‘Hard To Get’ – Single release – August 31st 2009. ‘A Fool In Love’ – Album release – September 21st 2009.
Check RHV’s album review here
The cool, after-dark Motown feel of Florence Rawlings’ first single ‘Hard To Get’ serves as a perfect introduction to this charismatic singer and her debut album. ‘A Fool In Love’ is an impressive debut of authentic soul, raw grooves and rhythm & blues.
Florence first impressed Dramatico chairman Mike Batt seven years ago when she was 13 years old and Mike had just signed Katie Melua. Whilst Katie went on to sell millions of albums around the world, Florence stayed on at school, performed at clubs and pubs in her spare time (”I’d sing for whoever was willing to listen…at school, in clubs and bars…anywhere I could”), and kept in touch with Mike.
Fast forward to 2009 and Florence has now recorded her album and it is definitely worth the wait. As well as singing a collection of powerful original songs penned by Mike Batt himself, including ‘The Only Woman In The World’, Florence has discovered gems from days gone by and transformed them with her own charismatic soul style.
Florence makes the Gladys Knight song ‘Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me’ completely her own whilst reinventing Allen Toussaint’s long forgotten ‘Riverboat’ with vigorous production, uplifting horns and sleek dark overtones that give the song a lavish, ominous edge. Florence even performs a version of Chuck Berry’s ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ – following in the potentially daunting footsteps of The Rolling Stones and John Lennon she embraces it just as convincingly as rock and roll’s elite.
Florence stunned the crowds at the Isle of Wight festival when she performed these songs for the first time. Afterwards the festival’s promoter John Giddings declared “Florence Rawlings rocked the Big Top – a certain star of the future” and other festival promoters have been extraordinarily quick off the mark in booking the 20 year old South Londoner, before a note of music has even been released, for some key spots including the main stage at Guilfest and Tuborg Stage at O2 Wireless.
“I’ve been performing at bars and clubs since I was 13″ said Florence, “but playing at Festivals and supporting artists like Booker T is completely different. The festivals have been amazing and I am just so happy up on the stage. I can’t wait for the next shows.”
Little Richard’s description of his own sound sums up Florence’s electrifying style perfectly, “Rock n’ rollin’, rhythm & blues soulin’”. Florence Rawlings is set to be a modern soul star. In the words of the
song – “jump on the wagon and join the dance.”
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