The Lead (EP)

Last updated

The Lead
The Lead (EP) by Flo.jpg
EP by
Flo
Released8 July 2022 (2022-07-08)
Genre R&B
Length14:27
Label Island
Producer
Flo chronology
The Lead
(2022)
3 of Us
(2023)
Singles from The Lead
  1. "Cardboard Box"
    Released: 24 March 2022
  2. "Immature"
    Released: 6 July 2022

The Lead is the debut extended play by English girl group Flo. It was released on 8 July 2022, through Island Records. [1] It was preceded by two singles: "Cardboard Box" and "Immature".

Contents

The debut extended play was produced by MNEK, except "Another Guy (Acoustic)". On 14 September 2022, the English trio re-released the extended play which served as a deluxe, with a promotional single: "Not My Job". [2]

Background

"Cardboard Box" was first released on 24 March 2022, by the English trio and acted as the trio's debut single. [3] Later on, this single also acted as the lead single for their extended play. The debut song was produced by English producer MNEK. [4] An accompanying music video was published to YouTube on 1 April 2022, which surpassed 900 thousand views within days. [5] Many established artists, such as SZA and Missy Elliott praised the song on social media. [6] The trio described the song as "getting yourself together after a breakup". [7] On 6 May 2022, an acoustic version of this single was released. [8]

"Immature" acted as their second single which was released on 6 July 2022. [9] [10] Pitchfork described the trio's vocals as "an icy edge, while the trio's golden harmonies at the bridge keep things crisp." [11] A music video for this single was released on the same day as the EP. [12] The trio performed both singles live for Vevo DSCVR on 5 August 2022. [13]

The same day where their second was released, the English trio announced their debut extended play. [14] The extended play was released on 8 July 2022, with a total of five tracks. [15] MNEK produced four out of the five songs featured in the EP. [16] In September 2022, the trio re-released the extended play with an additional track, named "Not My Job", which was released as a promotional single. [17]

Critical reception

The EP received widespread acclaim from critics. Complex called it "an essential listen". [18] with Nylon making a similar assessment. [19] Rolling Stone predicted that the EP would vault Flo to stardom. [20] MuuMuse noted that the EP displays the confidence and authority of a long-establish star act, despite being Flo's first full release. [21] The EP also received positive reviews from The Honey Pop, [22] 360, [23] and Soul Bounce. [24]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal and Genius. [25] [26]

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Cardboard Box"
MNEK 2:41
2."Immature"
2:53
3."Summertime"
  • Emenike
  • Kabba
  • Woon
  • Rashaan Brown
  • Tyler Hotston
  • MNEK
  • Woon
  • RELYT
  • Joe Gosling
2:28
4."Feature Me"
  • Douglas
  • Downer
  • Quaresma
  • Kabba
  • Woon
  • Hannah Yadi
  • Timothy James Worthington
  • Rowan Perkins
  • Maths Time Joy
  • LOXE
  • MNEK [a]
3:22
5."Another Guy" (Acoustic)
  • Aston Rudi
  • Brown
  • Quaresma
  • Downer
  • Douglas
  • Joe Hartwell Jones
  • Joshua Alamu [b]
3:03
Total length:14:27
Vinyl edition (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
6."Cardboard Box" (Acoustic)
  • Emenike
  • Quaresma
  • Jada
  • Downer
  • Douglas
MNEK2:41
Total length:17:17
Apple Music Up Next edition (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Cardboard Box"
  • Emenike
  • Quaresma
  • Jada
  • Downer
  • Douglas
MNEK2:41
2."Immature"
  • Kabba
  • Emenike
  • Ashley
  • Woon
2:53
3."Not My Job"
  • Jean-Marie
  • MNEK [a]
2:54
4."Summertime"
  • Emenike
  • Kabba
  • Woon
  • Brown
  • Hotston
  • MNEK
  • Woon
  • RELYT
  • Gosling
2:28
5."Feature Me"
  • Douglas
  • Downer
  • Quaresma
  • Kabba
  • Woon
  • Yadi
  • Worthington
  • Perkins
  • Maths Time Joy
  • LOXE
  • MNEK [a]
3:22
6."Another Guy" (Acoustic)
  • Rudi
  • Brown
  • Quaresma
  • Downer
  • Douglas
  • Jones
  • Alamu [b]
3:03
Total length:17:21

Notes:

Personnel

Credits adapted from Genius. [27]

Musicians

  • Jorja Douglas – vocals (all tracks)
  • Renée Downer – vocals (all tracks)
  • Stella Quaresma – vocals (all tracks)

Production

  • Uzoechi Emenikeproducer (tracks 1-4)
  • Jamal Woon – producer (tracks 2-3)
  • Joe Gossling – producer (track 3)
  • RELYT – producer (track 3)
  • Maths Time Joy – producer (track 4)
  • LOXE – producer (track 4)
  • Joe Hartwell Jones – producer (track 5)
  • Tre Jean-Marie – producer (track 3 (Apple Music Up Next edition))

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Lead
RegionDateFormat(s)EditionLabelRef.
Various8 July 2022Standard Island [28]
14 September 2022Deluxe [26]
9 December 2022 Vinyl LP Standard [29]

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References

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