A Witch’s Words of Wisdom: Florence + The Machine and More

It was on a full blood moon in October that Florence and The Machine took the stage at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. As I stood in the audience, an overwhelming feeling of serendipity fell over me. Florence is an artist that follows you throughout your life, arising at the right moments, to whisper words of wisdom into your ear. To say it simply: she is magical. With passion, ferocity, and honesty, Florence floats about the stage like a mythical being. She is a witch in music, mesmerizing thousands with lyrics that hold you tight, while providing permission to hex those who have harmed us. 

Marie Laveau Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

Circe Indiviosa by William Waterhouse

Witches in music; a sound of feminism. A historical reputation that precedes them. The existence of woman is the existence of the witch, an evergreen tangled experience of oppression and persecution. A historically demonized group, witches in music embrace ostracization. An ostracization, with roots, focused on women of color, brewed from the fear of powerful women rejecting white religious practices. Florence Welch is one of many musicians accused of possessing magic. She carries this with grace and pays tribute to those who have come before her through her lyrical descriptions of the persecution of powerful women with deep and dark emotion.

In her 2022 album concept Dance Fever (2022), inspired by choreomania, also known as Dance Mania, a social phenomenon that occurred in the midst of the Black Plague involving thousands of people uncontrollably dancing to their deaths. Florence evokes the archetype of the witch as a mechanism for discussing female lives, sexuality, oppression, and religious rage. Throughout history witches were subjects of disgrace, however, in Dance Fever Florence uses the stereotypes of these forbidden women to express her and many others’ experiences. 

The Magic Circle by William Waterhouse

On the cold night that was October 9th, Florence conjured an experience that fell nothing short of magical. She took the stage in a glittering green gown, bare feet, and her classic long red locks and stepped behind an altar of candles set like a place for worship and forgiveness. She opened with “Heaven is Here,” a song with heavy percussion reminiscent of a call to action. The song references magic circles of salt, a ritual that creates a sacred space of protection from unwanted energies, an undeniable intention for the night ahead. 

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse

Florence fleeted across the venue, sprinting up and down the steps. She soon asks us to put away our phones and share the collective “cult like” experience. Due to this, I have no proof of actually attending the show that night, except for the fondness with which I speak about it. She performed a series of upbeat songs such as the wonderful “Dream Girl Evil,” a song that takes a comedic approach to the expectations placed on women. Discussing the struggle of balancing the stereotypes we must fit into, and the world’s hatred for angry women. Prior to the performance of “Mourning Elvis,” Florence spoke to the audience about her life as an artist, describing her troubles with substance abuse and living on tour. She told us that she is proud of the person and career she has built, but stated clearly that she could have never done it without the right to choose. 

As the night came to an end, the crowd became more and more entranced with the sight in front of them. She held tearful fans in her arms as she continued to sing the words that had brought them there to see her that night. Unlike other performers, Florence became more mythical as night came to an end. Rather than being rooted in reality, Florence became even more untouchable. The sentiment was clear amongst the audience, as I overheard people saying things like “she must be magical!”. Florence’s embrace of witchery in her music is one of power. Rather than create a character out of the history that proceeds her, she holds the title of Witch with dignity. She is an artist you can turn to for solace, comfort, and protection in moments of anger, sadness, and glee. 

Written by Layla Mahmoud

Design by Carolina Munce