Floetry is a British music duo formed in 1997 by singer Marsha Ambrosius ("the Songstress") and spoken-word poet Natalie Stewart ("the Floacist"). They are known for their diverse musical and performance style referred to as "poetic delivery with musical intent".The Power of FLOETRY. Windy City Times. Retrieved on 20 August 2025A soulful return, a testimony of triumph, the Floacist’s first-ever U.S. solo tour presented by City Winery. Chicago Crusader. Retrieved on 20 August 2025Vibe Magazine Volume 14, Issues 1-6, page 108
After relocating to the U.S., the duo was launched into mainstream recognition with the release of their song "Floetic" and their best-selling album, Floetic (2002), which contained the U.S. Adult R&B Songs number-one single "Say Yes". The album, Floetic, became a commercial success and received a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Floetry followed up by touring as the opening act for several notable music acts. Their performance at the New Orleans House of Blues was recorded and released as a live album titled Floacism "Live" in November 2003. In November 2005, Floetry resurfaced with the release of their second studio album Flo'Ology. The album spawned the singles "SupaStar" and "Lay Down".
Despite critical and commercial success, the duo was disbanded as Stewart attempted to split from the duo's manager Julius Irving III as Irving wanted to change the group's musical style and image. In response, Ambrosius hired Amanda Seales (then known as Amanda Diva) for a concert tour referred to as the Floetry Remix Tour. Following the conclusion of the tour, Ambrosius and Stewart have pursued solo careers. Since the group's disbandment in 2006, Ambrosius and Stewart have reunited several times, including at a 2014 The Claphand Grand performance; which led to the Floetry Reunion Tour from 2015-2016. The group reunited again in July 2025 for three performances at the YS Firehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Floetry has sold more than 2 million records worldwide, as of 2016. The duo have three Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, five Grammy Awards nominations, three Soul Train Music Awards nominations, and two MOBO Awards.
History 1994–1999: Early beginnings During her enrollment in North London University, Natalie Stewart formed a poetry group called 3 Plus 1.Floetry adds poetic flavor to Neo-soul. The A&T Register. Retrieved on 2025 August 16 During that time, Stewart was introduced to Marsha Ambrosius during a rival basketball game. They became friends and Stewart later found out that Ambrosius was a singer. During one of the final performances of 3 Plus 1, Stewart invited Ambrosius on stage to perform a song they wrote together called "Fantasize" in 1999. Following the positive feedback from the audience, Stewart and Ambrosius formed a music duo called Floetry.
2000–2004: Career breakthrough and Floetic In 2000, Floetry relocated from London to the United States. After briefly staying in Atlanta, they relocated to Philadelphia. During their time in Philadelphia, they wrote and produced songs for Jill Scott, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and Bilal. Floetry eventually came under the management of Julius Erving III, which led to them signing a recording contract with DreamWorks Records. John McClain, who was DreamWorks's senior urban executive and Michael Jackson's then-manager, introduced them to Jackson. They penned the song "Butterflies" for his album Invincible (2001).
Floetry first charted in August 2002 with "Floetic", the lead single from their debut album Floetic, which was released in the United States on 1 October 2002,Floetry - Floetic (Overview). AllMusic. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 featuring productions by Keith "Keshon" Pelzer, Darren "Limitless" Henson, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, and Ivan "Orthodox" Barias. Floetic peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200 and number four on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.Floetry Billboard Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 It also managed to sell over 864,000 copies in the United States alone, earning a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The lead single "Floetic", reached number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and number seventy-three on the UK Singles chart.Floetry UK Chart History. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In October 2002, the duo joined India.Arie as the opening act for her Voyage to World Tour.
Floetry released their second single, "Say Yes", in January 2003. The song became more commercially successful than their predecessor, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100. Although its follow-up single "Getting Late" failed to reproduce the success of "Say Yes", the song peaked at number thirty-three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and number seventeen on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. Meanwhile, the duo released a song titled "Where's the Love" on the soundtrack of American comedy film Bringing Down the House. Floetry received three Grammy Award nominations at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.Floetry Award Wins and Nominations. Grammy. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In February 2003, Floetry toured alongside Common during his Electric Circus Tour. In July 2003, Floetry garnered four nominations at Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards,Floetry, Badu Lead Lady Of Soul Nominations. Billboard. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 of which they won: Best Single by a Group for "Say Yes", Best Album by a Group for Floetic, and Best New Group.Floetry, Elliott tops at Soul Train kudos. Variety. Retrieved on 16 August 2025
Floetry recorded a live album and concert film at the House of Blues in New Orleans on 3 July 2003.Floetry - Floacism (Overview). AllMusic. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 They released their live album Floacism on 18 November 2003, which peaked at number seventy-four on Billboard 200 and number eleven on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album featured three new studio recorded songs, including the single "Wanna B Where U R (Thisizzaluvsong)" which features American rapper Mos Def. In 2004, Floetry earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. Later that year, they made a guest appearance in American sitcom One on Ones season three episode "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Hip Hop World".One on One - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Hip Hop World (Credits). Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 21 August 2025One on One: Season 3, Episode 14. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 21 August 2025
2005–2006: Flo'Ology In January 2005, Floetry experienced as a music label roster shift from DreamWorks Records to Geffen Records after the record label became defunct. From July to August 2005, Floetry toured with the Sugar Water Festival. During the tour, the duo made an appearance in season five of spoken word poetry television series Def Poetry Jam. On 8 November 2005, they released their second album Flo'Ology. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling over 77,000 copies in its first week.'Road' Returns Chesney To No. 1. Billboard. Retrieved: 4 July 2009. In August 2005, the album's lead single "SupaStar",Floetry - SupaStar (Overview). AllMusic. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 which featured American rapper Common, peaked at number fifty-five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Its follow-up single, "Lay Down" performed poorly, and no music video was filmed for it. In March 2006, Floetry headlined their Flo'Ology concert tour.
2007–present: Disbandment and aftermath Following the disappointment in album sales of Flo'Ology, Floetry's management Julius Irving III encouraged the duo to change their musical style in order to appeal to a wider audience. Irving pressed for Floetry to pursue a more hip-hop sound. Stewart, not wanting to change their sound and positive image, attempted to fire Irving as their management.Interview: Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart. Insight News. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 Ambrosius moved forward with Irving as her manager and signed a solo record deal with Aftermath Entertainment. She later released a mixtape titled Neo Soul Is Dead. In late 2006, Floetry disbanded without making a formal announcement.The Floacist Discusses Carrying on Floetry Brand, Has Positive Message for Marsha Ambrosius (Exclusive Interview). You Know I Got Soul. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In June 2007, Ambrosius embarked on the Floetry Remix Tour without Stewart, instead replacing her with American singer Amanda Seales (then known as Amanda Diva).Amanda Diva. Billboard. Retrieved on 20 August 2025 In an interview with Club Shay Shay, Seales remarked that the tour was not well-received nor did Ambrosius ever publicly announce that a lineup change had happened along with the introduction of Seales.Amanda Seales Talks Wendy Williams Show And Clears the Air on Floetry. YouTube. Retrieved on 20 August 2025 Seales also stated that Ambrosius attempted to fight her before a performance at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta.Marsha Ambrosius Explains Why Floetry Is Forever Finished. Madame Noire. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In response to the Floetry Remix Tour, Stewart did an interview on the Wendy Williams radio show to announce that she was not part of the tour as her likeness was still being used to market the tour. Following the conclusion of the tour, Seales stated that Ambrosius intended to create a new music duo with her called Floetry Remix and record an album but Ambrosius opted not to follow through.
In early 2010, Stewart attempted to reform Floetry with Ambrosius but Ambrosius declined. In November 2010, Stewart released her debut solo album, Floetic Soul, on the Shanachie Records. In March 2011, Ambrosius released her debut solo album, Late Nights & Early Mornings, on J Records. During the recording of Stewart's second album, she recorded a remake of "Say Yes" with the intention of celebrating the song's tenth anniversary with Ambrosius, however Ambrosius declined to record on the new version. In August 2012, Stewart released "Say Yes (10 Year Anniversary Edition)" as the lead single of her second album Floetry Re:Birth.The Floacist - Say Yes (Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In November 2012, Stewart released her second album, Floetry Re:Birth.The Floacist - Floetry Re:Birth. Apple Music. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 In March 2014, Stewart released her third album Rise of the Phoenix Mermaid,The Floacist - Rise of the Phoenix Mermaid. Apple Music. Retrieved on 16 August 2025 followed by Ambrosius releasing her second album Friends & Lovers in July 2014.Marsha Ambrosius - Friend & Lovers. Apple Music. Retrieved on 16 August 2025
In December 2014, Ambrosius invited Stewart on-stage to perform "Floetic" during her concert at The Clapham Grand in London. In February 2015, Stewart confirmed that duo would be touring in 2015.Kyles, Y. (2015, 25 February). AllHip-Hop.com. Retrieved from Natalie Stewart Talks Reuniting With Marsha Ambrosius For Floetry Tour (VIDEO) On 16 May 2015, Floetry reunited and performed their first show in nine years at Pepsi Funk Festival in College Park, Georgia. Despite announcing they would be recording a new album, Floetry subsequently split after the second leg of their reunion tour in August 2016.
In July 2025, Floetry reunited and performed for three dates at YS Firehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In April 2026, Floetry reformed again for Say Yes: The Tour.Floetry Announces 'Say Yes Tour' Dates. Rated R&B. Retrieved on 11 February 2026Floetry announces Say Yes tour. Yahoo News. Retrieved on 11 February 2026
Artistry Musical style and themes