‘Nobody looks like me and sounds like me’: flowerovlove redefines what pop stardom means

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A fan starts the song “muse” with a voice note, confidently stating that while many believe someone else is revitalizing pop music, it’s actually flowerovlove who deserves that credit.

Joyce Cissé, who performs as flowerovlove, is a singer-songwriter from South London. She’s known for her relaxed style, insightful lyrics, and confident presence.

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve always appreciated a good character arc, and this artist totally delivers! Her music really captures those classic teen movie feelings – you know, the butterflies of a first crush. But it’s not just about sweetness. She also projects this incredible confidence, like she knows her worth and won’t settle for anything less. It’s a fantastic mix of vulnerability and strength, and honestly, really empowering.

Aya Cissé is a rising star who takes charge of her career. From her debut in a Gucci campaign at just 15, the now 20-year-old artist and model has consistently turned heads, and her skills prove she deserves the spotlight.

She’s already achieved more than many people do in their early twenties. This singer has opened for major artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Halsey, Khalid, and Haim, and has performed at famous festivals including Glastonbury, Austin City Limits, and Lollapalooza.

Now, she is preparing for her Coachella debut on April 10 and 17.

A lot of people first heard of her through the song “new friends,” a catchy and relatable tune about wanting to move on from a past relationship.

I usually plan my writing carefully and with a specific goal in mind,” she said during a phone call. “But for this project, we weren’t sure what to write, so I just went to the studio and started going through old text messages.

While revisiting old text messages from a past relationship, singer Cissé worked with songwriter Justin Tranter (known for hits like Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck Babe” and Justin Bieber’s “Sorry”). Cissé originally intended to write a love song, but Tranter suggested she instead write a song that criticizes men.

She says the song’s lyrics are actually based on text messages she sent. That’s why it feels so natural, relaxed, and like a real conversation – she basically just sang the story as if she were telling it to her friends.

Honestly, this new song just feels fun – it’s got this really playful energy but also a bit of an edge, which I think makes it the perfect summer anthem. And the lyrics are brilliant! There’s this one line, “Last night has led me to confusion / Was it good or was it friction?” that’s so cheeky and relatable, it really stuck with me.

Cissé grew up loving disco music, especially the Black artists who pioneered the genre in the 1970s. She was a big fan of groups like Boney M., appreciating their energetic call-and-response style, and often incorporates similar audience participation into her own performances. She also greatly admired Donna Summer, whom she considers a foundational figure in both pop and disco music.

She describes her music as playful and often matches it with a preppy, 90s-inspired style. She jokingly calls herself a ‘miniskirt warrior,’ embracing that as part of her image.

She said with a laugh, “I really mean this – I love wearing miniskirts. They’re a huge part of who I am and how I present myself, and honestly, I feel most like myself when I’m wearing one.”

It’s deeper than just a cute garment.

I’ve always felt there’s something powerfully feminine about long legs – to me, they really symbolize growth and blossoming. And she just loves her heels, which I totally get – they complete the look!

I’m completely captivated by her new song, “Casual Lady.” The lyrics are so clever – she sings about treating relationships like accessories, saying she ‘wears boys like fashion’ and doesn’t get emotionally invested. It’s all about being carefree and unattached, and she perfectly captures that vibe with the line, ‘I’m a casual lady.’

She usually seems cool and collected, but in this heartfelt song, she reveals her romantic side, sharing her dreams of building a future with someone new.

Cissé is incredibly versatile and talented. For the “Casual Lady” music video, she not only directed it, but also handled production and styling – taking on many different responsibilities.

She explains that because she has a very distinct style and vision, she ultimately takes full responsibility for everything. She was particularly struck by a lyric from Doechii – ‘End of the day, everything is on me’ – which she feels perfectly captures the reality of being an artist. Ultimately, any issues or successes always come back to the artist themselves.

Her brother, Wilfred, helped launch her music career by encouraging her to sing over a beat he’d made previously. He’s still a key creative collaborator, and she relied on him to film, edit, and finalize the look of her music video.

“ I don’t feel like anyone, but my brother, understands my vision at all,” she said.

As a film buff, I always find it fascinating to hear how movies come together, and Cissé’s latest project has a great story! She actually shot the whole thing while on a family vacation in Greece – talk about making the most of your time off! It looks so bright and cheerful in the final cut, but she told me it was freezing cold the day they filmed. It just goes to show you never know what goes on behind the scenes!

“I did not enjoy filming it,” she confesses.

I was completely captivated watching Cissé! She’s this incredibly free spirit, and the scenes of her playfully moving around – near a pool and even on a tiny balcony – were just delightful. She wore the cutest outfits, and I especially loved these custom hot pink roller skates covered in sparkles! It’s clear she’s on a journey to rediscover that childlike joy within herself, and it’s really beautiful to watch.

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She loves the idea of high heels combined with roller skates, calling it incredibly cool. She explained that she’s always looking for ways to create fashion that feels fresh and new, or that captures the fun she enjoyed as a child.

Given her creative energy, it’s not surprising that Cissé is continuing to release new music. Her new single, “American Wedding,” will be available this Friday. The song takes inspiration from an unreleased track of the same name by Frank Ocean.

I’ve always been so impressed by his ability to create art that feels like it will last forever, and ‘American Wedding’ just felt like a song that needed to exist. Honestly, I’ve never even dreamed of getting married in America – I’m deeply connected to my African roots and I adore London. But the idea of that song, that title… it was just so strong! It sparked my imagination, and I ended up writing an entire story inspired by it.

Cissé creates music that’s both enjoyable and relatable, but she’s also navigating the challenge of establishing herself as a successful pop artist as a Black woman in a music industry largely focused on white women.

She explained that it’s often easier for white female pop artists to achieve mainstream success and receive VIP treatment. This is because audiences are more familiar with and readily accept performers who fit a more traditional, established mold, making them easier to connect with.

Cissé says she loves today’s popular female pop artists, but she’s hoping things will change so that artists of color don’t have to overcome as many obstacles to achieve success.

She explains that she wants to bring a unique perspective to pop music, saying, ‘There’s no one who looks or sounds like me,’ and adds that she wished she’d had someone like herself to look up to when she was younger.

Cissé is honored to be that pop star for other young Black girls.

People connect with artists, actors, and shows because they want to feel recognized, understood, and like they belong. These things make us feel something and offer a sense of acceptance. That’s the idea behind the fans’ ‘saving pop’ movement, and I’m happy they created it.

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2026-04-03 13:33