Based down in Cornwall, Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas aren’t just new to our blog, but new to the recording scene. That Was That is their debut single.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Little Genius Recordings
The five-piece folk pop outfit are labelmates with another act who has been lighting up our pages recently – Giant Killers. Both ply their trade for Brighton-based label Little Genius Recordings.
Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas offer a distinctly different prospect though. While Giant Killers have been around since the ’90s, the newcomers have an average of age of just nineteen. Led by the eponymous Flo, she’s joined by Cerys Wilcox on soprano vocals, Paige Mullin on alto vocals, Grace C.G. on guitar on and backing vocals, and Moses Seaber on e-drums.
You might be thinking: that’s a lot of vocals. You’d be right. The bands approach is lots of harmony in That Was That, resulting in a warm and layered composition. The voices float over a stripped-back instrumental that provide an understated groove. Lyrically, the track speaks of heartache in the simplest, most relatable and highly devastating terms. It’s really quite something.
To launch the single, the band have recorded a colourful, storytelling video that comes with some intimate performances and plenty of handclaps. The video will be available in a few weeks.
If that wasn’t enough, the single comes with a B-side which shows the more electronic side of the band’s sound. The Crowd canters along with pop textures and a sense of swagger. Still, the beautiful, harmonised vocals remain.
That Was That is the title track of the band’s debut album set for release later this year. Based on the evidence so far, it’s an album to get excited about. Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas feel like quite a find in a congested music industry. Already booked to play Boardmasters 2025 alongside Wet Leg, Raye and The Prodigy, they’ve certainly got things going on the right foot.
“We’re hopeful that our music, and the motivation behind what we do will connect with everyone in our generation, way beyond our native Cornwall – we want to invite everyone, wherever they are, to join our clan,” the band say.
It’s a powerful ideal given the existential threats their generation (and, indeed all of us) are facing, and the band are trying to do their bit to enact change, playing to their strengths. What more can you ask?
That Was That is out now and you can give it a listen below.