Florence: "Then You'd Go Fishing In The Towel Lake"
It's that time of year again. The time when Cornwall's Eden Project plays host to a gaggle of gigs from the nations favourite hitmakers (and Razorlight). Some of you regular ChartBloggerers may remember last year's interviews - KT Tunstall, Kaiser Chiefs and Guillemots, every one a doozy, and set in a beautiful location.
As a certified local, it is of course my civic duty to tut, roll my eyes and complain bitterly that these pop stars come down here, play their music, entertain their fans and leave nothing to the good people of Cornwall beyond a heightened sense of their place in the world and a ringing in the ears.
It is also my civic duty to point out that this year's Eden crop - Kasabian, Razorlight, Paul Weller, ChartBlog's Beloved Maccabees, the Kooks, Ladyhawke - represent a cultural highpoint for the county, unmatched until someone amazing comes to play in Falmouth or Truro or Penzance, or elsewhere in the vicinity.
Heck, we've even had Oasis! This very week! Look!
All of which is a long-winded preamble to unveiling the interview I did with Florence from out of Florence & the Machine when she came to play last week. It's all about making your own garden of Eden here on Earth (yes, yes that IS clever), and takes place in her bedroom/dressing room. Enjoy!
=====================
ChartBlog: Is it weird that people come into your bedroom to ask you all these questions?
Florence: Yeah I know! But it's only been my bedroom for about seven hours, so it's OK.
ChartBlog: You haven't really made it yours yet...
Florence: Well, it looks like I have, actually. All my stuff is laying out everywhere. But that's how I feel at home. When you're travelling around so much, any kind of pottering or sorting things out I always find really calming. I'm a real potterer. I like the idea that you're gradually re-organising your situaton. James Ford said that it's because I have a chaotic mind.
ChartBlog: If you do it while travelling, it must feel like you're re-organising the whole world.
Florence: Not really, it's just my suitcase.
ChartBlog: Hm. So, welcome to Eden!
Florence: I know! I've been feeling really funny about it all day. Yesterday I was shooting my video for 'Drumming Song' in a church, and then driving to Eden. So everything feels really religion-themed at the moment.
ChartBlog: It's in the songs too, isn't it? King Midas...all these myths and legends...
Florence: Yeah, 'Drumming Song' has got heaven and hell and church towers. I've always been really attracted to religious iconography. I went to see the baroque exhibition at the V&A, and there was this amazing...I think it's Spanish...it's like the Virgin Mary with a knife pushed into her breast...and the intensity of it, the bleeding heart and stuff. The life and death things, I find it completely beautiful and fascinating. I'm sometimes trying to create that intensity, maybe like a visual landscape in songs. Like a kind of theme around them.
ChartBlog: Well that's the interesting thing about you playing here, because there IS a landscape here, a big one...
Florence: Yes! A beautiful one! I think I would try to create an atmosphere around a place, but this place has already got one. It's a very peaceful, calm atmosphere here. It's so lovely. I wonder if I'll be able to raise any spirits here? They'd be very relaxed. All the demons will be calmed, just hanging out somewhere.
ChartBlog: Or it'll be the ghosts of grumpy Cornish clay miners who didn't want this put here in the first place.
Florence: [laughing] Yes!
ChartBlog: If you were making a garden of Eden somewhere, where would it be?
Florence: I don't know...maybe in the rain forest. I wanna create a place where you could live in the treetops, and you could have pathways that go from tree to tree. I always had this thing when I was a kid, we had these trees in our back yard and your house was one tree and then someone's house was another tree. My games were always really lame, it would be like "you get the food from this tree and then..."
ChartBlog: So there would be a supermarket tree?
Florence: Yeah! I'd always do really homely stuff like making a prairie, and making a lake out of a towel, and then you'd go fishing in the towel lake, and that kind of stuff. But I always liked the idea of living somewhere where you go everything from the land around you. But mine was more of a strange fairytale kind of land...OR MAYBE UNDERWATER! OH MY GOD! THAT WOULD BE SO GOOD! ATLANTIS!
ChartBlog: Yes! No-one has ever done an underwater garden of Eden.
Florence: Yep. I want an underwater garden of Eden that looks just like The Little Mermaid when they go to the big palace. And I want to be Ariel.
ChartBlog: You've already got the hair. Would you forfeit the legs though? It's the ultimate question of the film...is any man worth giving up your legs for?
Florence: [laughs] That IS the big thing about that. I think I'd want to stay underwater. I could never understand the leg thing. She's got this big cool green tail? Keep it! You can breathe underwater! AND above water!
ChartBlog: Love the fish-skin you're in.
Florence: Yes! LOVE THE FISH-SKIN YOU'RE IN! Do you know what this reminds me of? Ferngully! Does anyone remember Ferngully? That was an amazing film, it was SO good.
ChartBlog: When you were talking about the trees, I was thinking of the Ewok village in Return Of The Jedi...
Florence: No, I'm thinking Ferngully and they're like these rainforest fairies, and it's all ecological, and they're trying to stop this evil oil guy from destroying all the trees. And there's a guy that gets shrunk. And there's a song that he plays on his walkman, and I remember thinking that was the best song ever when I was a kid. If anyone can remember what that song is, please tell me....
ChartBlog: And you'll do it for a Live Lounge?
Florence: No, because it's like this funk track.
ChartBlog: I'm sure you can manage the funk.
Florence: You think I can?
ChartBlog: Yeah. It's just a drum and a voice, that's what you're good at.
Florence: OK!
ChartBlog: Florence, thank you very much.
Florence: Thank you.
==================
See pics of Florence's Eden performance at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cornwall.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Jul 2009, thranjax wrote:There was a travel show on Radio Four a couple of years ago which featured Ross Noble the comedian. It was called Ross Noble goes Global. In the first episode (I think it was the first) he spent time in Eastern Europe. He played hide and seek in a railway carriage, reaching the conclusion that there are not many places to hide in a railway carriage, and was fleeced in various flea markets.
As a traveller from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, the government of Warsaw were expecting someone along the lines of Michael Palin, and allowed him an audience with the new Mayor of Warsaw, who Ross said he knew only one thing about: he was the youngest Mayor of a European capital city ever. This achievement and the challenges of adapting post-communist Poland to a new global climate where the things he should have questioned him about. In the event however Ross was quite concerned with all the money he had wasted in the flea markets and upon meeting the Mayor the actual conversation went: "Hello, Do you like my hat?".
Subsequent questions revolved chiefly around the hat, the wearing of fur hats in general, and how many hats the Mayor himself personally owned. The Mayor answered politely, but one could sense an underwhelm-ment (if such a word exists) about the whole thing. Ross himself admitted this along the lines of - this is ridiculous. I get the chance to interview Europe's youngest Mayor and all I ask him is "Do you like my hat?".
Just a thought. What do you think Spirit?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 15th Jul 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Bad analogy, Thranj. Ross Noble is a comedian, it makes perfect sense for him to ask the hat question. More sense than for him to conduct a serious interview, no matter who with.
It's nice that you would make the comparison though. Ross Noble is FUNNY.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 16th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Very good Jaxi...
My album "Lungs " is at number 2 , it gained a lot of critical acclaim , I have my first ever top 20 hit with Rabbit Heart , my previous singles Dog days are over and Kiss with a fist are lyrically strong with biting messages ......
"But please..... just ask me about my hat. "
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 16th Jul 2009, thranjax wrote:Fraser, you are funny, and your observations are mostly enjoyable. That is not in doubt.
You are saying that comment 1 is a bad analogy because Ross Noble is a comedian, and it would make sense for him to ask irrelevant questions. And you would be right, if I was having a go at him for asking irrelevant questions.
From this I infer that you do not consider yourself a comedian. So you are saying it would make sense for you to ask relevant questions, rather than "hat" questions. That is precisely the point I am making. (Albeit in a lumbering and clearly confusing way).
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 16th Jul 2009, SteveChartBlog wrote:Pardon me for throwing my oar in, but I don't really see how these questions are not relevant. Florence was performing at Eden, Fraser asked her about Eden. Florence started talking about how things she has done lately have had religious influences, Fraser expanded on that with her - as far as I can see, the direction of this interview was as much her decision as it was Fraser's. I mean, you can ask her how it feels to have a hit album or to talk endlessly about the deeper meanings of her work at any time, but this interview was tied to a specific, rare moment. I know which one I'd rather read.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 16th Jul 2009, SteveChartBlog wrote:Okay, there really were spaces after my full stops when I wrote that. I don't know what happened there...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 16th Jul 2009, Oliviaaa987 wrote:Steve has a point; an interview is meant to be interesting and revealing, and, if possible, funny as well.
This interview was all of those things. In a choice between the above and:
Fraser: So, how does it feel to have your first top 20 single?
Florence: It's completely abstract, I never thought this would happen.
Fraser: Thank you Florence. Goodbye.
surely the former is preferable?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 16th Jul 2009, thranjax wrote:yes, I know which one I would rather have read too.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 16th Jul 2009, thranjax wrote:However I also refer you to my comment on the Wild Beasts.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 17th Jul 2009, MatthewSomerville wrote:"And there's a song that he plays on his walkman, and I remember thinking that was the best song ever when I was a kid. If anyone can remember what that song is, please tell me...."
It was probably Land of a Thousand Dances?
(from )
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 17th Jul 2009, thranjax wrote:That would seem to be correct Matthew going by the first review of the soundtrack on Amazon.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 17th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:To be honest , I would have liked to have read both , there are loads of in depth chart and fun questions to choose from , and especially as Florence is likely to be experiencing a life changing/ enriching experience , such is the single and album success effect and the emergence of her "star " in the world of music .
Wow , all those hopes and dreams and hard work being finally realised... amazing.
Would have loved to have heard more....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 19th Jul 2009, fluffyfinches wrote:I thought this was the title of Flo's new single. Which is an easy assumption to make, considering how crazy she is - but the album is amazing! Her cover of halo was wonderful too - so much more evocative than Beyonce's, whose voice is perfect but emotionless and sounds like it's coming out of a machine.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 20th Jul 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:Not Florence's Machine, though, obviously.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 21st Jul 2009, spirit wrote:The final proof of how the interview should have focussed on Florence's songs and her album. . ( And NOT "hat" questions ! )
Today she has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for her album " Lungs ".
Case closed .
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 21st Jul 2009, SteveChartBlog wrote:*reopens case*
...which means there will now be endless interviews with Florence in other places talking about her songs and her album, so it's not like she's going to be starved of opportunities to discuss those topics.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)
Comment number 17.
At 21st Jul 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Steve, Steve...it's OK, do not fret. If people think that Florence's nomination proves that the interview which took place at Eden, and was about Eden, should have been about songs and chart positions - even though
a) it took place two weeks ago and
b) no ChartBlog interview has ever been about songs or chart positions, and
c) no ChartBlog interview is ever likely to be about songs and chart positions because
d) interviews about songs and chart positions are often pretty dull to read or listen to...or do (if you're the artist in question)
- they are perfectly entitled to hold that opinion.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 17)
Comment number 18.
At 21st Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Opens case....
The inspiration for songs , the inspiration for lyrics to a song , the cover of " You got the love " , the album title "lungs " , the story behind "rabbit heart " , the angst and the pain behind " kiss with a fist " , the huge meaning of "dog days are over " .......
I know you focussed on Eden , and you may have been short of time , I suppose I personally wanted a bit more " meat on the bones ".
Being a huge Florence fan , and only so far , meeting her to say hello to , I suppose I may have asked different stuff about her music ....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 18)
Comment number 19.
At 21st Jul 2009, spirit wrote:You are right , interviews about chart positions would be SO boring..
I have not so far , met an artist who does not want to about their songs or music , or their inspiration....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 19)
Comment number 20.
At 21st Jul 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Haha! I must've read that interview with Florence three times already, Spirit. All of that information is out there in the public domain. The beat you could hope for is that she tells the stories in a different order.
But as I say, you're entitled to your opinion.
Case abandoned due to being worn out.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 20)
Comment number 21.
At 21st Jul 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:*best, sorry
Complain about this comment (Comment number 21)
Comment number 22.
At 21st Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Respect as always....
Agree to disagree etc.
Anyway , I think you are wanted by AKA on the Kanye blog....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 22)
Comment number 23.
At 21st Jul 2009, -RachelS- wrote:If the case is still flapping about with a bit of life in it...?!
Re: spirit's comment (no. 18) about "the huge meaning of 'dog days are over'"... well, it may have a huge meaning, but Florence herself probably won't shed much light on it even if you ask her: she's already said in an interview that it means nothing! She mentioned that she sometimes feels guilty about choosing lyrics in a flippant way, because she likes a phrase... but people then find their own meanings.
So really, it would be a bit irrelevant to ask her about her songs! It wouldn't change the effect the music has on people...
*runs away after lighting the touchpaper!*
(Here's a quote from her if you're interested:
Complain about this comment (Comment number 23)
Comment number 24.
At 22nd Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Ha ha ! Glad you got my irony !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 24)
Comment number 25.
At 22nd Jul 2009, -RachelS- wrote:Yes, I realised afterwards that you were probably being ironic there, but I didn't add anything as I thought, well, it doesn't change my point!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 25)