Florence Welch, commonly known as Florence + the Machine, is an English singer and songwriter. She is renowned for her powerful, haunting vocals and her unique blend of indie rock, baroque pop, and art pop. Welch has been praised for her emotional and enchanting performances, often compared to witchcraft. The comparison to witchcraft comes from the ethereal and mystical quality of Welch's voice and music. Her songs often delve into themes of love, heartbreak, and inner turmoil, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that transports listeners to a different realm. Welch's ability to captivate her audience with her captivating presence and spellbinding vocals has earned her a devoted following.
Glastonbury line-up 2015
Raised in Camberwell, a district of South London, Welch regularly visited old Italian churches that displayed cobblestone statues of saints and demons. The first bands I went to see live and the first things I was interested in had this kind of shamanic energy and this idea that it wasn t just a drink it was a kind of exorcism.
Welch's ability to captivate her audience with her captivating presence and spellbinding vocals has earned her a devoted following. In addition to her musical style, Welch's stage presence and fashion choices further contribute to the witchcraft comparison. With her flowing dresses, bohemian style, and free-spirited persona, she exudes a sense of magic and enchantment.
Florence Welch on how she started a witches' coven at school
This – ahem – stellar cut would be the standout track from Florence's forthcoming debut album, Lungs, were the whole record not packed with potential hits.
(GETTY IMAGES)For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Florence Welch is never short of a whimsical quote or two, but her friends at school were similarly inclined.
"Me and my two friends made these spell books where we’d try to do spells on our classmates," Welch told Vice's Noisey channel.
"One time, I tried to make one of my classmates fall in love with me so me and my coven put his name in a bottle, and the rule was that there had to be a drop of blood and. well, I don’t know if it ever worked."
Welch, who grew up in south London, also said that she had a fondness for fiction that focused on the supernatural.
Glastonbury line-up 2015
Show all 261 / 26 Glastonbury line-up 2015
Glastonbury line-up 2015
Kanye West - headliner
The headliner on Saturday night will perform on the Pyramid Stage, following the footsteps of Jay-Z, who performed in 2008.
Glastonbury line-up 2015
Florence and the Machine
Florence is performing this year, but not as a headliner.Glastonbury line-up 2015
The Who - headliners
Roger Daltry (left) and Pete Townshend of the Who will bring Glastonbury to a close on Sunday nightGlastonbury line-up 2015
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie will make his debut at Glastonbury this year.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Pharrell William
The 'Happy' hitmaker will return to the stage at Worthy Farm.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Alt-J
. so will Atl-J.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Mary J Blige
Mary J Blige will be making her debut appearance at the highly-anticipated festival.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Motorhead
. and so is Motorhead.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Paloma Faith
Paloma is set to perform on Wednesday 24 at 7:00pm. Stage to be confirmed.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Fatboy Slim
The DJ will unveil a new feel good 'disco-circus' compilation at Worthy FarmGlastonbury line-up 2015
Alabama Shakes
Brittany Howard of Alabama ShakesPhil Bourne/Redferns via Getty Images
Glastonbury line-up 2015
The Waterboys
Singer Mike Scott and violinist Steve Wickham (left)Glastonbury line-up 2015
The Fall
Band's founder Mark E. SmithGlastonbury line-up 2015
CleanBandit
The band will return and promise to perform their hit 'Rather Be'.© Justin Sutcliffe 2013
Glastonbury line-up 2015
Azealia Banks
The American rapper returns to the UK for Glastonbury 2015.Glastonbury line-up 2015
George Ezra
After perfoming at Coachella, Ezra prepares for the UK's biggest festival.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Deadmau5
The Canadian DJ, known for his mouse mask, has been confirmed too.Glastonbury line-up 2015
La Roux
La Roux singer Elly Jackson.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Wolf Alice
Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Ella Eyre
Big-haired Ella Eyre returns to Glasto.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Hozier
Hozier will please fans with his single 'Take Me To Church'.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware has legions of fans all over the world and will grace the UK at Glastonbury next.Glastonbury line-up 2015
The Maccabees
Felix White, Orlando Weeks and Hugo White of The Maccabees.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Kate Tempest
Kate Tempest, the Mercury Prize-nominated artist and poet is a draw to the festival.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Jamie xx
DJ Jamie xx returns to Glastonbury's stage this year.Glastonbury line-up 2015
Young Fathers
Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers"I remember reading a lot of book on Greek mythology like the minotaur being sacrificed to [Goddess of the underworld] Persephone and just being obsessed with The Odyssey and The Iliad," she said.
Welch will be headlining Glastonbury after Foo Fighters dropped off the bill because of frontman Dave Grohl's broken leg.
Previously, she has spoken of her struggle during her breakdown in 2014. "It was a bit of a crash-landing," she said. "In the year off, I was still going to events but something wasn’t quite right, I was spiralling a bit."
Welch's performances are often described as spellbinding, with her ability to command a stage and draw in the audience with her presence. Furthermore, Welch has been known to incorporate references to witchcraft and mythology in her lyrics. Songs like "Howl," "Seven Devils," and "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" explore dark and supernatural themes, adding to the mystique surrounding her music. Welch's lyrics often contain vivid and poetic imagery, creating a sense of enchantment and allowing listeners to lose themselves in her world. It is important to note that the comparison of Florence Welch to witchcraft is not meant to be taken literally. Instead, it is used metaphorically to highlight the captivating and otherworldly nature of her music and persona. Welch's unique blend of haunting vocals, emotional lyrics, and captivating stage presence has cemented her place as one of the most mesmerizing and spellbinding artists of our time..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Religion in Florence: A Delicate Balance"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with Florence Welch Witchcraft. The story was just not engaging, and the characters were poorly developed. I felt like I couldn't connect with any of them and didn't care what happened to them. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward dialogue and choppy descriptions. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling witchcraft story.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for Florence Welch Witchcraft, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The plot was confusing and disjointed, and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be mysterious and complex. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed action scenes. Additionally, the world-building was insufficient, leaving many details unexplained and making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, it was a letdown, and I wouldn't recommend it to others who enjoy witchcraft tales.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Florence Welch Witchcraft had an intriguing concept, but the execution left much to be desired. The writing style was overly flowery and melodramatic, making it feel like a teenage poetry journal rather than a coherent novel. The characters were shallow and lacked depth, and their motivations were often unclear. The romance subplot was forced and unrealistic, with the relationship between the main characters lacking chemistry. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the read for anyone looking for a well-written witchcraft story.
4. Andrew - 1/5 stars - I struggled to get through Florence Welch Witchcraft. The writing was convoluted and pretentious, making it difficult to follow the story or understand the author's intent. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt predictable and uninspired. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a chore to read and would not recommend it to anyone interested in witchcraft or captivating storytelling.