Florence and the Machine (sometimes stylised as Florence + the Machine)[1] is the recording name of Indie Pop artist Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul.[2] The band's music has received praise across the music media before they gained mainstream success, especially from the BBC who played a large part in Florence and the Machine's rise to prominence by promoting her as part of BBC Introducing.[3]
The band's debut album, Lungs was released on 6 July 2009, and held the No. 2 position for its first five weeks in the UK Album Chart.[4] On 17 January 2010, the album reached No. 1 on the UK album chart, having remained in the chart for 28 consecutive weeks up until that point.[5] At the 2010 BRIT Awards, Lungs won the "Mastercard British Album" award