Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul.
The Machine is the name attributed to her teenage collaboration with Isabella "Machine" Summers. Welch and Summers performed together for a time under the name Florence Robot/Isa Machine. Later, this was shortened to Florence and the Machine as it was felt to be too cumbersome. Welch continued using this name for her band even when Summers parted company with her for a time, although Summers later returned to become her regular keyboard player.
Like most solo singers, Welch relies on a regular line up of musicians to support her in live shows. The current line-up includes musicians Robert Ackroyd (guitar and backing vocals), Chris Hayden (drums and percussion), Isabella Summers (keyboards and backing vocals), Mark Saunders (bass guitar) and Tom Monger (harp). In the past, Welch has praised the Machine for understanding her creative process, claiming, "I've worked with most of them for a long time and they know my style, know the way I write, they know what I want."
2008–10: Lungs
Florence and the Machine released their debut album Lungs in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2009.
Much of the material on the album was written as reaction to what turned out to be a temporary break-up with Welch's current boyfriend. Welch says, "He prefers me not to talk about it. It's funny then singing about it."
Kiss with a Fist
was released as the album's lead single on 9 June 2008. The track was featured on the soundtrack to the films Wild Child, Jennifer's Body, and St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, as well as in the television series 90210 and Saving Grace.
Dog Days Are Over
released on 1 December 2008, was recorded with no instruments in a studio the "size of a loo". The song was used in the American television series Gossip Girl, Community and Covert Affairs, in the British television series Skins, in the theatrical trailer for the 2010 comedy-drama film Eat Pray Love and in the Glee episode "Special Education".
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
was released on 22 June 2009 as the third single from the album. Part of the song's melody, as well as the lyric "How quickly the glamour fades", were lifted from New York band Gang Gang Dance's 2008 song "House Jam" without credit on the Lungs liner notes. Members of group noticed this and brought it to the attention of Florence and the Machine's label. Island Records acknowledged infringement and agreed to pay Gang Gang Dance a share of the song's publishing royalties. Welch agreed that she erred and said her intent was to pay homage.
Drumming Song
The single was nominated for "Best Music Video" (alongside Lady Gaga and Mika) at the Q Awards, which took place on 25 October 2009. The song also features on the soundtrack to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Video Game.
You've Got the Love
It is a cover version of the song "You Got the Love" by The Source featuring Candi Staton with a slightly changed name.
Cosmic Love
was released on 5 July 2010 as the sixth and final single from Lungs. The song was featured in several American television shows, including Grey's Anatomy, The Vampire Diaries, V, Nikita and So You Think You Can Dance.
On 12 May 2010, it was announced that Florence and the Machine would provide a track called "Heavy in Your Arms" for the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film of The Twilight Saga. Eclipse was released in cinemas on 30 June 2010, with "Heavy in Your Arms" playing during the end credits. The music video followed on 7 July 2010.
2011–present: Ceremonials
She claims that much of the inspiration for the second album has been scientific because "a lot of her family are doctors or trying to become doctors, so much of her conversations are fixated on medical stuff." The stint in the studio resulted in two tracks being completed and a new sound being discovered.
Strangeness and Charm
She describes this song as "about seven minutes long and pretty relentless". She debuted the song on 2 May 2010 at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, during their Cosmic Love Tour. Welch described the new sound as "dancey, but it's also dark as well", and explained that it also featured "relentless drums and heavy, droning bass."
In an interview with the Gibson website on 17 February 2011, guitarist Rob Ackroyd described the sound as "a lot less indie and lot more soulful".
In an interview with the Gibson website on 17 February 2011, guitarist Rob Ackroyd described the sound as "a lot less indie and lot more soulful".
The group recorded a cover of Buddy Holly's classic "Not Fade Away" for Rave On Buddy Holly, a tribute album tied to Holly's seventy-fifth birthday year, which was released 28 June 2011.
American R&B singer Beyoncé cited Florence and the Machine as an influence for her fourth studio album 4.
American R&B singer Beyoncé cited Florence and the Machine as an influence for her fourth studio album 4.
What the Water Gave Me
During their North American tour, Florence and the Machine debuted a new song titled "What the Water Gave Me" at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California on 12 June 2011.
During their North American tour, Florence and the Machine debuted a new song titled "What the Water Gave Me" at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California on 12 June 2011.
Shake It Out
was released on the internet in September 2011.
The album, Ceremonials, will be released on 31 October 2011.
Florence was educated at Thomas's London Day School, where she did well academically. Welch often got in trouble in school for impromptu singing. Welch has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia. Following her meteoric rise to fame, she suffered of depression. Upon leaving school, Florence studied at Camberwell College of Arts before dropping out to focus on her music. Welch's fascination with terror and doom was intensified by the death of her grandparents within a few years of each other. At the age 10 Welch witnessed her grandfather's deterioration, and her maternal grandmother, also an art historian, committed suicide when Welch was 14. When Welch was 13 years old, she and her mother moved in with their next door neighbour and his three teenage children. According to Welch: "We get on brilliantly now, but it was a nightmare then. I just used to stay in my room and dance around."
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