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How to Buy Your First Guitar

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Due to the fact that there are so many options in the market, choosing the best guitar can be overwhelming. However, you don’t need to rush the process when you’re shopping for it. Ensure that you weigh your options carefully and research on the various types such as electrical and acoustic guitar. Beginners are often advised to buy the former as it’s much easier to play and adjust. Check out the following handy tips for purchasing your first guitar.

·        Create a budget

You don’t have to focus on getting the cheapest guitar so that you won’t end up sacrificing quality for price. The truth is that these types of guitars are usually poorly made. On the other hand, high quality guitar tends to last longer, but be ready to spend around $200-$500. Investing in a superb musical instrument will boost your motivation to improve your skills every day. The good thing is that it’s possible to get a guitar that suits your taste and needs even if you have a tight budget.

·        Buy from trustworthy suppliers

Always buy from reputable dealers whether you’re shopping online or visiting a brick and mortar store in your area. Selecting the former will give you the opportunity to meet other guitar enthusiasts. Make sure that a technician helps you to set up the guitar before making a payment. This normally attract a token fee, but some stores can do it for free. Check whether the strings are due for a replacement and inform the dealer. It goes without saying that you should ask several questions if certain things are unclear.

·        Consider used guitars

Several people prefer buying used guitars and other musical instruments to new ones. The most important thing is that they must still be in good shape. Endeavor to ask for recommendations and examine the guitar thoroughly during your visit to the store. Once you discover the ones that you really like, try each of them out and determine whether it’s has the right size and weight. This is because comfort really matters when playing any instrument.

·        Get the necessary accessories

Some of the accessories that you will need include guitar capo, guitar strap, picks, tuner, guitar stand and gig bag. It’s not compulsory to buy everything at once. Get these things yourself instead of purchasing an inexpensive guitar package for beginners which may contain low quality items.

·        Enlist the help of a friend

Chances are you have a friend or family member that has knowledge and experience in musical instruments, especially guitar. Don’t hesitate to approach them for assistance so that they can guide you in the right direction. Apart from that, they can enlighten you about the types to avoid with reasons. Most of them will be ready to accompany you to the store. Let them know important details like the artists that you admire and your preferred styles of music.

After acquiring your guitar, you can enroll in a music class or take advantage of online resources to boost your skills in no time.

DJ Cummerbund: This Is The Way America Makes Me Feel

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DJ Cummerbund mashes up Michael Jackson’s classic The Way You Make Me Feel with Childish Gambino’s This Is America.

This Is A GREAT Musical Business Card

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Artist, designer, and musician Tim Alex Jacobs of Mixtela shows off one of the coolest business cards I’ve ever seen. Building a printed circuit board and metallic keys, it turns into a MIDI controller when plugged into a USB port.

Molly Johnson’s New Album “Meaning To Tell Ya” Is Out Now

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JUNO award-winning singer-songwriter Molly Johnson releases Meaning To Tell Ya today. Working alongside Grammy Award-winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman), Meaning To Tell Ya marks Molly Johnson’s return to original music. The album features 10 newly recorded songs including seven originals and three interpretations of classic tracks. Drawing from soul, funk, and groove influences, Meaning To Tell Ya is already positioned to be essential listening. Launching the album, Johnson’s take on Leonard Cohen’s brooding “Boogie Street” goes to Canadian radio today. In addition, Johnson will perform songs from the album live to air on Jazz FM on May 14.

Known as one of Canada’s greatest voices, she is a mother, singer-songwriter, artist, and philanthropist. Johnson has been awarded the honour of becoming an Officer of Canada (O.C.) and received the Queens Jubilee medal for her philanthropic work. 
In 2016, she launched the Kensington Market Jazz Festival with over 400 Canadian musicians performing 150+ shows.

“Getting to make this record in my home town with my good friends, who happen to be some of Canada’s best musicians, was a dream come true. The result was an album imbued with hope and change. I cannot wait to have it out in the world and share these songs live throughout the summer,” said Molly Johnson.

The album was recorded over five days at the Orange Lounge Studio (Toronto) with additional recording at Strange Cargo (Los Angeles). Johnson’s distinct sound and soulful vocals drive the album, giving a quiet and unique feel to each track with backing vocals from Amy Keys and brilliant instrumentals from Davide DiRenzo (drums), Justin Abedin (guitar), Robi Botos (electric piano), Mike Downes (bass), Bob Shepard (tenor sax), Dan Lutz (bass), and Pete Kuzma (organ).

Johnson adds, “Working with Larry Klein was magic. I jumped at the opportunity to collaborate and I’m thrilled to share it with everyone. It’s funk, it’s soul, it’s groove.”

“Molly has the kind of musical gift that cannot be cultivated by musical education or assiduous practice,” shares Klein. “She has great natural musical instincts and an irresistible signature to her voice.”

Catch Molly Johnson this summer in a string of live performances across Canada in support of the new album. Dates include headlining shows at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Halifax Jazz Festival. Watch for new dates to be announced soon. Full list of dates below.

Upcoming Tour/Festival Dates:
June 14 – Oshawa – Regent Theatre
June 16 – Burlington – Sound of Music Festival
July 3 – Montreal Jazz Festival

July 10 – Halifax Jazz Festival

August 25 – Orlilia Opera House
September 8 – Sudbury Jazz Festival

Meaning To Tell Ya Tracklisting:
Inner City Blues
Better Than This
Lady Day And John Coltrane
Boogie Street
Gone
Stop
Protest Song
I’ve Been Meaning To Tell You
L.O.V.E.
Together

Norah Jones To Release New Album “Live At Ronnie Scott’s” On June 15

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Norah Jones first emerged on the world stage with the 2002 release of Come Away With Me, her self-described “moody little record” that introduced a singular new voice and grew into a global phenomenon, sweeping the 2003 GRAMMY Awards and signalling a paradigm shift away from the prevailing pop music of the time. Since then, Jones has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide and has become a nine-time GRAMMY winner. She has released a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful solo albums, as well as albums with her collective bands The Little Willies and Puss N Boots. Her music weaves a rich tapestry that combines the threads of several bedrock styles of American music: country, folk, rock, soul, and jazz, frequently transcending genres.

Now with the DVD/Blu-ray release Live at Ronnie Scott’s, out June 15, Jones delights her fans with an intimate trio show with drummer Brian Blade and bassist Christopher Thomas in the iconic surroundings of the famed London jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s.

Impressive in its stripped-back, under-stated elegance, the show witnesses Jones’s hypnotic reconnection with the piano. Returning to her jazz roots with much material from her most recent album, Day Breaks, she opens with a searing rendition of “Sleeping Wild” and a set list including “After the Fall” and “Flipside”, alongside a beautiful version of Duke Ellington’s “Fleurette Africaine (African Flower)”. Closing with her Grammy Award winning, internationally acclaimed hit, “Don’t Know Why” and “I’ve Got To See You Again”, the soulful, burning embers of these songs remain long after Jones leaves the stage.

Norah Jones – Live at Ronnie Scott’s:
Sleeping Wild
Don’t Be Denied
After The Fall
Sinkin’ Soon
Out On The Road
And Then There Was You
It’s A Wonderful Time For Love
Fleurette Africaine (African Flower)
Flipside
Day Breaks
Nightingale
Tragedy
Little Broken Hearts
Carry On
Don’t Know Why
I’ve Got To See You Again

Shawn Hook Announces Good Days Tour 2018 With Special Guests Neon Dreams

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Canadian singer-songwriter sensation Shawn Hook has announced his highly anticipated GOOD DAYS TOUR 2018. Joining Hook on the 17-city cross-Canada tour will be guests Neon Dreams. Tickets will go on sale in all markets on Friday, May 18 at livenation.com. Fans who register through Tickemaster’s Verified Fan platform here will also have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, May 16 at 10am EST. Complete tour listing below.

Shawn Hook, a two-time Juno Fan Choice Award nominee, started garnishing attention with his 2015 hit single “Sound of Your Heart” which reached double platinum status in Canada, hit the Top 20 in America, and made it to #1 on the Billboard Dance Club chart. Hook received the Allan Slaight Award at Canada’s Walk of Fame event in 2017 and Billboard named him as one of “tomorrow’s hits” while Nylon included him in their “ones to watch” list.

With recent performances on Jimmy Kimmel, The Today Show, and Live! With Kelly and Michael, his latest Certified Platinum single, “Reminding Me” featuring Vanessa Hudgens, peaked at #3 on Hot AC in Canada with Hook performing it on the So You Think You Can Dance finale. In addition to being an impressive live performer, Hook is a gifted songwriter and plays multiple instruments including guitar, bass, trombone, and his signature piano.

Supporting Shawn on the upcoming tour is Halifax trio Neon Dreams who have rapidly emerged as one of the brightest new stars on the Canadian music horizon, first making an impact on radio in 2016 with their breakout single, “Marching Bands” featuring Kardinal Offishall. Their signature high-energy and dynamic live show makes them the perfect addition to the Good Days Tour.

SHAWN HOOK GOOD DAYS TOUR 2018 DATES
With special guests Neon Dreams
16-Oct – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
18-Oct – Ottawa, ON – Algonquin Commons Theatre
19-Oct – Belleville, ON – Empire Theatre
20-Oct – London, ON – London Music Hall
22-Oct – Hamilton, ON – First Ontario Concert Hall
23-Oct – Peterborough – The Venue
25-Oct – Kingston, ON – Grand Theatre
26-Oct – Kitchener, ON – Elements
27-Oct – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
29-Oct – Barrie, ON – Georgian Theatre
1-Nov – Thunder Bay, ON – Community Auditorium
2-Nov – Winnipeg, ON – Burton Cummings Theatre
3-Nov – Saskatoon, SK – O’Brians Event Centre
7-Nov – Edmonton, AB – Myer Horowitz Theatre
8-Nov – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Ballroom
9-Nov – Trail, BC – The Bailey
10-Nov – Surrey, BC – Bell Performing Arts Centre

The Beach Boys Announce New Album Out June 8, “The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra”

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The Beach Boys are pleased to announce a new album, The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to be released worldwide on June 8. Produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, the album pairs The Beach Boys’ original vocal performances with new symphonic arrangements, newly recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. Available now for pre-order in digital, CD, and 180-gram 2LP vinyl LP formats (2LP vinyl to be released August 17), The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra spans decades of timeless Beach Boys hits and favourites across its 17 tracks.

On March 8 and 9, 2018, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra convened in Studio 2 at Universal Music Group’s Abbey Road Studios in London, the storied room where The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and other legendary artists have recorded some of the world’s most cherished music. There, they recorded new orchestral arrangements to complement The Beach Boys’ classic vocal harmonies from the legendary group’s original recordings. Conducted by Steve Sidwell and Sally Herbert, who also wrote several of the album’s new symphonic arrangements, the orchestra dove into The Beach Boys classics, including the new album’s earliest hit, 1964’s “Fun, Fun, Fun”, and its most recent one, 1988’s “Kokomo”. The album also features the orchestra’s new turns on the signature classics “Good Vibrations”, “California Gils”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “God Only Knows”, “Sloop John B”, “Help Me, Rhonda”, “In My Room”, “Disney Girls”, and several more. The resulting album, The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, honours The Beach Boys’ artistry and innovation in an inspired new way with the group’s first album collaboration with a full orchestra.

Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson says, “I always knew the vocal arrangements I did back in the 1960s would lend themselves perfectly for a symphony and there is no better one in the world than the Royal Philharmonic. I am both proud and humbled by what they have created using our songs and I hope everyone falls in love with it like I have.” Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love says, “This album is one of a kind. I think the fact that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has accompanied The Beach Boys with these great arrangements is just a phenomenal thing. It’s a whole other dimension to our music.”

The Beach Boys continue to hold Billboard / Nielsen SoundScan’s record as America’s top-selling band for albums and singles, and they are also the American group with the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits (36). “Good Vibrations”, was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame® in 1994. ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys’ has achieved triple-Platinum sales status and The SMiLE Sessions, released to worldwide critical acclaim in 2011, was heralded as the year’s Best Reissue by Rolling Stone and earned a GRAMMY Award® for Best Historical Album. That’s Why God Made The Radio, The Beach Boys’ 2012 studio album celebrating their 50th anniversary, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, The Beach Boys are a beloved American institution that remains iconic around the world.

The story of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is colorful and dramatic with a reputation worldwide for music-making of the highest quality. In 1946, Sir Thomas Beecham set out to create a world-class ensemble from the finest musicians in the UK. Beecham envisioned an orchestra that would bring the greatest music to audiences across the world and, to this day, Beecham’s legacy lives on. Over the years, the RPO has become a byword for exceptional quality and versatility, undertaking a diverse range of activities from traditional concerts in concert halls to classical spectaculars and ‘cross-over’ concerts in arenas. The Orchestra is London-based and performs regularly at the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, as well as undertaking a busy schedule of UK concerts, international tours, recordings for CD, film and television, and community and education work. For more information, visit www.rpo.co.uk.

The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Tracklisting:
California Suite
California Girls
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Fun, Fun, Fun
Don’t Worry Baby
God Only Knows
Sloop John B
Heroes And Villains
Disney Girls
Here Today
In My Room
Kokomo
The Warmth Of The Sun
Darlin’
Help Me, Rhonda
You Still Believe In Me
Good Vibrations

“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” Movie Soundtrack Set For July Release

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MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again The Movie Soundtrack gets a release date this summer. The highly anticipated soundtrack is produced by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and set to be released on Friday July 13, with the film following a week later.

The eagerly-awaited sequel to the smash-hit MAMMA MIA! The Movie is released on July 20. MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again will see Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper and Christine Baranski reprising their roles from MAMMA MIA! The Movie, with Lily James and Cher joining the cast. Alexa Davies, Josh Dylan, Andy Garcia, Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner and Jessica Keenan Wynn complete the cast.

MAMMA MIA! The Movie, released in 2008, also based on the songs of ABBA, is one of the highest-grossing live-action musicals of all time. Its companion soundtrack sold 1.5 million copies in the UK and achieved global sales of over 7.7 million. Almost a decade since its release, its popularity has not waned. There have been 406 million combined streams of MAMMA MIA! The Movie Soundtrack. ABBA are one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The Swedish quartet have sold over 385 million albums worldwide and their songs have been streamed over 2.8 billion times.

The release of MAMMA MIA! The Movie prompted a surge in sales for ABBA, whose hit compilation ABBA Gold went back to Number One in the albums charts some 16 years after its original release.

Shawn Mendes Announces Global Arena Tour For 2019

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Supporting the release of his self-titled third album, multi-platinum and chart-topping singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes will hit the road in 2019 on a global arena tour. “Shawn Mendes: The Tour” will mark his third global headline tour, following his sold out 2017 arena trek, kicking off on March 7, 2019 in Europe and running through the summer with 56 dates spanning across North America, the UK and Europe, and more dates to be announced later. Tickets will go on sale for the North America and European legs of the tour this month.

Fans will have access to presale tickets & VIP via the FirstAccess & General Fan Presales, and are available to all ShawnAccess members by signing up for free through the ShawnAccess App in the App Store, Google Play
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For North America, fans can get a presale code by downloading the app & registering for the Ticketmaster Verified Fan® Presale before 10am ET on Friday, May 11th. Once registered and verified, a presale code for the FirstAccess & General Fan Presale will be sent by Ticketmaster before the presale begins.

The FirstAccess Presale is the first chance to get presale tickets & VIP packages to the tour by simply adding a ShawnAccess Passport to your order at checkout. When you purchase a passport as part of the FirstAccess Presale, you will have priority access to the best seating locations at your show. The General Fan Presale will also be available to all ShawnAccess members, and provides members early access to tickets & VIP Packages still ahead of the Public Onsale.

For select dates, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Saturday, May 12th 10AM local through Friday, May 18th 10PM local.

All tickets purchased in Canada include a copy of Shawn Mendes’ upcoming self-titled album, which will be released via Island Records on May 25th.

Shawn highly anticipated, self-titled third album be out on May 25th via Island Records. The album follows 2016’s double platinum Illuminate which spawned 3 Top 10 radio hits, and 2014’s Handwritten which included the 7x platinum smash #1 single “Stitches,” both of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. “In My Blood” and “Lost In Japan,” the first two tracks off the upcoming album, released to rave reviews and received critical acclaim from outlets including Rolling Stone, Billboard, the New York Times and Variety. Both tracks have already experienced massive success, soaring to the #1 and #2 spots on the overall iTunes chart in the U.S, Top 5 on iTunes in 50 countries, and holding the #1 and #2 spots on Spotify’s “New Music Friday” playlist. The newly released third song off of the album, “Youth” featuring Khalid has already reached #1 on iTunes in the US. Additional yet-to-be-released tracks on the album include “Fallin’ All In You” (co-written by Ed Sheeran), “Particular Taste” (co-written by Ryan Tedder), and “Like To Be You” featuring Julia Michaels who co-wrote the song; the song also features a guitar solo from John Mayer, who produced the track.

“Shawn Mendes: The Tour” Dates 2019
03/07/2019 Amsterdam, NL Ziggo Dome
03/10/2019 Antwerp, BE Sportpaleis
03/11/2019 Berlin, DE Mercedes-Benz Arena
03/13/2019 Oslo, NO Spektrum*
03/15/2019 Stockholm, SE Ericsson Globe
03/16/2019 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena
03/18/2019 Cologne, DE LANXESS Arena
03/19/2019 Paris, FR AccorHotels Arena
03/21/2019 Munich, DE Olympiahalle
03/23/2019 Bologna, IT Unipol Arena
03/24/2019 Turin, IT Pala Alpitour
03/26/2019 Barcelona, ES Palau Sant Jordi
03/28/2019 Lisbon, PT Altice Arena
03/30/2019 Montpellier FR Sud De France
03/31/2019 Zurich, CH Hallenstadion
04/02/2019 Krakow, PL Tauron Arena
04/03/2019 Vienna, AT Weiner Stadthalle
04/06/2019 Glasgow, UK SSE Hydro
04/07/2019 Manchester, UK Manchester Arena
04/09/2019 Birmingham, UK Arena Birmingham
04/10/2019 Leeds, UK First Direct Arena
04/13/2019 Dublin, IE 3Arena
04/16/2019 London, UK The O2 Arena
04/17/2019 London, UK The O2 Arena
06/12/2019 Portland, OR Moda Center
06/14/2019 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
06/16/2019 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
06/19/2019 Winnipeg, MB Bell MTS Place
06/21/2019 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
06/22/2019 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
06/27/2019 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
06/30/2019 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
07/02/2019 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
07/05/2019 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
07/08/2019 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
07/09/2019 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena
07/11/2019 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
07/13/2019 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
07/16/2019 Salt Lake City, UT Vivant Smart Home Arena
07/19/2019 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
07/20/2019 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
07/22/2019 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
07/23/2019 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
07/25/2019 Houston, TX Toyota Center
07/27/2019 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
07/28/2019 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
07/30/2019 Orlando, FL Amway Center
07/31/2019 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
08/02/2019 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
08/05/2019 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
08/06/2019 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
08/10/2019 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
08/13/2019 Washington, DC Capital One Center
08/15/2019 Boston, MA TD Garden
08/21/2019 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
08/24/2019 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

Florence + The Machine Announces New Album, High As Hope, Out June 29

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Florence + the Machine has confirmed the upcoming release of her hugely-anticipated new album, High As Hope, on June 29. The first official single, “Hunger”, premieres today alongside the stunning AG Rojas directed music video.

“Hunger” already has the feel of a career-defining moment for Florence, pairing her intimate, rawly honest lyricism with a broader sense of acceptance, community and joy. The track effectively acknowledges those holes in our pysche that we try to fill with love and hate, obsessions or addictions, but you can ultimately only ever satisfy yourself. As Florence herself puts it, “this song is about the ways we look for love in things that are perhaps not love, and how attempts to feel less alone can sometimes isolate us more. I guess I made myself more vulnerable in this song to encourage connection, because perhaps a lot more of us feel this way than we are able to admit. Sometimes when you can’t say it, you can sing it.”

The new single is a startling introduction to the fourth Florence + the Machine album, High As Hope, which ventures into new territory as much as it reaches back to one’s roots. Florence started writing the record (which is also the first she has officially co-produced) in solitude in South London, routlinely cycling to her studio in Peckham every day to, as she puts it, “bang on the wall with sticks”. She took the songs to Los Angeles with her friend and co-producer Emile Haynie, opening them up along the way for collaboration with the likes of Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu and Jamie xx. Florence mixed the record in New York, where the daily, reassuring view of that iconic skyline – often in stark contrast to the chaos of the wider world – gave the album its upbeat title.

The record that emerged, is the sound of an artist who appears more certain than ever of herself. Florence writes now about her teens and twenties with a renewed, more mature perspective: of growing up in South London, of family, relationships and art itself. For perhaps the first time, High As Hope is a record that is as intimate as it is epic, with the more restrained sound – relatively speaking; Florence knows herself well enough now to declare “I’m never going to be minimal” – mirroring this sense that happiness doesn’t always have to be big and dramatic: it can often be found in the mundane, in the everyday things that aren’t always celebrated in songs. “There’s a lot of love in this record, loneliness too, but a lot of love.”

An album that mixes high and low – from a tribute to Patti Smith one minute to being ghosted over text by a date the next – High As Hope is made up, says Florence, “of joy and fury”…but with the joy arguably winning out, in the end. “It’s always a work in progress, and I definitely don’t have everything figured out. But this feels like quite a pure expression of who I am now, as an artist, and an honest one. I’m just more comfortable with who I am.” And that is the beginning of a far longer journey of Florence Welch.

Florence + the Machine: High As Hope Tracklisting:
June
Hunger
South London Forever
Big God
Sky Full of Song
Grace
Patricia
100 Years
The End of Love
No Choir