Access All Areas (Flo album)

Access All Areas
Studio album by Flo
Released	15 November 2024 (2024-11-15)
Genre	R&B
Length	46:55
Label	Island
Producer	Luc Bernadel Mike Brainchild Darhyl Camper Jr. Rogét Chahayed Cole YoursTruly Gabriel Davies Renée Downer IQ Dante Jones Kierran MNEK Nova Wav Relyt Rissi Rudy Sandapa Ashton Sellars Skippz Sean Small Styalz Fuego Sam Sumser Albin Tengblad Pop Wansel Jamal Woon uv killin em Yakob Tre Jean-Marie
Flo chronology
3 of Us (2023) Access All Areas (2024)
Singles from Access All Areas
"Walk Like This" Released: 8 March 2024 "Caught Up" Released: 24 May 2024 "Check" Released: 2 August 2024 "In My Bag" Released: 15 November 2024

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. 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. 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.

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

Access All Areas is a labour of love. To us it represents our growth and dedication to making girl group history, to making a project we are truly proud to call our debut album.

— Flo about the album,

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. The single was Flo's first single since "Fly Girl" with rapper Missy Elliott in 2023. 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.

On 2 August 2024, Flo released the third single for the album, "Check". 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, and the album's title track, "AAA".

On 1 November 2024, Flo announced the Access All Areas Tour, which will visit Europe and the United Kingdom. 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.

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. The group, alongside Chlöe and Halle all hinted a collaboration before the album's release.

Commercial performance

Access All Areas spent one week on the UK Albums Chart at number three, 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. It also reached number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart and number ten on the Scottish Albums Chart.

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	6.7/10
Metacritic	68/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash	7/10
DIY
The Guardian
The Independent
The Line of Best Fit	7/10
NME
Pitchfork	8/10
The Rolling Stone
The Telegraph

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Access All Areas received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 from 9 critic scores.

Track listing

Access All Areas – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro" (featuring Cynthia Erivo)	Jorja Douglas Renée Downer Stella Quaresma Uzoechi Emenike Curtis Kantsa Kierran Rogers-Bedminster	Kierran MNEK[c][v] Relyt[a]	2:40
2.	"AAA"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Rogét Chahayed Emenike Amber Streeter Andrew Wansel Mary Brockert	Pop Wansel Chahayed MNEK[a][v]	3:24
3.	"In My Bag" (featuring GloRilla)	Lara Andersson Grant Boutin Taylor Parks Emma Rosen Albin Tengblad Gloria Woods	Tengblad MNEK[p] Boutin[a] Styalz Fuego[a] Jess Jackson[v]	3:08
4.	"Walk Like This"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Emenike Tyler Hotston Aminata Kabba Talay Riley Ashton Sellars	Relyt Sellars MNEK[c][v]	3:17
5.	"How Does It Feel?"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Emenike William Hood Jared Krumm Daniel Muñoz Sean Small Sam Sumser Chris Taylor Theron Thomas	IQ Luc Bernadel Sumser Small Thomas MNEK[a][v]	3:08
6.	"Soft"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Darhyl Camper Jr. Darius Dixson	Camper MNEK[a][v]	2:10
7.	"Check"	Ryan Ashley Kaelyn Behr Emenike Curtis Robertson Jr. Rudy Sandapa Leon Ware Syreeta Wright	Styalz Fuego Sandapa MNEK[p] Ashley[v]	2:45
8.	"On & On"	Matej Djajkovski Fabien Herfray Dante Jones Yuval Haim Chain Kabba	Jones MNEK[p] BigSlav[c] Uv Killin Em[c] Kabba[v]	3:21
9.	"Bending My Rules"	Camper Dixson	Camper MNEK[p]	3:44
10.	"Trustworthy (Interlude)"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Denisia Andrews Brittany Coney Emenike Morten Ristorp	Nova Wav Rissi MNEK[a][v] Sillkey[a]	1:36
11.	"Caught Up"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Jocelyn Donald Emenike Jahlil Gunter Cole Porter Streeter Wansel	Pop Wansel Jay Versace[c] MNEK[a][v]	3:50
12.	"IWH2BMX"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Gabriel Davies Emenike Cole Ostrin Riley Jamal Woon	Cole YoursTruly Davies Woon MNEK[a][v] Skippz[a]	2:43
13.	"Nocturnal"	Ashley Emenike Jakob Rabitsch Riley	Downer Yakob MNEK[c][v]	2:03
14.	"Shoulda Woulda Coulda"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Mike Brainchild Emenike Lauren Keen	Brainchild MNEK[a][v]	3:46
15.	"Get It Till I'm Gone"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Emenike Kabba Ostrin Rogers-Bedminster Skippz Woon	Skippz MNEK[a][v]	3:00
16.	"I'm Just a Girl"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Rashaan Brown Emenike Keen Skippz Woon	Woon Skippz MNEK[a][v]	2:20
Total length:				46:55

Access All Areas – Jorja CD bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Do Too Much"	Emenike Rowan Perkins Alfons Kettner Bobby Caldwell	LOXE MNEK[a][v]	3:20

Access All Areas – Renée CD bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Conceited"	Douglas Downer Quaresma Kabba Emenike Dayo Olatunji Tre Jean-Marie	Jean-Marie MNEK[v]	2:34

Access All Areas – Stella CD bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Say Less"	James Anderson Joe Gosling Riley Hotston	RELYT Joe Gosling	3:03

Access All Areas: Unlocked disc 2 – digital release

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Soft" (Unlocked; featuring Chlöe and Halle)	Douglas Downer Quaresma Chloe Bailey Halle Bailey Camper Jr. Dixson	Camper MNEK[a][v]	3:10
2.	"Bending My Rules" (Unlocked; featuring Dixson)	Camper Dixson	Camper MNEK[p]	4:47
3.	"IWH2BMX" (Unlocked; featuring Kehlani)	Douglas Downer Quaresma Davies Emenike Ostrin Riley Woon Kehlani Parrish	Cole YoursTruly Davies Woon MNEK[a][v] Skippz[a]	2:45
4.	"Nocturnal" (Unlocked; featuring Bree Runway)	Ashley Emenike Rabitsch Riley Brenda Mensah	Downer Yakob MNEK[c][v]	2:37
5.	"Bending My Rules" (Vevo Live)	Camper Dixson	Camper MNEK[p]	3:50

Notes

• ^{^[p]} signifies a primary and vocal producer.
• ^{^[c]} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{^[a]} signifies an additional producer.
• ^{^[v]} signifies a vocal producer.
• "AAA" interpolates "Portuguese Love", as written and performed by Teena Marie.
• "Check" samples "I Too Am Wanting," written by Curtis Robertson Jr. and Leon Ware, as performed by Syreeta Wright.
• "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 performance for Access All Areas

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)	127
French Albums (SNEP)	182
Portugal Streaming Albums (AFP)	182
Scottish Albums (OCC)	10
UK Albums (OCC)	3
UK R&B Albums (OCC)	1
US Billboard 200	163

Release history

Release dates and formats for Access All Areas

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	15 November 2024	CD digital download streaming vinyl	Island

See also

• Backstage pass