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| Years_active = 2007 – present
| Years_active = 2007 – present
| Label = [[Island Records|Island]]
| Label = [[Island Records|Island]]
| Associated_acts = [[Lightspeed Champion]], [[Noah and the Whale]], [[Ashok]]
| Associated_acts = [[Lightspeed Champion]], [[Noah and the Whale]], [[Ashok (band)]]
| URL = [http://florenceandthemachine.net/ florenceandthemachine.net/]
| URL = [http://florenceandthemachine.net/ florenceandthemachine.net/]
| Current_members = Florence Welch<br>Robert Ackroyd<br>Christopher Lloyd Hayden<br>Isabella Summers<br>Tom Monger
| Current_members = Florence Welch<br>Robert Ackroyd<br>Christopher Lloyd Hayden<br>Isabella Summers<br>Tom Monger

Revision as of 09:08, 30 January 2010

Florence and the Machine

Florence and the Machine (also written as Florence + the Machine), is the recording name of Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Musically Florence and the Machine's sound is generally referred to as soul-inspired indie rock. Florence and the Machine's music has received praise across the music media, especially from the BBC who played a large part in Florence and the Machine's rise to prominence by promoting her as part of BBC Introducing.[1] This led to her playing at a number of music festivals in 2008, including Glastonbury as well as Reading and Leeds and T in the Park. The band's debut album, Lungs was released on 6 July 2009, and held the number 2 position for its first five weeks in the charts, behind Michael Jackson.[2] The album has now been in the top 40 UK charts for 28 consecutive weeks. On January 17, 2010 the album reached number one on the official UK album chart.[3]

Florence Welch

Florence Leontine Mary Welch (born 28 August 1986 in London) is the daughter of Evelyn Welch, a Professor of Renaissance Studies and Academic Dean for Arts at Queen Mary, University of London[4] and author and formerly a Studio 54 regular, and Nick Welch, who works in advertising. Welch says she is prone to "falling into severe holes” that leave her crying on the floor. Welch has been diagnosed with dyslexia, Dyspraxia and dysmetria.[5] Welch would like to have a career similar to PJ Harvey and Björk who are "constantly creating new exciting stuff".[6] At age 13 Welch found solace in the music of Hole, Nirvana, Green Day, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, The Velvet Underground and Celine Dion.[5] As a teenager she was the frontwoman for Toxic Cockroaches and Ashok. Feeling she was in "the wrong band" she got out of a contract with Ashok by resigning.[5]

The Machine

According to Welch "The name Florence and the Machine started off as a private joke that got out of hand. I made music with my friend, who we called Isabella Machine to which I was Florence Robot. When I was about an hour away from my first gig, I still didn't have a name, so I thought "Okay, I'll be Florence Robot is a Machine", before realizing that name was so long it'd drive me mad".[7] In 2006 Welch's performances in small London venues as "Florence Robot is a Machine" began to attract notice.[5]

The Machine is Florence's backing band and consists of several musicians, which previously included Devonte Hynes (Lightspeed Champion and Test Icicles). The current line-up consists of Robert Ackroyd (guitar), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers ('Isabella Machine') (keyboards), Mark Saunders (bass) and Tom Monger (harp).[8] Johnny Borrell of Razorlight also played keyboards in an early incarnation of the band, also featuring current guitarist Rob Ackroyd and Dogs drummer Ritch Mitchell.

Florence and the Machine are managed by Mairead Nash who is one half of the DJ outfit Queens of Noize. Nash decided to manage the group when at one of Nash's club nights an inebriated Welch dragged Nash into the toilets and sang the Etta James song, "Somethings Got A Hold On Me", to her.[citation needed]

Lungs (2009)

Florence and the Machine released their debut album Lungs in the United Kingdom on 6 July, 2009 [9]. The album was officially launched with a set at the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley, South East London. The album has peaked at the number 1 position in the UK and the number 13 position in Europe. As of 6 August the album had sold over 100,000 copies in the UK and by 10 August it had been at the number 2 position for five straight weeks.[10][11] Following its 25 July 2009 release for download in the United States the album debuted at the number 17 position on the Billboard "Heatseekers" chart.[12] The album was released physically in the U.S. on 20 October by Island Records.[13]

The album was produced by James Ford and Paul Epworth.[6] 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."[10]

The debut single was "Kiss with a Fist". The song was used in the soundtrack of the film Jennifer's Body.[14] The follow-up single "Dog Days Are Over" was recorded with no instruments in a studio the "size of a loo".[15] The next singles were "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" and then "Drumming Song". Recently Florence and the Machine filmed a video for her cover of Candi Staton's "You Got The Love".[citation needed]

In January, "Hurricane Drunk" was announced as the fifth single from the album. [16]

Second album

The group is scheduled to start recording their second album in January 2010.[17] Florence and the Machine began working in the studio with former producer Paul Epworth, he described the sound as loud and similar to siouxsie and the banshees. Florence said that this album is sounding heavier.[18]

In October 2009 the band's equipment and instruments were caught in a fire when touring. Welch has stated “You could hear the harp’s strings ping in the fire. Strange sound. We recorded it and I want to use it in a song,”.[19]

Touring

Florence and the Machine burst onto the London scene playing a handful of gigs in and around London for the likes of The Lock Tavern, Blue Flowers and Filthy Few.[20]

Florence and the Machine were part of the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards tour. Welch said that she planned a "pretty theatrical" performance. Welch was planning to bring "as many weird clothes" as possible with the idea of deciding what to wear before going on stage.[citation needed]

The group played the Concerts for Teenage Cancer Trust charity event at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2009.[21]. Florence and The Machine supported Blur for their 26 June comeback performance at the MEN Arena in Manchester.[22] They played at the Lovebox festival this July 18 and 19. In July 2009, the group was supporting Duran Duran.[7]

The group performed at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival, Reading and Leeds festival, Electric Picnic in County Laois, Ireland and the T in the Park festival.[23][24]

On the 27 October the group played its first official New York City show[25] and appeared on the television programmes The Late Show With David Letterman[26] and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[27]

Welch has stated although she would like to tour the United States she is fearful of becoming homesick due to the length of time it would take to tour the country.[28]

On New Year's Eve 2009, the group appeared on the pre-recorded New Year's Eve celebration show Hootenanny. On the show, they performed "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" and "Dog Days Are Over". Welch then performed a cover of "My Baby Just Cares for Me" with Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

After the success of Lungs topping the UK Album Chart in January 2010, seven months after the album was released, Florence and the Machine announced an eleven date UK tour "The Cosmic Love Tour" in May 2010.[29] They will be accompanied by support acts Babe Shadow and The Drums.[29][30]

Critical acclaim

In early 2008 Welch was interviewed by London events website Run-Riot.com [31]. As well as the attention from the BBC they have received a large amount of support from NME magazine who included them in their annual NME Awards Tour for 2009. They supported White Lies, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas on the tour. The Times described her as "the most peculiar and most highly acclaimed female singer of the moment" and "the latest in a line of great English pop eccentrics".[5] Allmusic described Lungs as "one of the most musically mature and emotionally mesmerizing albums of 2009".[32]Spin Magazine gave Lungs four out of five possible stars and wrote, "You’ve gotta hand it to the girl: She always makes you feel something" [33]. The magazine named the album as the 8th best of 2009.[34]

She appeared on the front cover of The Guide subsection to The Guardian. Florence collected the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in February 2009. Florence and the Machine came third in the BBC's Sound of 2009[35]
In 2009 she covered Beyoncé's song "Halo" on the BBC1 Live Lounge; host Jo Whiley stated that it was one of the best covers they have ever had in the Live Lounge.[36]

Florence and the Machine are up for 2010 Brit Awards in the categories of British Female Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act, and British Album.[37]

Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Florence and the Machine The Brits Critics' Choice section Won
Florence and the Machine BBC Sound of 2009 Nominated

3rd Place

Lungs Mercury Prize Nominated
Florence and the Machine Studio8's Female Voice of July 2009 Won
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" Studio8 Song of July 2009 Won
Florence and the Machine MTV EMA's Best UK and Ireland New Act Nominated
Florence and the Machine Q Awards Best Breakthrough Artist Nominated
"Drumming Song" Q Awards Best Video Trophy Nominated
Lungs Q Awards Best Album Award Nominated
2009 Florence and the Machine UK Festival Awards 2009 Best Breakthrough Act Won
2010 Florence and the Machine South Bank Show Award Won
2010 Florence and the Machine Meteor Ireland Music Awards Best International Band TBA
Lungs Meteor Ireland Music Awards Best International Album TBA
Florence and the Machine Meteor Ireland Music Awards Best International Live Performance TBA
2010 Florence and the Machines 2010 Brit Awards British Female Solo Artist TBA
2010 Florence and the Machines 2010 Brit Awards British Breakthrough Act TBA
2010 Lungs 2010 Brit Awards Mastercard British Album TBA


Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
UK IRL NZ AUS US BEL NOR NTD
2009 Lungs 1 1 36 16 179 14 36 37

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
 IRL
 NZ
 BEL
 EU
2008 "Kiss with a Fist" 51 — — — — Lungs
"Dog Days Are Over" 23 35 — — —
2009 "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" 12 42 — 50 —
"Drumming Song" 54 — — — —
"You've Got the Love" 5 21 50 34 20
2010 "Hurricane Drunk" — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Other charted songs

Year Song Peak chart
positions 		Album
UK
 IRL
2009 "Cosmic Love"[39] — 3 Lungs

EPs

Music videos

Year Video Director
2008 "Kiss with a Fist" Price James[41]
"Dog Days Are Over" Tom Beard
2009 "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" Tom & Tabitha[42]
"Drumming Song" Dawn Shadforth[43]
"You've Got the Love" Tom & Tabitha

References

  1. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/artists/florenceandthemachine/
  2. ^ Michael Jackson, Black Eyed Peas Control U.K. Charts Billboard 3 August, 2009
  3. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums/
  4. ^ http://www.english.qmul.ac.uk/staff/welch.html
  5. ^ a b c d e Behind the success of Florence and the Machine 20 September, 2009
  6. ^ a b Florence + The Machine: the voice that bewitched pop AFP 17 November, 2009
  7. ^ a b A piece of my mind ... Sunday Herald 25 July, 2009
  8. ^ "Dog Days Are Over" CD single
  9. ^ "Radio 1 Chart Show". BBC. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  10. ^ a b INTERVIEW: Florence and the Machine Yorkshire Evening Post 6 August, 2009
  11. ^ Michael Jackson Extends U.K. Album Chart Run, Tinchy Stryder Notches Second Top Single Billboard 10 August, 2009
  12. ^ Billboard
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ Fangoria 28 July, 2009
  15. ^ Florence & The Machine win a Brit BBC 12 December, 2008
  16. ^ [2]
  17. ^ Florence for new album in 2010 Digital Spy 26 November,2009
  18. ^ [3]
  19. ^ Florence And The Machine Lose Instruments In Fire The Fly 15 October,2009
  20. ^ http://www.myspace.com/filthyfewuk
  21. ^ Concerts for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, March 24–29 The Telegraph 20 March, 2009
  22. ^ Blur sign-up Klaxons and Florence and The Machine for Manchester NME 3 April, 2009
  23. ^ Neil Young and Blur confirmed for Glastonbury NME 9 March, 2009
  24. ^ Exclusive: The Saturdays join bill for T in the Park Glasgow Daily Record 9 March, 2009
  25. ^ Live: Florence and the Machine Feed on the Spotlight at Bowery Ballroom Village Voice 28 October, 2009
  26. ^ On Tonight: Hip Hop vs. Scream Awards Hartford Courant 27 October, 2009
  27. ^ [4]
  28. ^ Florence Welch 'fears US homesickness'Digital Spy 28 November, 2009
  29. ^ a b THE COSMIC LOVE TOUR - EXCLUSIVE FAN PRE-SALE florenceandthemachine.net 25th January 2010 - Retrieved on 2010-01-29
  30. ^ THE DRUMS TO SUPPORT FLORENCE ON THE COSMIC LOVE TOUR florenceandthemachine.net 25th January 2010 - Retrieved on 2010-01-29
  31. ^ http://run-riot.com/florence-welch-and-the-machine-interview-patrick-hussey
  32. ^ Allmusic Lungs Review
  33. ^ "Florence and the Machine 'Lungs' Review". SPIN.com. October 27, 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ The 40 Best Albums of 2009 Spin Magazine
  35. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7766429.stm
  36. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ohj99qeBA
  37. ^ Lily Allen, Lady Gaga Up For BRIT Awards Billboard 18 January 2010
  38. ^ http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx
  39. ^ "Cosmic Love enters Irish singles chart at #3". chart-track.com. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  40. ^ http://www.iamsoundrecords.com/release/363
  41. ^ Knight, David (2009-05-13). "PRODUCTION UPDATE: Who shot what, who's shooting what… (part one)". PromoNews. promonews.tv. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  42. ^ Knight, David (2009-05-21). "Florence & The Machine's Rabbit Heart by Tom & Tabitha". PromoNews. promonews.tv. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  43. ^ B, Jimmy (2009-08-10). "Florence And The Machine's Drumming Song by Dawn Shadforth". PromoNews. promonews.tv. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
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