Since their conception in April 2021, Florencia & the Feeling has been impressing crowds and getting folks on their feet. With their upbeat funky grooves, heartfelt songwriting, and all-around good vibes, this jazz-laden, pop-funk fusion band with Latin roots has hit the scene running with no plans of slowing down.
Florencia Rusiñol, lead singer/guitarist and primary songwriter, grew up in East Tennessee, with Argentine parents who instilled in her a love of Latin American music from an early age. The spectrum of Argentine folklore to Stevie Wonder to Manhattan Transfer flowing constantly in her home later translated to her songwriting, as evidenced by the catchy hooks, warm jazz chords, and unexpected harmonic movements in her songs.
After a decade of living away from home, Rusiñol found herself back there in the throes of the pandemic and a shut-down world, but she was not about to let that halt her musical momentum. Between live-streaming solo performances and practicing remote music therapy, Florencia spent her quarantine launching into a period of self-reflection which led to an era of composition. At the beginning of 2021, the restrictions began to lift and Florencia wanted to perform again; however, she needed a band.
The five members of Florencia & the Feeling fuse together the many genres in all of their backgrounds – funk, jazz, Nu Soul, jam, pop, indie rock, and more – to create a unique blend that has caught the attention of many.
The band’s new album Birthday is set to be released March 24th, and the album was produced by Grammy award-winner Martin Walters. He has worked with artists such as Spyro Gyra, Patti Labelle, Grover Washington Jr., Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly Stone, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, and many others.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout tune “Meant to Be” along with its accompanying lyric video. The tune proves to be a delectable showcase for Florencia’s luscious vocals, which float over a soundtrack of groove-laden funk and R&B sounds that carry an airy coolness to complement this lyrical tale of getting over a toxic relationship. Deeply infectious and brimming with energy, this is the kind of song that could be stretched out in the live setting for a truly danceable performance.
Check out the video and read our interview with Florencia Rusiñol below…
What prompted you to write this song? What was the inspiration behind it?
I wrote this song at the very beginning of my healing journey post a toxic relationship and tough breakup. This was in many ways my “closure” song, reconciling with myself that no matter how hard I had tried or could try, that relationship was never “meant to be.” It’s also about relearning how to live without that person when that’s what you’ve gotten used to. I, like many people I know, had a hard time reconciling how long it took me to get out of that relationship when I felt like I knew for so long that it was bad for me. The resolution of these feelings came later in my writing and in the album Birthday, coming out in March, but the upbeat groove and harmonic resolution embodies my feelings of learning to move on.
How did this song come together when you wrote it? What was the songwriting process like?
The chorus came to me first — in the shower, actually — and I wrote the words out in a note. I returned to it a few weeks later and began to add the verses, detailing the long and difficult trajectory of moving on from a five-year relationship. Even though I wrote this song before Florencia & the Feeling came together as a band, I always wanted a solo in it, and Isaac, our keyboardist, came and adapted the melody I had in my head into the killer synth solo. As with most of my songs, I start them on guitar and then bring them to the band, and together we arranged each part of the song, adding layers of vocals, synths, percussion, and adding on the final powerhouse chorus.
When you recorded this song, what kind of vibe were you going for? Did it end up sounding like you expected it to or did it come out different from what you thought it would be?
I think it did turn out how I expected. I mean, probably better than I expected. We went for a funky, dark, yet still groovy vibe, and I think we nailed it. I especially love the end where the song builds to a soaring and almost ethereal place. I love it so much.
What do you hope listeners get from the song?
I hope that people can identify with the song if they’ve had similar situations, but it doesn’t have to be just after a romantic relationship. This song represents acceptance and closure, the first step in moving forward, after any heartbreak or disappointment in any relationship or situation. We want our listeners to feel the hope of a better future beyond a necessary end.
Who are your biggest influences, musically speaking?
Stevie Wonder and The Beatles are the two artists I grew up listening to the most, but lately I have been influenced largely by Lianne La Havas, Sammy Rae & the Friends, Vulfpeck, and Jacob Collier. Austin and Nick have a background in jamtronica and progressive rock, and they are heavily inspired by Papadosio and other jam bands. Isaac and Noah have backgrounds in jazz and nu-soul genres and cite influences such as Kiefer and Rob Araujo. We aspire to this new version of pop music that is so many genres at once that it is hard to describe.
