Florence Welch had a “kind of breakdown” when she returned to the recording studio.
The Florence + the Machine singer took her first break in years last summer after releasing two hugely successful albums. But instead of coming back refreshed to work on her new record, the 28-year-old was the exact opposite.
“I had kind of a breakdown and washed up a bit of a mess to the studio. I had just wore myself out... Without the structure of touring, you have to face your own chaos,” she explained to Billboard. “I was playing gigs nonstop since I was 21. When I was left to my own devices, I realized I was f**king everything up. I was in and out of a relationship, in and out of drinking too much. It was like constantly picking yourself up and then dropping yourself, picking yourself up and dropping yourself. And that was exhausting."
However the British star was able to channel that feeling into her music. The band is set to release its third album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, in a matter of weeks, and Florence admits it’s a much more personal record, partly in thanks to her good friend and fellow musician, Taylor Swift.
“Taylor said that you must sing about what's happening in your life," she explained. "It's about being honest."
The Shake It Off singer also spoke to the outlet about her friendship with Florence.
“She’s the most fun person to dance with at a party, but then five minutes later you find yourself sitting on the stairs with her having an in-depth conversation about love and heartbreak," the 25-year-old added. "Every time I've been around her, she is the most magnetic person in the room -- surrounded by people who are fascinated by the idea of being near her. But when she meets people, she pays them a warm compliment and immediately disarms them. There are very few people I’ve met in my life who are truly electric, and Florence is one of them.”
