Access All Areas (Flo album) explained

Access All Areas (also abbreviated as AAA) is the debut studio album by English girl group Flo. It was released on 15 November 2024 through Island Records.^[1] It marks their first full-length project after releasing their previous extended plays, The Lead (2022) and 3 of Us (2023). The standard version of the album features guest vocals from Cynthia Erivo and GloRilla, while the Unlocked version includes guest vocals from Chlöe, Halle, Kehlani and Bree Runway.

Upon its release, Access All Areas received generally positive reviews from critics. The album was preceded by three singles—"Walk Like This", "Caught Up", and "Check"—and two promotional singles, while a fourth single, "In My Bag", coincided with the release. It is a contemporary R&B album featuring production and songwriting from MNEK and notable contributions from Camper, Jay Versace, Pop Wansel, Sevyn Streeter, and more.

Background

On 3 July 2023, Flo surprise announced their second EP, 3 of Us as a "gift" to their fans for patiently waiting for new music.^{[2] [3]} Before releasing the singles "Walk Like This" and "Caught Up" for the debut project, the group was announced as an opening act for singer Kehlani's Crash World Tour for the fall.^[4]

Prior to the announcement of Access All Areas, the group described the album as a continuation of the legacy of girl groups:

Release and promotion

The album's first single, "Walk Like This" was released on 8 March 2024 after being previewed on TikTok weeks back, and the accompanying music video released a week later.^{[5] [6]} The single was Flo's first single since "Fly Girl" with rapper Missy Elliott in 2023.^[7] The group, then, revealed there would be at least 17 songs on the album after posting a picture of an unconfirmed tracklist on a drawing board on social media. On 24 May 2024, Flo released the second single for the album, "Caught Up", along with the visualizer.^{[8] [9]}

On 2 August 2024, Flo released the third single for the album, "Check".^{[10] [11]} After officially announcing the album's title, artwork, and release date on the same month, the group released pre-orders for vinyl, CDs, and exclusive bundles that include an autographed ticket, and three bonus tracks. The group released two promotional songs, "Bending My Rules", which they performed live for Vevo Studios,^{[12] [13]} and the album's title track, "AAA".^[14]

On 1 November 2024, Flo announced the Access All Areas Tour, which will visit Europe and the United Kingdom.^[15] On 7 November 2024, Flo partnered with AMC Theatres to give their fans an early listen to the album in select theatres in the United States. On 10 November 2024, Flo revealed the official tracklist of the album, revealing collaborations with Cynthia Erivo and rapper GloRilla.^[16]

Three days after the album's initial release, Flo hinted at "unlocking" features, and released a deluxe edition titled Access All Areas: Unlocked featuring remixes and extended versions with collaborations from Chlöe, Halle, Dixson, Kehlani, and Bree Runway.^[17] The group, alongside Chlöe and Halle all hinted a collaboration before the album's release.

Commercial performance

Access All Areas debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, selling 9,500 album-equivalent units in its first week and becoming highest-charting album by a British R&B girl group in 23 years.^[18] It also reached number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart and number ten on the Scottish Albums Chart.^[19]

In the United States, Access All Areas became Flo's first project to chart on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 163.^[20] Additionally, the album reached number 127 on the Belgian Flanders album chart and number 182 on the French albums chart.

Track listing

Notes

• signifies a primary and vocal producer.
• signifies a co-producer.
• signifies an additional producer.
• signifies a vocal producer.
• "AAA" interpolates "Portuguese Love", as written and performed by Teena Marie.^[21]
• "Check" samples "I Too Am Wanting," written by Curtis Robertson Jr. and Leon Ware, as performed by Syreeta Wright.^[22]
• "Caught Up" samples "Night and Day," composed by Cole Porter for the 1932 musical, Gay Divorce; as performed by Joe Pass.
• "Do Too Much" interpolates "What You Won't Do For Love", written by Alfons Kettner, as performed by Bobby Caldwell, and samples "Do for Love", as performed by 2Pac.

Personnel

Flo

• Jorja Douglas – vocals
• Renée Downer – vocals
• Stella Quaresma – vocals

Additional musicians

• MNEK – programming, synthesizer pads (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 11–16); keyboards (1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10–16), background vocals (4), vocal programming (6)
• Relyt – keyboards (tracks 1, 4), drums (4), piano (4), strings (4)
• Wired Strings – strings (tracks 1, 2, 6, 10, 14)
• Ashton Sellars – guitar (track 1); bass guitar, bells (4)
• Kierran – programming (track 1)
• Cynthia Erivo – spoken word (track 1)
• Pop Wansel – keyboards, programming (tracks 2, 11)
• Rogét Chahayed – keyboards, programming (track 2)
• Albin Tengblad – guitar, keyboards, synth pads (track 3)
• Tayla Parx – background vocals (track 3)
• Kz – programming (track 3)
• Grant Boutin – programming (track 3)
• Rudy Sandapa – strings (track 3)
• Alexander Lewis – trombone (track 3)
• Kyla Moscovich – trumpet (track 3)
• GloRilla – vocals (track 3)
• Darhyl Camper, Jr. – drums, guitar, piano (tracks 6, 9)
• Ryan Ashley – background vocals (track 7)
• Aminata Kabba – background vocals (tracks 8, 12)
• Sillkey – synthesizer (track 10)
• Jay Versace – keyboards, programming (track 11)
• Yakob – bass, drum programming, synthesizer (track 13)
• Hayley Yum – background vocals (tracks 14, 15)
• Mike Brainchild – bass, drum programming, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer pads (track 14)
• Curtis Kantsa – spoken word (track 14)
• Rashaan Brown – guitar (tracks 15, 16)
• Jamal Woon – additional keyboards (track 15); drum programming, programming (16)
• Skippz – piano (track 15); drum programming, programming (16)
• Chlöe – vocals (disc 2, track 1)
• Halle – vocals (disc 2, track 1)
• Dixson – vocals (disc 2, track 2)
• Kehlani – vocals (disc 2, track 3)
• Bree Runway – vocals (disc 2, track 4)

Technical

• Ohad Nissim – mastering (tracks 1, 2, 5–16)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering (track 3)
• Joe LaPorta – mastering (track 4)
• Patrizio "Teezio" Pigliapoco – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 4–16)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (track 3)
• MNEK – engineering, vocal arrangement (all tracks); string arrangement (tracks 1, 2, 6, 14), horn arrangement (3), vocal engineering (7)
• Ben Loveland – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 10, 14)
• TommyD – engineering (track 2), string arrangement (1, 6, 10, 14)
• Greg Eliason – engineering (track 2)
• Relyt – engineering, vocal engineering, additional mixing (track 4)
• Pop Wansel – additional engineering (track 11)
• Federico Giordano – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–16)
• Ignacio Portales – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4–16)
• Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (track 3)
• Dillon Brophy – mixing assistance (track 3)
• Rosie Danvers – string arrangement (tracks 1, 2, 6, 10, 14)
• Sillkey – string arrangement (track 10)
• Mike Brainchild – string arrangement (track 14)
• Alexander Lewis – horn arrangement (track 3)
• Kyla Moscovich – horn arrangement (track 3)
• Tayla Parx – vocal arrangement (track 3)

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
US Billboard 200[23]	163

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label
Various	15 November 2024		Island	[24]

See also

• Backstage pass

Notes and References

1. Web site: Access All Areas by FLO. Spotify. 6 November 2024.
2. Web site: Duran . Anagricel . 2023-07-05 . FLO surprise release new EP '3 Of Us' . 2024-11-19 . NME . en-GB.
3. Web site: FLO Drop Surprise EP '3 Of Us'. NME. Murray. Robin. 3 July 2023. 6 November 2024.
4. Web site: Kehlani to Hit the Road for Crash World Tour in Fall 2024 with Special Guests FLO and Anycia — See the Dates!. People. Irvin. Jack. 23 July 2024. 6 November 2024.
5. Web site: Keith . James . March 8, 2024 . FLO Push Towards Debut Album With New Single “Walk Like This” . 2024-11-19 . Complex . en.
6. Web site: Powell . Jon . 2024-03-14 . FLO teaches viewers how to “Walk Like This” in new visual . 2024-11-19 . Revolt.
7. FLO Is Ready to Show You How to 'Walk Like This' for Their First Single of 2024. Billboard. Mamo. Heran. 4 March 2024. 6 November 2024.
8. Web site: Breihan . Tom . 2024-05-24 . FLO Share New Single "Caught Up": Listen . 2024-11-19 . Stereogum . en.
9. Web site: Damara Kelly . Tyler . 27 May 2024 . FLO return with new single, "Caught Up" . 2024-11-19 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US.
10. Web site: Taylor . Sam . 2024-08-02 . FLO have released their new "lover girl anthem" 'Check' ahead of supporting on Kehlani's Crash tour . 2024-11-19 . Dork . en-US.
11. Web site: Carter . Daisy . 2024-08-05 . FLO feel the love on latest single ‘Check’ . 2024-11-19 . DIY . en.
12. Web site: Damara Kelly . Tyler . 30 August 2024 . FLO preview debut album with new single, "Bending My Rules" . 2024-11-19 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US.
13. Web site: Murray . Robin . 2024-08-30 . FLO Shine With New Single 'Bending My Rules' . 2024-11-19 . Clash Magazine . en-GB.
14. Web site: Bolarin . Ore . 2024-11-11 . FLO drop music video for new single "AAA" . 2024-11-19 . GRM Daily . en-GB.
15. Web site: Molloy . Laura . 4 November 2024 . FLO announce 2025 UK ‘Access All Areas’ tour . 18 November 2024 . NME.
16. Web site: 2024-11-11 . FLO Unlocks ‘Access All Areas’ Tracklist & Shares ‘AAA’ Video . 2024-11-19 . SoulBounce . en-US.
17. Web site: Samuels . Keithan . 2024-11-19 . FLO Releases 'Access All Areas: Unlocked' Mini Deluxe Album . 2024-11-19 . Rated R&B . en.
18. Web site: Smith . Carl . 2024-11-22 . Linkin Park land fourth chart-topping LP: “From Zero to Number 1!” . 2024-11-22 . . en.
19. Web site: FLO songs and albums - full Official Chart history . 2024-11-22 . . en.
20. billboardcharts. 1861093549237764319. Debuts on this week's #Billboard200.... 25 November 2024. 26 November 2024.
21. Web site: 2024-11-05 . Best New R&B Songs This Week: Kiana Ledé, FLO, And Ella Mai . 2024-11-19 . Uproxx . en-US.
22. Web site: Samuels . Keithan . 2024-08-05 . FLO Releases New Song 'Check' . 2024-11-19 . Rated R&B . en.
23. billboardcharts. 1861093549237764319. Debuts on this week's #Billboard200.... 25 November 2024. 26 November 2024.
24. Access All Areas release formats:
    • Web site: Access All Areas Standard CD . 31 August 2024 . Flo Official Shop .
    • Web site: Access All Areas Standard Vinyl . 31 August 2024 . Flo Official Shop .