Last week, Florence + The Machine released their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Everybody Scream, collaborating with the likes of Mark Bowen of IDLES, Aaron Dessner, Mitski, Danny L. Harle, and Dave Bayley of Glass Animals.
The incredibly vulnerable new album became a huge point of reflection for Florence. Highlighting the emotional toll the creative process can take. In her album announcement back in September and the release of the single “One of the Greats,” Florence shared notes on the making of the album. She says:
“I don’t really know how to explain myself with this one; it was sort of a long poem about the cost of greatness. Who gets to decide what that is? Why do I even want it? Why am I never satisfied?
I feel like I die a little bit every time I make a record, and kind of literally nearly died on the last tour. Yet, I always dig myself up to try again, always trying to please that one person who doesn’t like it, or finally feel like I made something perfect, and I can rest.
Early in my career, I was consistently ridiculed and derided for the bigness of my expression. I was thrust into the spotlight, but also told again and again I didn’t deserve it, or that, because it wasn’t to their taste, it wasn’t good. So maybe this is a 15-year outpouring of frustration. But also, a lot of the lines I just left in because I thought they were funny.
Me and Bowen from IDLES wrote it in one take. He played the guitar, and I just sang it straight from the page. We meant to re-record it, but the first take just had this amazing energy.
Then Aaron Dessner helped us take it to a truly transcendent place. I wanted it to feel like you were disintegrating into nothing at the end. Which is sometimes what the creative process feels to me. Death and resurrection over and over.”
Florence will tour North America in 2026, with dates kicking off in April at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, and will include stops at Madison Square Garden, the Kia Forum, and more. The U.S leg of the tour will follow the previously announced 2026 Europe and U.K. dates. Tickets on sale now.
Listen to Everybody Screams, streaming everywhere.
