Did Beyoncé Inspire Florence & The Machine’s New Album?
When Beyoncé goes on record saying you’ve heavily influenced her new album, it’s only right you repay the compliment. Grammy-nominated Florence & The Machine—the stylistic name for Florence Welch and her (current) seven-piece band—says the anticipated follow-up to her 2009 debut Lungs is the most soulful, R&B-tinged music she’s made so far.
“It’s nearly finished, but, of course, that’s the hardest part for me, because once it’s finished, you have to share it with others,” she told recently MTV News. “So, I’ve found myself obsessing over the way I’ve sung one little word, and wanting to go back and do it over again. I’m going to try and hold onto it as long as possible.”
Hits like “Kiss With A Fist” and “Dog Days Are Over” showcased Florence’s quirky yet tough vocals and hinted at her widespread appeal (not to mention penchant for controversial lyrics; “a kiss with a fist is better than none” isn’t standard pop fodder). While Flo’s songwriting has always been influenced by personal experience (Lungs was inspired by a temporary split from boyfriend Stuart Hammond) her sophomoric effort will be even more emotional. “There’s a song on it that’s inspired by a visit [from] my dead grandmother. Like, I had really, really vivid dream about her and, um, she was giving me advice in this dream. And it was really emotional, and I woke up crying. And there’s one song that’s inspired by that experience.”
And if you’ve ever seen a live show, Flo lets those emotions run free and at times goes at it like a woman possessed. “It’s just this sense of total freedom,” she says. “It sounds so cheesy, but I want to touch people. Not in a weird way. I just want to help them feel what I’m feeling.” Other times she commands the stage in get-ups she describes as “Lady Charlotte meets Ophelia“; as an example, watch her perform her newest track “What The Water Gave Me” live in Berkeley, CA last month:
As for her love match with Beyoncé, check her humorous “Single Ladies” rendition below:
Florence & The Machine will take to the stage during Thursday night’s live episode of FOX‘s So You Think You Can Dance this week.
