October 7, 2025 • 12 mins
Booker and Stryker sit down with the super talented Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine. She talks about the making of her new Album "Everybody Scream" and how long it took her to make the 12 songs. If she is constantly tinnkering with her music and her love for the studio. The planned release on Halloween and her favorite Halloween costume. We appreciate her coming by to chat with us and wish her the best.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Booker and Striker and Florence while she is Florence in
the machine and we are so excited to have.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You, thank you so much for having me, and these
flowers this beautiful thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Do you really think they're a lovely flower arrangement? Here?
Is it good?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
No? I think it's it's pretty good. Actually, yeah, the
tones are very nice, Like it's not like too bright,
it's a little faded.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I like that for radio standards.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yes, it's exactly good.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's good.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Everybody scream. Six full length albums. It drops on Halloween,
three years in between albums. How long did it actually
take you to make the twelve songs?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh? My god? Uh see, it's hard, isn't it? Because
like it's I started writing it while I was still
on tour. So I think a song like one of
the greats was kind of written while I was on tour.
And then so I think it took about two years
(01:00):
to make.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, and are all the songs fully complete? We're three
weeks away from Halloween. Are you done?
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I don't may not be.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Is that like? Is it?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Actually? I guess now with digital people can change it
up until the last minute.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Are you you shouldn't tell me that I can do
that because like now I'm like now, I'm like I
have some I have some changes, but.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I manage You're shaking a head and I have to
have someone take it off me. You shouldn't when.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You were when you are finished with the song? Are
you at peace with the song? When you walk out
of the studio, you're like it's finished?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Or do you hear it?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And if you ever went back and said, you know what,
I could do something different?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Are you going to open up a Pandora's box for me?
It's like no, I think like I actually there's a
thing of like it's pretty hard. I had Aaron Desna
was really good at telling me basically when things were
done and to stop tinkering like I would. I would
like making the record is my absolute favorite part of
(02:07):
the process. The making it, like the performance, the sort
of like putting it out my nervous system. It's like
it's kind of terrifying for me, but those two bits
feel so sort of like, yeah, I feel really safe
in those spaces. So I would honestly like make a
record forever if I could, and keep tinkering it. And
(02:28):
I do need people around me to be like it's
it's done. It's done. Stop like taking and I get
really obsessive and like, just take that little sound out,
No put it back in.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
No take it out again.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So you put it back in, just like lower it
in volume like slightly.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Okay. The studying Witchcraft, how did it affect your life?
How did it affect you creatively?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
For the album, I think it was more like it
was something I was drawn to because I think there
was like there's so much about the body on this record,
and like what I put myself through on stage, and
the sort of like miraculous feats almost that the body
(03:16):
is able to perform, you know, when it's in a
performance stay. And also like there has been this strange
like prescient thing that the songs are always three steps
ahead of me, and some type of stuff happens that
I've sung in songs like years before, and so I
just was like, Okay, if there is a mystical quality
(03:37):
to this, like let me really just look into it,
you know, let me like really look at the history
of I went to you know, some a lot of
my albums become semi research projects. The last album I
got really obsessed with this phenomenon called corea mania, which
was like a medieval dancing plague, and that was the seed.
So I was researching that, and I think I would
(03:58):
have loved to be a history I'm like my mom,
but I cannot remember a single date, so and that
seems really key, Like I'm really dyslexic. So I was like,
never going to be an academic. But the albums themselves
become some like research projects sometimes, and I went to
libraries that specialize in, you know, esoteric imagery and you know,
(04:20):
looking into medieval history of magic and witchcraft and things.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Wow, and the albums. Everybody screamed. So was it quite
fortuitous that this would come out on Halloween? That's just
how it happened.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Oh no, no, it was planned, completely planned. And I mean
that's why I had to stop tinkering, because I was like,
we're making this date. We are making this date. We
have to get Halloween is the only time it can
come out.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I mean you mentioned not remembering years. I remember two
thousand and nine. I remember the debut album.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I remember vividly hearing you and seeing you, and I'm like,
this person is unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's different for us though, like the fan like hearing
you was like wow, and I think we you know,
we have that feeling. You've always had that feeling you're bored.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
With no, no, no, But I was just like when
I you know, when that first blew up, like I
hardly remember remember any really you know, yeah, it happens
so fast, you're traveling so much, like there's some drinking,
but you're kind of like so that the whole thing
when it kind of started blowing up, like it's like
(05:25):
there are whole sections of it that I just have.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Did you know what was happening or did you I mean,
do you have a sense to take when never if.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
It's on your first record, Weirdly you think it's something
that just happens. You're like you just sort of like
don't and you just kind of are going with it
because you have no experience, like you're like, oh, okay,
like I guess this is what we're doing. You know.
I think it's only consected on consecutive records when you
don't win the awards that you realize like it's not
(05:52):
something that just happens. You're like, oh okay, like that
wasn't That's not something they just give you.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
There's no participant, You earn them. We got it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Okay, good.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I love following you on social media. Do you enjoy
posting on social media or do you enjoy looking at
other people's stuff more?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Oh my god, I don't know if I like any
of it?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
All right?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Sorry? Is that the wrong thing?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
No, there's no such thing as the wrong thing.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
No, Just because like I find it really anxiety inducing.
So I try to spend like as little time on
there as possible. Honestly, I'm like, I get in and
get out, Like I have app blockers, I have Like
I mean, I think, actually, if you're it's a medium,
isn't it. And I try and find ways to what
I do. Think it's really useful for and I see
other people really using that as a direct communication with
(06:45):
your fans, with your esthetic, and as I'm such an
image based person, I do find that really helpful because
I think the nuances of what I do is really complicated,
and you can get like your you can get like
the imagery that you want or your visual way that
you see the world, like directly to the people that
(07:06):
are fans of you, which I find really useful. But
the actual like scrolling I find like totally destroys my brain,
so I try to get in and get out.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You mentioned that you, you know, love being in the
studio and it's your favorite part of things. Rate your
love for performing. Are you having as much fun as
we are watching you twirl? I mean, is it? Does
it give you as much I don't know life as
it does us? Because you said you love the studio
part the most, well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Think I love these. It's this sort of like the
sort of like, yeah, I think the studio bit and
the performance bit of my two favorite parts. The actual
sort of like putting out music bit by bit into
the world is like so so like find to me
because I'm sort of someone who is weird in this
(07:58):
sort of one of the themes of this record, like
my ambition is often at odds with my personality, you know,
is that I am I don't want to be that visible.
I don't want to be like I want as many
people as possible to listen to my music and come
to my shows, but you know, don't look at me
and don't discuss me, Like that's pretty impossible. And so
(08:18):
it's at odds with being a kind of shy person
who needs a lot of time away from the spotlight
and actually being someone who wants to connect with as
many people as possible and to share these emotions. And
I think the album kind of wrestles with those two things.
When I get on stage, though, it is a different world,
Like I feel so free because I'm not speaking, I'm
(08:41):
not like having to explain. I'm just allowing whatever the
song is to kind of come through me. And in
that sense, like I feel very like it's almost like disappearing,
like I'm not thinking about whether people are looking at me.
It's so free for me, Like it's almost like vanity
or self consciousness just goes away. And I think, yeah,
(09:03):
like when I'm doing promo that there's not a way, okay,
I look nice.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Whether it's through song or on stage. The authentic connection
you have made with people worldwide, it's just been so
cool to see over the years. This is my second
to last thing at your album drops on Halloween. What's
your favorite Halloween costume you've ever dressed up as over
the years?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Oh my god, do.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
You like Halloween?
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I did I dress? I dressed up was Joan of
Arc Okay, very good? I dress was jon of Arc
and I went I ended up. I mean this was
you know, pre sobriety I dressed it was Joan of Arc.
That was an amazing costume actually, like I had a
full I was covered in chair mil like I had
(09:55):
a sword. And then some friends of us were at
like an awards ceremony after body and award that like
we had not been nominated for.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So I just.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Showed up to this after party and like full suit
of Barma with a sword, being like, hey, I'm not nominated,
but I'm here a full suit Obama. So yeah, that
was good.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Like that, when well, you've announced a tour that doesn't
involve the United States, ask the question, are we going
to need a pass Do.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I need my passport to see you? Or potentially there
could be some things that are really fun that involve
you on stage in the US.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I mean potentially potentially.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, when you've done this, you know you're a
boss at this. You could play wherever you wanted. Do
you kind of pick places like if you think of
la and I don't want you to trash any place
or lift any place up, But is there a place
in mind when you're like I'm playing here when I
come to Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I don't know many artis that do their own routine.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, no, you can't say no to a venue.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I never would never even have it in my mind,
Like I'm like, where are we going today? And then
you're going here. I'm like, great, fair.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Enough, Well listen, it's so fun hanging out with you
with the cameras are rolling run on the eights, O
Money's booker and striker speaker Florence. Before we play, everybody's
scream give us if you don't mind. Does have to
be the plot of the song, but lead us into
the track before we press play here.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, it's it's sort of like it's good to be
talking about shows and like the potential of because this
song was definitely made about live performance. You know. It
was about the every time I go back onto it
takes a little more out of me, but I always
go back because it gives me something I can't get
(12:00):
anywhere else. You know. I think the song kind of
describes the feelings that I have on stage and then
like and the sort of like ecstasy and horror of that,
you know, of like always returning to that place and
I really wanted to just as well, just give people
a place that they could scream, you know.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
The album comes out on Halloween. We're so lucky to
have her. Florence Welch of Florence in the Machine.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Thank you, Thanks for everything. That was really fun hanging
with you. Great job. You can take these home with you, guys.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
It is all ninety eight seven
Booker and Striker and Florence while she is Florence in
the machine and we are so excited to have.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
You, thank you so much for having me, and these
flowers this beautiful thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Do you really think they're a lovely flower arrangement? Here?
Is it good?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
No? I think it's it's pretty good. Actually, yeah, the
tones are very nice, Like it's not like too bright,
it's a little faded.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
I like that for radio standards.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Yes, it's exactly good.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
It's good.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Everybody scream. Six full length albums. It drops on Halloween,
three years in between albums. How long did it actually
take you to make the twelve songs?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Oh? My god? Uh see, it's hard, isn't it? Because
like it's I started writing it while I was still
on tour. So I think a song like one of
the greats was kind of written while I was on tour.
And then so I think it took about two years
(01:00):
to make.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, and are all the songs fully complete? We're three
weeks away from Halloween. Are you done?
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I don't may not be.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Is that like? Is it?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Actually? I guess now with digital people can change it
up until the last minute.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Are you you shouldn't tell me that I can do
that because like now I'm like now, I'm like I
have some I have some changes, but.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I manage You're shaking a head and I have to
have someone take it off me. You shouldn't when.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You were when you are finished with the song? Are
you at peace with the song? When you walk out
of the studio, you're like it's finished?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Or do you hear it?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And if you ever went back and said, you know what,
I could do something different?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Are you going to open up a Pandora's box for me?
It's like no, I think like I actually there's a
thing of like it's pretty hard. I had Aaron Desna
was really good at telling me basically when things were
done and to stop tinkering like I would. I would
like making the record is my absolute favorite part of
(02:07):
the process. The making it, like the performance, the sort
of like putting it out my nervous system. It's like
it's kind of terrifying for me, but those two bits
feel so sort of like, yeah, I feel really safe
in those spaces. So I would honestly like make a
record forever if I could, and keep tinkering it. And
(02:28):
I do need people around me to be like it's
it's done. It's done. Stop like taking and I get
really obsessive and like, just take that little sound out,
No put it back in.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
No take it out again.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So you put it back in, just like lower it
in volume like slightly.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Okay. The studying Witchcraft, how did it affect your life?
How did it affect you creatively?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
For the album, I think it was more like it
was something I was drawn to because I think there
was like there's so much about the body on this record,
and like what I put myself through on stage, and
the sort of like miraculous feats almost that the body
(03:16):
is able to perform, you know, when it's in a
performance stay. And also like there has been this strange
like prescient thing that the songs are always three steps
ahead of me, and some type of stuff happens that
I've sung in songs like years before, and so I
just was like, Okay, if there is a mystical quality
(03:37):
to this, like let me really just look into it,
you know, let me like really look at the history
of I went to you know, some a lot of
my albums become semi research projects. The last album I
got really obsessed with this phenomenon called corea mania, which
was like a medieval dancing plague, and that was the seed.
So I was researching that, and I think I would
(03:58):
have loved to be a history I'm like my mom,
but I cannot remember a single date, so and that
seems really key, Like I'm really dyslexic. So I was like,
never going to be an academic. But the albums themselves
become some like research projects sometimes, and I went to
libraries that specialize in, you know, esoteric imagery and you know,
(04:20):
looking into medieval history of magic and witchcraft and things.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Wow, and the albums. Everybody screamed. So was it quite
fortuitous that this would come out on Halloween? That's just
how it happened.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Oh no, no, it was planned, completely planned. And I mean
that's why I had to stop tinkering, because I was like,
we're making this date. We are making this date. We
have to get Halloween is the only time it can
come out.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I mean you mentioned not remembering years. I remember two
thousand and nine. I remember the debut album.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I remember vividly hearing you and seeing you, and I'm like,
this person is unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's different for us though, like the fan like hearing
you was like wow, and I think we you know,
we have that feeling. You've always had that feeling you're bored.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
With no, no, no, But I was just like when
I you know, when that first blew up, like I
hardly remember remember any really you know, yeah, it happens
so fast, you're traveling so much, like there's some drinking,
but you're kind of like so that the whole thing
when it kind of started blowing up, like it's like
(05:25):
there are whole sections of it that I just have.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Did you know what was happening or did you I mean,
do you have a sense to take when never if.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
It's on your first record, Weirdly you think it's something
that just happens. You're like you just sort of like
don't and you just kind of are going with it
because you have no experience, like you're like, oh, okay,
like I guess this is what we're doing. You know.
I think it's only consected on consecutive records when you
don't win the awards that you realize like it's not
(05:52):
something that just happens. You're like, oh okay, like that
wasn't That's not something they just give you.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
There's no participant, You earn them. We got it.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Okay, good.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I love following you on social media. Do you enjoy
posting on social media or do you enjoy looking at
other people's stuff more?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Oh my god, I don't know if I like any
of it?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
All right?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Sorry? Is that the wrong thing?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
No, there's no such thing as the wrong thing.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
No, Just because like I find it really anxiety inducing.
So I try to spend like as little time on
there as possible. Honestly, I'm like, I get in and
get out, Like I have app blockers, I have Like
I mean, I think, actually, if you're it's a medium,
isn't it. And I try and find ways to what
I do. Think it's really useful for and I see
other people really using that as a direct communication with
(06:45):
your fans, with your esthetic, and as I'm such an
image based person, I do find that really helpful because
I think the nuances of what I do is really complicated,
and you can get like your you can get like
the imagery that you want or your visual way that
you see the world, like directly to the people that
(07:06):
are fans of you, which I find really useful. But
the actual like scrolling I find like totally destroys my brain,
so I try to get in and get out.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You mentioned that you, you know, love being in the
studio and it's your favorite part of things. Rate your
love for performing. Are you having as much fun as
we are watching you twirl? I mean, is it? Does
it give you as much I don't know life as
it does us? Because you said you love the studio
part the most, well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Think I love these. It's this sort of like the
sort of like, yeah, I think the studio bit and
the performance bit of my two favorite parts. The actual
sort of like putting out music bit by bit into
the world is like so so like find to me
because I'm sort of someone who is weird in this
(07:58):
sort of one of the themes of this record, like
my ambition is often at odds with my personality, you know,
is that I am I don't want to be that visible.
I don't want to be like I want as many
people as possible to listen to my music and come
to my shows, but you know, don't look at me
and don't discuss me, Like that's pretty impossible. And so
(08:18):
it's at odds with being a kind of shy person
who needs a lot of time away from the spotlight
and actually being someone who wants to connect with as
many people as possible and to share these emotions. And
I think the album kind of wrestles with those two things.
When I get on stage, though, it is a different world,
Like I feel so free because I'm not speaking, I'm
(08:41):
not like having to explain. I'm just allowing whatever the
song is to kind of come through me. And in
that sense, like I feel very like it's almost like disappearing,
like I'm not thinking about whether people are looking at me.
It's so free for me, Like it's almost like vanity
or self consciousness just goes away. And I think, yeah,
(09:03):
like when I'm doing promo that there's not a way, okay,
I look nice.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Whether it's through song or on stage. The authentic connection
you have made with people worldwide, it's just been so
cool to see over the years. This is my second
to last thing at your album drops on Halloween. What's
your favorite Halloween costume you've ever dressed up as over
the years?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Oh my god, do.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
You like Halloween?
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I did I dress? I dressed up was Joan of
Arc Okay, very good? I dress was jon of Arc
and I went I ended up. I mean this was
you know, pre sobriety I dressed it was Joan of Arc.
That was an amazing costume actually, like I had a
full I was covered in chair mil like I had
(09:55):
a sword. And then some friends of us were at
like an awards ceremony after body and award that like
we had not been nominated for.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So I just.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Showed up to this after party and like full suit
of Barma with a sword, being like, hey, I'm not nominated,
but I'm here a full suit Obama. So yeah, that
was good.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Like that, when well, you've announced a tour that doesn't
involve the United States, ask the question, are we going
to need a pass Do.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I need my passport to see you? Or potentially there
could be some things that are really fun that involve
you on stage in the US.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I mean potentially potentially.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, when you've done this, you know you're a
boss at this. You could play wherever you wanted. Do
you kind of pick places like if you think of
la and I don't want you to trash any place
or lift any place up, But is there a place
in mind when you're like I'm playing here when I
come to Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I don't know many artis that do their own routine.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, no, you can't say no to a venue.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I never would never even have it in my mind,
Like I'm like, where are we going today? And then
you're going here. I'm like, great, fair.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Enough, Well listen, it's so fun hanging out with you
with the cameras are rolling run on the eights, O
Money's booker and striker speaker Florence. Before we play, everybody's
scream give us if you don't mind. Does have to
be the plot of the song, but lead us into
the track before we press play here.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah, it's it's sort of like it's good to be
talking about shows and like the potential of because this
song was definitely made about live performance. You know. It
was about the every time I go back onto it
takes a little more out of me, but I always
go back because it gives me something I can't get
(12:00):
anywhere else. You know. I think the song kind of
describes the feelings that I have on stage and then
like and the sort of like ecstasy and horror of that,
you know, of like always returning to that place and
I really wanted to just as well, just give people
a place that they could scream, you know.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
The album comes out on Halloween. We're so lucky to
have her. Florence Welch of Florence in the Machine.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Thank you, Thanks for everything. That was really fun hanging
with you. Great job. You can take these home with you, guys.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
It is all ninety eight seven
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Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.