In Paris for an electric concert at the Pièces Uniques’ showroom, British rapper Flohio let some information about herself pass through her grillz: here’s a conversation with a rookie we must keep an eye on.

Photos : @alextrescool

Along with slowthai, she is what’s most exciting in the new UK rap scene. Flohio is twenty-five years old, she grew up in Nigeria and later on in Berdmondsey, South-East London. Graphic designer by trade but full-time rapper, the artist with a chiselled flow recently released her second EP, Wild Yout. Her verses are fierce, the beats she raps to are cold and mechanical. Funmi Ohiosumah — from her real name — is a member of the TruLuvCru collective, features on a single by Berlin techno big shot Modeselektor and has been approved by Naomi Campbell. She took a short break after her restless showcase to tell us more about her music.

You’re a solo artist but basically, you’re part of a collective called TruLuvCru. What’s your story?

Yeah, it’s just me and my friends. We are all creative. Right now, everyone is doing their own thing. There are two rappers, myself and another guy. He is more hands on with videography, photography and producing as well. We started with what we did when we were young and now we’re all adults and we are still doing it. So it’s a TruLuvCru thing, because we really love what we do.

How did you come across music?

You don’t really come across music, these things kind of find you. To cut it short, it was my environment, I was influenced by what my sister would listen to and then I fell in love. I ended up wanting to be involved in it, so that’s when the writing came in. And then you’re like: “Ok, what does it sound like if I say it out loud, and perform it?”, and it goes on, you do more.

I understand you’ve always liked writing and telling stories, but do you think it could have been through something other than rap?

It doesn’t have to be music, I just enjoy writing and my best outlet is music. I just write what’s on my mind and see where the mic can go.

Do you remember the first time you went in a recording studio?

Yeah, it was in with youth club. They had a studio so we’d be in there recording and messing around.

You released an EP in 2016, Nowhere Near. How was it to put something out in the world for the first time?

It was scary, I hesitated. A friend had to force me, like, write down a date. And he said: “When this day comes, you can’t run away from it, you have to release it.” If he didn’t say that, I don’t think I would’ve released it.

Why not? Out of shyness?

That’s just me! I just don’t want to be bothered. But at the same time, I’d want to release it, but it’s just so long man… You just have to go for it. Don’t overthink the situation. But it turned out to be all good. It made me want to release more. It led me to my second EP. But yeah, it was all through that date being set on the calendar…

Did it help featuring people on it? You worked with another rapper from London, Cassive.

Yeah, it did. Cassive is a member of the TruLuvCru. It’s something we always do, we jump on each other’s songs and we create. It’s a vibe that works.

What does it mean to you, being booked for gigs in foreign countries like France today?

It’s nice, the reception was good, I didn’t know what to expect but the energy was hundred. The response has been so overwhelming everywhere, it’s been really good. It’s encouraging.

I saw that Missy was very important to you in the beginning…

Missy now is more like producing and doing the backwork right… But yeah…

When did electronic music come into your life then?

I wandered into that world around 2015 through mutual friends. A friend introduced me to another friend, we went in a studio, I heard a beat and it was obviously different from what I’d typically been rapping to. And from then on, I started getting challenged more. It was a different world I stepped into and that’s what exposed me to what my sound is now. And like I said, I’m inspired by what surrounds me and what surrounds me right now is the electronic world. Actually, the electronic vibe as well as the whole trap sound, old school hip-hop and even the new afro swing. There’s so much sound just going around now. And to me, I’ve just soaked it all up. But yeah, it all stands from when I went into the electronic world in 2015. I kind of gravitated towards that.

You called these sounds “angelic, alien”…

Did I? You just hear something and that sound is so heavy man! The bassline, the melodies and everything… It’s sweet to listen to, but at the same time it’s got this assertiveness, you know.

« I feel that my music is transcendent »

And it does have some effect on the crowd, too.

Yeah, what is the word? It’s transcendent. I feel that my music is transcendent. When I create, my mind goes into how it’d be if I did this on stage and took people to the next level.

Can you talk about your featuring with Modeselektor? How did it happen?

Someone hooked us up together, I think it was management. I went to Berlin to shoot my Colors video and went to go see them. We were hanging out. They sent me a beat, we went to the studio, we sat down and spoke and it was nice, they’re cool people.

You knew their music already?

No, I had to do my research. I had to go figure out the Modeselektor/Moderat vibe. It’s sweet.

What pushes you to mix all these music genres together this way?

Music is sort of like that. It’s influenced by different sounds and genres. I happen to hear a hi-hat from here, a melody, a tone, something from rock’n’roll, a drum, a guitar string or even just the way it’s being played. It’s certain little pieces that you would hardly notice when you listen to the full song but you get this vibe and another person gets another vibe. I could add something reggaeton and it changes the whole dynamic of it but still, in my head, I’m spitting aggressive bars. Different people get different aspects of a song.

According to you, what has changed between your two EPs?

Knowing me I guess. Knowing what suits me and how to be confident in my tone. I understand who I am as an artist.

Do you think that you found your sound?

It’s evolved and it’s still evolving. But the last EP, Wild Yout, it is the moment from that little girl [imitates a high-pitch voice] to: “Go time!”.

What’s your creative process? Do you think a lot about going live when you’re in the studio?

If I’ve been sent a beat, it has to move me first. If I’m in the studio, producing or with a producer, eventually we’re going to find that groove that’s going to work here and now, regardless of where it’s going to be played at. It has to feel good. Sometimes it doesn’t end where you wanted it to be, so you put it to the side and start again. But that’s how it is.

You’ve collaborated with a few producers, among them God Colony and HLMNSRA. Do you always work with the same artists?

Yeah, most of the time. I stick to home base.

So far, what’s been the highlight of your career, what has moved you the most?

I guess what moves me the most is performing live because it’s where you encounter people. It’s special.

Did the Colors video change something for you?

Yeah it did, it was a big moment. That just opened a whole new door for me. But nothing beats shows, that shit is crazy.

In “Toxic” (Wild Yout), you say : “I wanna be iconic.”

Yeah, I do want to be iconic. No, actually, I want to leave a legacy. I don’t have to be iconic. I want to leave a blueprint for the kids, we should all aim to do that.