UK duo FLOETRY were one of the runaway success stories of the early 2000s. Working out of Atlanta and then Philadelphia, MARSHA AMBROSIUS and NATALIE STEWART not only enjoyed success with their own work but they featured on numerous collaborations and provided quality songs for countless other artists – maybe most famously penning ‘Butterflies’ for MICHAEL JACKSON.
FLOETRY had a unique sound – a peculiar blend of vocals (courtesy of MARSHA) and spoken word (from NATALIE), it could go from almost ethereal to hard edged in the space of a few bars. In 2007 STEWART – the self proclaimed “FLOACIST” left the band to pursue a solo career and she’s now set to release her first full album – ‘Floetic Soul’ on Shanachie Records. This highly anticipated project sees THE FLOACIST (the name NATALIE is using) share the tracks with the likes of MUSIQ SOULCHILD, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, MC LYTE and LALAH HATHAWAY. The LP’s first single is called ‘Forever’ and features the aforementioned Mr. SOULCHILD. It was produced by J.R. HUTSON (son of the legendary LEROY whose credits include work with JILL SCOTT and SOULCHILD).
NATALIE says of the album, “My approach to the manifestation of ‘Floetic Soul’ has simply been to get out of the way and go beyond my comfort zone, making sure to challenge any limitations that I may have placed on myself over time. ‘Floetic Soul ‘ was inspired by the understanding that my original Floetic concept of ‘poetic delivery with musical intent’ had not come to an end, even though my group, FLOETRY, had completed its cycle. I was left with the realization that I still had music in my mind, my heart and my soul!”
Also upcoming on Shanachie are albums on MINT CONDITION and PATTI AUSTIN
Full reviews of them all on SJF very soon.