Florence and the Machine

Florence And 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. Florence And The Machine's music has received praise across the British music media, especially from the BBC who have played a large part in Florence And The Machine's rise to prominence by bringing them into the spotlight as part of BBC Introducing This has lead to her playing Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds festivals. The band's debut album is currently believed to be on the way in 2009. The bands debut single was Kiss with a Fist. The follow up single Dog Days are Over was recorded with no instruments in a studio the "size of a loo".

Florence Welch

Welch as of December 2008 lives in Camberwell a neighborhood in South London.

Welch's favourite band is The White Stripes. She grew up listening to them and Kate Bush. Welch was often admonished by teachers for singing, a habit for which she was unable to stop. Welch and her father would dance on top of her father's vinyl wooden chest to records by Love, The Incredible String Band, The Smiths and The Velvet Underground that were inside that chest. Welch's mother liked Tom Jones and The Monkees and Welch says her singing style in a combination of these acts.

Welch says she writes songs that are "stories with consequences and weird morality issues," She gets her material from a variety of sources and experiences.

Welch a self described "real geek" is an avid book reader who likes to completely lose herself in weekend "adventures".

The Machine

The Machine is Florence's backing band and consists of several musicians, which previously included Devonte Hynes from Lightspeed Champion. The current line-up consists of Robert Ackroyd (guitar), Christopher Lloyd Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers (keyboards) and Tom Monger (harp).

Early Days

Florence 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. The Filthy Few gig saw one of her early guitarists go AWOL - a true pro - Florence turned up and did the gig acapella.

Critical Acclaim

On top of the BBC praise they have received a large amount of support from NME magazine who included them in their annual NME Awards Tour for 2009. They are set to support White Lies, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas on the tour which will include venues such as Academies and Universities. She recently also appeared on the front cover of The Guide subsection to The Guardian on a Saturday. Florence will collect the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in February 2009. This category focuses on new talent and is voted for by a panel of music industry experts. Adele took the award in 2008 and went on to sell 1.2 million copies of her debut album. Florence and the Machine have followed their Brit Award win by being included in a list of the best tracks of 2008. Florence also came third in the BBC's Sound of 2009. Florence has written and recorded many tracks with Johnny Borrell (Razorlight), Borrell previewed one on his XFM Radio takeover entitled 'Tear Out My Tonge'

Awards

• First in the 2009 BRITs Critics' Choice section.
• Third in the BBCs Sound of 2009, a poll voted for by a select group of insiders from all sectors of the music industry.

Discography

Singles

• "Kiss With A Fist" (9 June 2008, digital download and 7") UK #9
• "Dog Days Are Over" (1 December 2008, digital download and 7") UK #89
• "You've Got The Love" (5 January 2009, digital download) UK #158

References

Florrie and da masheen r wel cewl!

External links

• BBC Music profile
• BBC Introducing page
• NME Artists page
• myspace