5 Questions With… Florence + The Machine

London-based singer/songwriter Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine visited The Recording Academy headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sept. 10, for an intimate acoustic set including "Dog Days Are Over," "Cosmic Love" and "Drumming Song."

Following the performance, Welch participated in 5 Questions With…, answering questions regarding her musical influences, preferred live venues and touring, her songwriting process, and the influence of social media.

When asked about her songwriting process, Welch described it as "making the mundane magical."

"If you sing something with enough passion and emotion you can turn anything into a song," she said. She also pointed to literature, art installations, shop signs, and scraps of conversation as influences.

"As long as you follow the tangent of your thought and [aren't] afraid to let it go wherever, you can find inspiration from all over the place."

Raised in Camberwell in south London, Florence Mary Leontine Welch attended Camberwell College of Arts where she wrote her debut single "Kiss With A Fist," which appears on her 2009 full-length release Lungs. While the band behind Florence + The Machine often fluctuates, it currently consists of a seven-piece arrangement, including longtime collaborators Ackroyd, drummer Chris Hayden, Monger, and Isabella Summers on keyboards. The band has performed at large-scale international festivals such as the UK's V Festival, Latitude Festival and recent Glastonbury Festival. Florence + The Machine picked up an award for Best Art Direction for "Dog Days Are Over" at the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards. 

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