F is for Fabulous! A look at English bands whose music has been influential to me…

Florence and the Machine

An English Indie rock band formed in 2007 that rose to prominence after being promoted as part of BBC Music Introducing

I love the dramatic musical productions, the honest lyrics, and the way Florence’s powerful vocals drive the songs. 

The way she shares her deepest feelings resonates with me, heartfelt words coming straight from the heart as brutal truths are laid bare.

Each song is designed to be like a symphony as the orchestral build-up carries the vocal which soars until the very end, it’s pure magic.

I’ve often danced at home to my favourite Florence songs including ‘Shake it out’ from the Ceremonials album.

The line ‘And it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back’ reminds me of a song I remember singing in the school morning assembly at my primary school.

In my Live Shows on Facebook & Instagram in 2020, I sang several of the songs from the ‘Lungs’ album which moved me at the time.

The album ‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’ had some wonderful songs that were tales of her struggles and conflicts during a time of turmoil for Florence that somehow still manage to come across so sweetly even though she described herself as ‘spiralling’ then. 

In honour of my brother’s transcendence in 2021, I recorded my take on her version of ’Stand by Me’ for my family.

Their latest album is just as punchy, the song ‘My Love’ with its reference to the empty billboards and buildings in the lockdowns of the past few years; shows the power that music has to draw attention to issues and shed alternative light on certain situations.

It’s how I love to make music too, to engage with my feelings and contemplations & challenge conventionality. 

I am inspired by Florence and the Machine.

Faithless

An English band from the 90s whose beats accompanied my night and daytime car journeys as well as in my bedroom dancing sessions ;)

‘Insomnia’, ‘God Is A DJ’ & ‘We Come 1’ are the most classic songs for a generation who couldn’t ‘get no sleep’ and so just kept on dancing their nights away and will probably be re-lived for much, much longer.

The music style is often regarded as political and the latest 2020 album focuses on Immigration as its main theme.

Their fifth album To All New Arrivals’ was inspired by the birth of band members Sister Bliss’s son & Rollo’s young family who would grow up in uncertain times of conflict and global poverty.

The band has produced 10 albums plus worked with several other well-known artists, making famous collaborations and touring worldwide.

An impressive bio for a primarily electronic dance music band, they’re right at the top of my list of artists/bands I’d love to create with, fingers x’d! 
 

Pink Floyd

Simply put, I just fell in love with the music this band has produced. 

The English psychedelic rock band who formed in 1965 are distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics, and elaborate live shows which are epic!

Their sound is timeless, it’s still being relayed around the world over and over again, especially in India where I’ve heard it repeatedly either being played in its original form or being covered by local artists & touring foreign musicians alike!

Their iconic albums Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason & The Division Bell are some of my most played favourites.

Their music will continue to rock the world, which is amazing and so right.