Florence Welch

Florence Welch

Florence Leontine Mary Welch, born on August 28, 1986, is a prominent English-American singer-songwriter celebrated for her role as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Florence and the Machine. The band garnered widespread recognition with their debut studio album, "Lungs" (2009), which not only dominated the UK Albums Chart but also clinched the prestigious Brit Award for Best British Album. Their subsequent four albums continued to enjoy chart success, solidifying their position in the music industry.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, Welch ventured into the realm of literature with the release of her book titled "Useless Magic" in 2018. The book offers readers a collection of her poignant lyrics and evocative poems, complemented by striking illustrations, providing a deeper insight into her creative journey and artistic vision. Florence Welch's contributions to both music and literature have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, earning her acclaim and admiration from audiences worldwide.


Florence Leontine Mary Welch was born on August 28, 1986, in Camberwell to Nick Russell Welch, an advertising executive, and Evelyn Welch (née Samuels), an American born in Boston and raised in New York City. Evelyn, who holds degrees from Harvard University and the Warburg Institute, University of London, currently serves as the vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol. Through her mother, Welch holds both British and American citizenship.


Welch comes from a family with diverse talents and backgrounds. She is the niece of satirist Craig Brown, and her maternal grandfather, Colin Welch, was a former deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph and a parliamentary sketchwriter for the Daily Mail. Her maternal uncle is actor and filmmaker John Stockwell. Welch's paternal grandmother, Cybil Welch (née Russell), played a significant role in encouraging her performing and singing talents during her youth.


Tragically, Welch's grandmothers, who have since passed away, served as inspiration for numerous songs on Florence and the Machine's debut album, "Lungs" (2009). Welch's childhood was marked by personal challenges, including her parents' divorce when she was thirteen and the subsequent marriage of her mother to their next-door neighbor, Professor Peter Openshaw. Additionally, her maternal grandmother's battle with bipolar disorder ended in suicide.


Welch's adolescence was characterized by struggles with dyslexia and dyspraxia, which affected her spelling and organizational skills but did not hinder her reading ability. Music and literature provided solace and escape for Welch during her formative years, allowing her to navigate through feelings of shyness and sensitivity.


Educated at Thomas's London Day School and Alleyn's School in South East London, Welch excelled academically despite occasional disciplinary issues related to her spontaneous singing and enthusiastic participation in the school choir. She briefly pursued illustration at Camberwell College of Arts but eventually dropped out to focus on her burgeoning music career, a decision prompted by the promising trajectory of her musical endeavors.


The band name "Florence + the Machine" originated as a private joke between Welch and her friend Isabella Summers, who was referred to as "Isa Machine" while Welch called herself "Florence Robot." As Welch prepared for her first gig, she realized that the name "Florence Robot/Isa Machine" was too cumbersome. Consequently, she shortened it to "Florence + the Machine," a name that stuck and eventually became associated with her music.


In 2006, Welch and Summers began performing together in small London venues under the name "Florence Robot/Isa Machine," garnering attention for their performances. Additionally, in 2007, Welch collaborated with a band named Ashok, contributing vocals to their album titled "Plans," which included an early version of her later hit song "Kiss with a Fist," initially titled "Happy Slap."


Florence and the Machine released their debut studio album, "Lungs," in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2009. The album launch took place at the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley, south-east London. "Lungs" achieved critical and commercial success, topping the charts in the UK and reaching number two in Ireland. In the United States, the album debuted at number seventeen on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart before eventually reaching the number one spot.


Throughout her career, Welch has collaborated with other artists, including contributing vocals to David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's album "Here Lies Love" in 2010, which centered around the life of Imelda Marcos. She also worked with Drake on material for his upcoming album in January 2011.


Welch's versatility as a performer was highlighted when she replaced the pregnant Dido at the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. She performed her portion of the Best Original Song nominee "If I Rise" from the film "127 Hours" alongside A. R. Rahman.


Florence and the Machine's second studio album, "Ceremonials," was released on October 31, 2011. The album reflected Florence Welch's fascination with drowning through the use of recurring water imagery. "Ceremonials" debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and reached number six on the US Billboard 200.


In January 2012, Florence and the Machine received two Brit Awards nominations, with the ceremony held at the O2 Arena in London on February 21, 2012. On April 26, 2012, the band released "Breath of Life," recorded as the official theme song for the fantasy film "Snow White and the Huntsman." Additionally, a remix of "Spectrum" by Calvin Harris was released as the fourth single from "Ceremonials," becoming the band's first UK number-one hit.


Following the conclusion of their tour in September 2012, Welch expressed excitement about working on new material for a third album. In December 2011, she led a tribute to Amy Winehouse during the VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul concert, performing Winehouse's song "Back to Black" and the Annie Lennox classic "Walking on Broken Glass." The band also performed at Times Square for the 40th annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve special on December 31, 2011.


In October 2012, Welch was featured on Calvin Harris' song "Sweet Nothing," which debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. This marked her second number-one hit. "Sweet Nothing" also achieved success in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, receiving platinum certification in Australia. The song received a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.


Furthermore, on November 29, 2012, Florence joined the Rolling Stones at the O2 Arena in London to perform "Gimme Shelter" alongside Mick Jagger. Her performance was described as "sexy" and "electrifying."

References

1.  Patterson, Sylvia (20 September 2009). "Behind the success of Florence and the Machine". The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2010. Alt URL Archived 30 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ "Florence and the Machine open Reading Festival with secret birthday gig". NME. 28 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
3. ^ "Florence Welch". Glamour. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
4. a b c Ryan, Francesca (4 June 2009). "Florence and the Machine interview: sound and vision". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
5. ^ "Interview with Evelyn Welch". Association of Art Historians. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
6. ^ "James Welch to wed Evelyn Samuels". The New York Times. New York City. 8 August 1982. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
7. ^ "Vice-Chancellor and President".
8. ^ Varga, George (8 October 2015). "Florence Welch on music, maturing & not drinking". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
9. a b c West, Richard (29 January 1997). "Obituary: Colin Welch". The Independent.