With their sophomore single “Shy Girl”, Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas confirm what many already suspected after their debut: this Cornish five-piece are one of the most promising and original voices emerging from the UK’s electronic pop scene. Signed to Little Genius Recordings earlier this year, the band continues to refine a distinctive fusion of folk harmonies and crisp, contemporary electronics—a style that feels both grounded and ethereal, rural and futuristic at once.
The track opens with a direct and striking statement: “Outta my way.” It’s a line that instantly dismantles the assumptions suggested by the title, setting the tone for a song that challenges notions of female silence and passivity. Flo Crowe’s voice—supple, emotive, and commanding—cuts through a rich web of layered vocals from Cerys Wilcox and Paige Mullin, forming an intricate vocal architecture that’s central to the band’s identity. The interplay between these voices, sometimes harmonic and sometimes slightly dissonant, evokes the organic feel of folk traditions while floating above a pulsing bed of electronic rhythm.
The rhythm itself is one of “Shy Girl”’s greatest strengths. Moses Seaber’s E-drums deliver a restrained but propulsive groove—syncopated enough to feel alive, steady enough to give the track its backbone. Rather than overpowering the vocals, the beats breathe with them, creating a space where emotion and motion coexist. This balance is further deepened by Grace C.G.’s guitar work, whose gritty motifs punctuate the electronic landscape with flashes of texture—grainy and human, grounding the track’s digital shimmer in something tactile.
In terms of production, “Shy Girl” strikes a rare equilibrium between warmth and precision. The synth layers shimmer like distant light on water, yet the mix remains intimate, with each vocal nuance clearly defined. There’s a subtle folktronica sensibility at play—echoes of The Knife’s emotive minimalism meet the pastoral resonance of early Bon Iver or Imogen Heap—but what sets Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas apart is their focus on storytelling through harmony. Every synth pulse and rhythmic accent seems to support the lyrical narrative, reinforcing the song’s central defiance.
Lyrically, “Shy Girl” serves as a modern anthem of reclamation. Flo Crowe’s commentary on rejecting the “tradwife” archetype feels sharp and relevant without ever slipping into didacticism. Her delivery is both gentle and fierce, embodying the quiet strength of someone who refuses to be underestimated. The track’s melodic arc mirrors that evolution: it begins with an almost whispered intimacy, then expands into a chorus that blooms with collective energy—as if the entire band were exhaling the same breath of resistance.
There’s also something cinematic about the atmosphere. The production plays with negative space, allowing reverb and delay to stretch the sound outward, suggesting landscapes as wide as the Cornish coastline the band calls home. This sense of scale makes “Shy Girl” feel larger than its structure might suggest: beneath its three-and-a-half minutes lies an emotional geography of liberation, community, and belonging.
As a follow-up to their debut single “That Was That”, this release shows clear growth. Where their first offering leaned more on introspection, “Shy Girl” feels outward-facing, confident, and assertive. It’s music made by young artists who already understand the power of subtlety—how to turn restraint into intensity, and softness into strength.
The band’s trajectory so far has been nothing short of impressive. With a BBC Introducing debut, glowing reviews across the UK and Ireland, and appearances at major festivals like Boardmasters—sharing lineups with The Prodigy, Raye, Central Cee, and Wet Leg—Flo Crowe & The Dilemmas have already begun carving out their own corner of the modern electronic pop world.
Ultimately, “Shy Girl” encapsulates what makes this group so exciting: an intuitive grasp of rhythm, a sensitivity to sonic space, and an emotional clarity that feels rare for a band whose members average just nineteen years old. It’s a release of high quality and distinct character—an elegant statement from artists who are only just beginning to show what they can do.
We’re delighted to host this review on our webzine—celebrating a song that doesn’t just sound beautiful, but speaks boldly, too.