FLOWEROVLOVE on ‘Think Flower’
For many of us our teenage years were spent balancing a regular school life and a regular social life… and that was pretty challenging - a couple of assignments a week paired with a weekend house party seemed almost too much to handle - but not for Floweroflove (AKA Joyce Cisse). Compound this with shooting a GUCCI campaign and writing and recording an entire EP and somehow Joyce is still calmly confident in her abilities and more than happy with her school/work-life balance, smashing every single component.
The 16-year old South-Londoner has just released her highly anticipated debut EP, ‘Think Flower’ and it’s a total breath of fresh air. An unpretentious collection of five tracks that haven’t been over-complicated, each dreamy bedroom-pop track oozing with literal sunshine that seems to pour out of every crevice of anything Joyce touches. It’s laid-back soulful sound carries through the entire EP yet still manages to have all the optimism of a teenager doing their own thing and dancing to the beat of their own drum. It’s music made by a 16-year old that represents what 16-year olds love.
We caught up with the floral wonder and spoke about ‘Think Flower’, her love of Alvvays and her decision to work with an all-female team.
You’re a star! How do you manage your career with your busy school-life?
Thank you! I’m pretty good with time management, depending on what I prioritise, which is the music. School I find really easy so it doesn’t take up much of my time, as I don’t really revise and I still do absolutely amazingly!
What’s your first memory of music?
My first memory of music actually was in a bank with my mother and my older sister. To keep the kids occupied they’d have little building blocks and I remember they had a xylophone. Me tapping on that was my youngest memory of music.
Who did you grow up listening to?
One Direction for sure! Also Boney M and ABBA - my mother was obsessed with them.
Tell us about your latest EP, ‘Think Flower’! Looking at the tracklist (specifically ‘Remembering Times Outside’) was this mainly produced over lockdown? How was that?
This EP is so exciting and my first footsteps into the music world. Its message is to always love yourself, put yourself first, to always feel good about the now, finding the beauty in the present moment and realising that all is fabulous. All of the songs on the EP were made during lockdown - they were made within 2 months! I find making music at home so accessible and beautiful.
Was it important for you working with an all-female team?
It’s extremely, extremely, important for me to be working with an all women team. This is because we are so powerful. Women have a special purity and strength and I want that in the Flowerovlove home.
How would you describe the EP in a sentence?
Nostalgic, ethereal, and Flowerovlove-y.
Which FLOWER do you LOVE the most ?
The flower I love the most has to be gazania flowers. They’re so beautiful and vibrant.
How did growing up in London shape your sound?
I’d say from the different sounds, accents and traditions I hear - incorporating all of those that I’ve picked up into my own sound is so magical in its own way.
Tell us about the GUCCI campaign you featured in.
The Gucci campaign was very fun. I loved the people and the energy. I feel that as long as you go in with a positive mindset then you’ll have the best experience, like I did.
Who are your fashion inspirations?
Definitely Denise Huxtable, Tamera & Tia from Sister Sister and people I see out in London, the style here is amazing.
If your wardrobe caught on fire and you could only save 2 pieces, what would they be?
1 - my grey blazer because we love an oversized blazer.
2- my thrifted Manchester United sweater which is 3 sizes too big, just how I like it.
I heard that you love Alvvays. If you were to do a duet with them, which one of their songs would you want to sing on?
Yes I absolutely ADORE Alvvays, this is such a good question, definitely Next of Kin - I hear my voice on that and it would be so cool.
Who have you had on rotation recently?
My favourite album, which is Masayoshi Takanaka- The Rainbow Goblins (1981). There’s something about this album that orbits me into space and this space is full of delicious happiness & fulfilment.
Imagine this : it’s your first night post-COVID. Where are you heading and what are you going to do?
Definitely having a sleepover with my girlies.
You’ve made it onto the Last Bus home. What are you listening to?
Going to have to be ‘Last Friday Night’ by Katy Perry, absolute classic.
Find Flowerovlove on Instagram here. 