The Floacist facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natalie Stewart
Stewart in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Natalie Stewart
Also known as	The Floacist, FLO
Born	(1979-02-13) 13 February 1979 (age 46) Germany
Origin	South London, England
Genres	R&B soul spoken word neo soul
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter singer poet music producer actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Shanachie DreamWorks Geffen

Natalie Stewart, also known as The Floacist or FLO, is an English rapper, singer, and poet. She was born in Germany on February 13, 1979, and grew up in London. As a child, she took part in many singing and dancing shows.

She became famous in the early 2000s as part of the R&B music group Floetry. Later, Natalie started her solo career. Her first album, Floetic Soul (2010), made her a well-known solo artist. It included popular songs like "Forever" and "Let Me".

Her second solo album, Floetry Re:Birth (2012), featured singles such as "Say Yes" and "Soul". In 2014, she released her third solo album, Rise of the Phoenix Mermaid. Natalie calls herself a "modern-day poet." Her songs often talk about love, friendships, and finding solutions to problems. She has sold over 2 million records in her career.

Early Life and Education

Natalie's parents came from Jamaica. Her father was in the British army, so she was born in Germany. She was the youngest of three children and started school in Hong Kong. Later, her family moved to London.

She went to the BRIT School, a special school for arts. There, she studied performing arts, media, and art. This is also where she met Marsha Ambrosius. Natalie also attended Middlesex University and the University of North London.

She helped start a poetry group called 3 Plus 1. They were very popular in cities like London and Manchester. Natalie loved performing poetry because it allowed her to combine her writing and performing skills. She calls this her "Floetic" style, which means "poetic delivery of musical intent."

Music Career

Floetry: 1999–2006

Floetry was formed in 1999 when Marsha Ambrosius joined Natalie on stage. They performed a song they wrote together called "Fantasize." It mixed spoken word poetry with singing. In 2000, they traveled to the United States to perform their poetry.

They went to Philadelphia and met music producers Darren Henson and Keith Pelzer. They started recording music there. In 2002, they signed with DreamWorks Records. They released their first album, Floetic. This album included hit songs like "Floetic" and "Say Yes".

Because their live shows were so popular, they released a live album and DVD called Floacism in 2003. In 2005, Floetry released their second studio album, Flo'Ology. This album reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart. It featured the song "SupaStar" with the rapper Common. The duo separated in 2006.

Solo Career: 2006–2013

After Floetry split up in 2006, Natalie moved back to London. For the next four years, she focused on her music and her "Floetic" style.

In 2010, she released an extended play (EP) called Spoken Soul. In November 2010, she released her first solo album, Floetic Soul. This album reached number 95 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. It also reached number 20 on the Top R&B Albums chart. The album featured singles like "Forever" and "Let Me."

In 2011, Natalie began working on her second album. In August 2012, she released a new version of Floetry's hit song "Say Yes." In November 2012, her second album, The Floacist presents Floetry Re:Birth, was released. She said the album's title celebrated ten years since Floetry first became famous.

Later Albums and Floetry Reunion: 2014–2016

Floetry reunited in February 2016. Natalie Stewart is on the left, and Marsha Ambrosius is on the right.

In March 2014, Natalie released her third solo album, Rise of the Phoenix Mermaid. This album included the songs "Feel Good" and "On It." In December 2014, she reunited with Marsha Ambrosius for a performance in London.

In February 2015, Natalie confirmed that Floetry would go on tour again. On May 16, 2015, Floetry performed their first show together in nine years in Georgia, USA. They continued to tour throughout 2015 and planned to record a new album. However, they split up again in August 2016 after the second part of their tour.

Recent Work: 2017–Present

In August 2017, Natalie, using the stage name "FLO," released a new song called "Good Life." In November 2017, she went on her first solo tour, called the "Let It FLO Tour." In 2019, she and her husband, Robbie Maddix, formed a music duo called i'N'i.

Other Projects

Flo Spoken Word Vortex

On November 24, 2014, Natalie started hosting an event called the Flo Spoken Word Vortex. This event gives spoken word artists and poets a chance to perform. It takes place at the Hideaway Jazz & Comedy Club in London. The FLO Spoken Word Vortex happens twice a month. In September 2019, the event was also held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Personal Life

Natalie Stewart believes in constantly growing and improving herself. She focuses on her spiritual, mental, and artistic development. When asked about her spiritual practices, she says it's about remembering peace.

In 2017, Natalie married Robbie Maddix, who was the drummer for the band Stone Roses. She currently lives on the southern coast of England.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Tours

• Floetry Experience with Marsha Ambrosius (2003)
• Floetry Reunion Tour with Marsha Ambrosius (2014–2015)
• Let It Flo Tour (2017)
• Flo Spoken Word Vortex Tour (2019)

Film and TV Appearances

• 2004: One on One (as herself)
• 2008: Reasonable Excuse (as Laila)
• 2010: Remaindered (as a Background Performer)
• 2010: The Creepy Doll (as a Waiting Room Patient #2)
• 2012: Spirit Stalkers (as a Restaurant Patron)