in the chorus.     

flora is non-binary artist and festival organiser Flynn Namala, formerly known from the queer and trans-identifying Los Angeles pop-rock group The Blank Minds. Although influenced by artists such as Dominic Fike, Deb Never, Rex Orange County, Orion Sun, and Clairo, flora has developed their own sound, and Something is a truer, rawer take on the recently popularised bedroom pop music we’re hearing at the moment.

They say an artist is their own worst critic and as a fellow musician, it resonated with me when flora said, “I had never recorded a song I was truly proud of until this song.” It’s in those moments when you step back and appreciate something you’ve created and feel proud that you know you’re onto something. flora continues, “I think that’s why it means the most to me. I just had this idea for a song, a plucking pattern, and this melody I liked. I ended up asking my friend if he would produce some drums for me, he eventually told me to just try it myself – so that’s exactly what I did. I basically sat down with myself and tried it out until layers just kept coming. I loved the way all these rough demo tracks sounded, I felt like I FINALLY made something I would listen to.”

Currently focusing on their love for music, flora will also be releasing their debut EP this summer. In the meantime, you can check out their music video for Something.

Something by flora is available to stream and buy on all major platforms. Click here to listen.

Follow flora on Instagram @yobytterp