Florence and the machine musical works. Biography

Florence was born in London, in the family of Harvard professor Evelyn Welch and advertising specialist Nick Welch; In addition, on her mother's side, Welch is the niece of satirist Craig Brown. At school, Florence consistently demonstrated the highest class of studies - although she often received criticism for her constant singing. Welch was later diagnosed with motor coordination disorder and dyslexia; In addition, Florence suffered from insomnia and depression. After school, Welch entered Camberwell College of Arts; However, she did not study there for a long time, becoming interested in music. Almost from the very beginning, her work was dominated by rather dark themes; Part of Florence's obsession with inexorable fate and nightmares is caused by the slow and painful decline of her grandfather and the suicide of her grandmother.

The band's name, "Florence and the Machines," came from an old inside joke - "the machine" was the nickname given to Florence's friend and one of her first teammates, Isabella Summers.

In 2007, Florence recorded several compositions with the group "Ashok"; Later, an entire album, “Plans,” was created from the recorded materials. Welch later became the group's official manager; however, she quickly realized that she had chosen a team that was not quite suitable for her and terminated the contract. Mairead Nash became the manager of "Florence and the Machine" - the singer literally captivated him with her ease bordering on shamelessness.

The group released their debut album, "Lungs", on July 6, 2009; It rose to number 1 in the UK charts and to number 13 in the European charts. As of August 6, 2009, a total of 100,000 copies of this record have been sold. On July 25, 2009, the album was posted online and for American music lovers; It officially went on sale in the United States only on October 20th.

One of the album's most successful singles was the melody "Kiss with a Fist" - it was even included in the soundtracks of the films "Wild Child" and "Jennifer's Body" and the TV series "Saving Grace" ("Saving Grace") The second single, "Dog Days Are Over" - recorded without the help of instruments in a studio "literally the size of a restroom" - aroused no less enthusiasm among listeners.

On March 20, 2010, Welch told NME magazine something about her second album. It was recorded by producer Paul Epworth; Florence was inspired this time by scientific materials - which was all the easier to do given the fact that most of her relatives were either practicing doctors or were in one way or another connected with medicine. The first officially released recording from the album was "Strangeness and Charm"; Wells played it at Dublin's The Olympia Theater on May 2, 2010, during her next tour. Florence claims that the new album will combine dance beats and a certain inner darkness and will be built on drum beats and heavy, strong bass.

In February 2011, Welch stated that work on the second album was continuing and was about to lead to a natural conclusion; Florence was going to start recording the album in the period from April to June 2011.

Florence Welch is an English performer, the constant lead singer of the group Florence and the Machine. The name of the musical group is often attributed to the singer as a stage name. We learn from our article how the girl followed her dream of becoming a world-famous performer.

Childhood

Florence Welch was born on August 28, 1986 in London (England). The girl spent her entire childhood in south London, in Camberwell. In addition to Florence, the Welch family had two younger children. It should be noted that the girl’s mother was Evelyn Welch, a specialist in the Renaissance, professor at Queen Mary College of London. My father worked in advertising. He also founded one of the American marketing companies that released the well-known video about the Aero air bar.

It is also noteworthy that Florence’s father himself was once fond of music. The head of the Welch family admitted that, unlike his star daughter, he was unable to realize himself in the world of show business. Nevertheless, he was a famous rock and roll player in his city. In his youth, Nick took part in the squatter movement and communicated with Joe Strummer.

Perhaps the father influenced his daughter’s career to some extent, because from early childhood he listened to the Ramones with her. The mother, in turn, insisted that little Florence listen to her lectures on the Renaissance.

When the girl turned 14 years old, her parents separated. On this moment Each has their own family, but good communication between the former spouses did not stop.

Carier start

Florence Welch began playing music at the age of 11. During one of her classes at a private school, she meets members of a local jazz group called Ashok. After receiving an offer to participate in the team, Florence Welch agrees. As it turned out later, the girl never liked performing other people's songs, which is why she soon left the group.

At the age of 18, Florence entered Camberwell College of Art. While studying, the young performer becomes a member of the groups Team Perfect and The Fat Kid. But even in these groups the girl does not find herself.

In 2007, Florence Welch met Mairead Nash, who later became her manager. Since that time, the girl has been searching for a musical partner for the young singer. Johnny Borell was first considered for this role, but nothing came of the joint project.

Everything fell into place when Mairead introduced Florence to Isabella Summers, known as “The Machine.” This is how the name Florence and the Machine was born for the musical project.

Florence and the Machine

Florence Welch and Isabella immediately get to work and release two songs called Dog Days Are Over and Between Two Lungs. The duo finds producer James Ford and records 4 more songs. After this, the girls’ careers rapidly gained momentum. So, in 2008, the radio began playing the song You’ve Got the Love, Kiss with a Fist, Rabbit Heart, Dog Days are Over.

Albums released

In 2009, the band released an album called Langs and immediately took second place in the British albums chart after Michael Jackson. It is worth saying that this collection received the Brit Award for best album of the year.

Florence Welch, whose songs are listened to by millions, reacted quite calmly to this breakthrough, saying only that she wanted the same triumph for her second album.

A Florence and the Machine DVD followed in 2012, entitled MTV Unplugged, which featured a duet with Josh Homme. The composition immediately took a leading position in the British charts.

In 2015, another album, Florence and the Machine, was released. The album received 5 nominations and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

In 2016, singer Florence Welch (What the water gave me also became a hit for Florence and the Machine) recorded the title song for the game Final Fantasy XV.

"Oddities" of the singer

The performer claims that from early childhood she began communicating with ghosts. So, at the age of 10, she imagined werewolves and vampires. Therefore, the girl preferred to sleep with her sister Grace. The singer notes that she does not have psychic abilities, but because of her visions she constantly has problems sleeping. “My house is full of ghosts. Sometimes it’s very difficult for me to be there.”

It is also noteworthy that at the award ceremony Florence had a very difficult time getting down the stairs. This was noticed by everyone present in the hall.

Regarding what was happening, there were reports in the press that the singer had dyspraxia and dyslexia (difficulties in assessing space). According to one eyewitness, Florence literally walked through the glass door, inflicting multiple cuts on herself. By the way, the singer denies her illness in one of her interviews.

Florence Welch. Personal life

Earlier it became known that Florence Welch was dating guitarist Felix White. This was reported by a trusted source of one of the British newspapers. It should be noted that the musicians have known each other since early childhood. That is why they get along well with each other. As mutual friends of the couple said, Felix constantly supported Florence in her career exploits.

Unfortunately, at the moment the couple has separated, and the singer is again in active search. So, Florence was recently spotted at one of the parties with Sean Penn. Paparazzi captured the couple happy and smiling. We don’t know where this relationship will lead, but the photo clearly shows that they feel pretty good together.

Let us remember that Florence has already been burned in love twice. She recently split from literary editor Stuart Hammand after a 3-year relationship. After this, the girl began a short-term affair with the actor

About creativity

• When your heart is broken you're at your best creativity– you have to direct all your energy somewhere, just so as not to think about it. Satisfaction is a creativity killer, but don't worry - I can easily force myself into a state of dissatisfaction.
• Many of my songs are about imaginary things that cannot be touched - ghosts and gossip, my late grandmother, and also dreams.
• It always seemed to me that with every new song, you are trying to understand something about yourself: Why me? What is wrong with me? What's my path?
• I think if I hadn't become a singer, I would probably have been doing interior design or something similar. I like chaos and am also a very greedy visual artist. I don't accept dullness, I need things to be interesting...maybe I'm just a failed designer stuck in a singing career?
• I try to write lyrics that will not become outdated, so that they encourage thinking about things like death and love, sex and violence.
• In my performance there is more enthusiasm and intuition than skill and craftsmanship.

About weirdness

• I dyed my hair red when I was 10 years old. And at 11 - during my gothic period - I painted myself black and looked just like a witch. I built small altars with candles in my bedroom, cast some spells so that a boy from a parallel class would fall in love with me. I don't think he fell in love...
• My room looks like an antique store, full of strange things and junk. There is a huge sword there. And a stuffed bird, and a couple of bird cages. And a lot of newspaper clippings. I used to have a strange habit of collecting obituary headlines. I am especially impressed by stories about drowned people.
• I'm sick of everything Victorian, everything connected with the era of Jack the Ripper, with an ancient and bloody time inhabited by ghosts.
• I think music should be scary. Music is an exorcism.

About torment

• When it all started, there was a lot of scrutiny - on me, on my past, on the color of my hair. I fought for a long time to make the musical aspect more important than the personal aspect.
• The release of the first album was painful. I was terribly scared because it was all for the first time. My first experience with the media was simply paralyzing. I almost went crazy - I cried all the time in our studio, sitting on the floor.
• I like to sleep during the day. I have never been one of those people who can lay my head on the pillow and fall asleep peacefully. Night is the time of the deepest fears, worries and anxiety. In the dark, I can screw myself up so much that my imagination will lead me into the most hopeless corners of my consciousness.

About performances

• I love giving concerts open air, because the heavens are open to you, and nature also becomes part of the show. Wind, rain, lightning...they seem to challenge you.
• I like to see people from the stage who are having some kind of their own performance during my songs.
• The stage is the place where I can be myself. A place where you don't judge. Although at the same time you are speaking in front of people who are ready to judge you.
• I'm scared that I might deafen people by performing in a small room.

About fans

• I am very flattered when I see people from the stage who are confused and dressed in my style.
• I feel a huge responsibility to the fans who paid to see me. I want to give them the best show I can.
• I really have incredible fans - so loyal, and they wish me a happy birthday and a merry Christmas. I receive parcels with poems and drawings on the theme of my songs. They call it "Floetry".