Artist(s) of the Week: Florence +the Machine

I’ve known about Florence +the Machine for a while now, but since I'm just now starting the blog, I thought I’d bring her up first. Every Friday, I will put up a new artist, and give a brief bio/history about them and a few of my fav songs. (This was up last friday, but had to fix up some glitches, so I will do another post tom.)

            Florence is a solo artist, with multiple backing musicians. I love her music it, is so soulful and pure, she is in my top fav’s. The title is a joke between her and an old friend. Florence Robot and Isabella Machine (Summers) became ‘Florence Robot/Isa Machine’ then shortened it to the name you know now. Though Summers parted ways with Florence, she soon came back to the keyboards.

Her full name is Florence Leontine Mary Welch. She was born August 28^th, 1986 in South London. Florence did well in school, but was often reprimanded for singing at inopportune times. Florence has been diagnosed with dyslexia, and dyspraxia, and has a fascination with doom and death. She is a quite unusual person, and I would love to meet her. I also am absolutely in love with her style, she is quoted as saying that it is: “Lady of Charlotte meets Ophelia…mixed with scary gothic bat lady.”

            Her last Album, Lungs, came out in 2009 and is absolutely amazing, becoming a huge hit in Britain—winning the 2009 BRIT Choice Awards, and 14+ more awards besides—and over in the states as well, she even sung on Gossip Girl, SNL, and the Ellen DeGeneres show to name a few, besides appearing on MTV music videos.

            Her new Album, Ceremonial, will be out this year (2011) Oct. 31^st. Florence reveals that this new CD will be less indie, and more gospel. Can’t wait!

            Now my fav songs of hers are crazy good. My Best Dress, and Girl With One Eye are dark; I'm Not Calling You a Liar, is powerful; Howl, is expressive; Blinding, and The Dog Days Are Over, are—heck just buy the whole CD! You will not be disappointed!

 

 

V.M.

P.S.-Florence has been using red dye for her signature hair since the age of 9!