Who is Florence Welch? Singer's friendship with Taylor Swift explored after The Tortured Poets Department collaboration

Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, featured a collaboration with her longtime friend and fellow musician Florence Welch. Released on April 19, the album showcases Swift's synergy with Welch's band for Florida!!!, the eighth track in the album.

Florence Welch is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the British indie rock band Florence + the Machine. She has been friends with Swift since 2015. Their decade-long friendship has now resulted in a collaboration on Swift's highly anticipated album.

Florence Welch founded Florence + the Machine in 2007

Born on August 28, 1986, in London, Florence Welch is the eldest of three children. As per her IMDb profile, she sang at weddings and funerals as a child. A natural brunette, Welch is now famously recognized for her quintessential red hair.

Florence + the Machine came into existence in 2007, created by Welch and her art-school friend Isabella Summers. The band, alongside Welch and Summers, featured guitarist Rob Ackroyd, harpist Tom Monger, and various other musicians. Their soulful lyrics and captivating vocals were often compared to Kate Bush and Sinéad O’Connor. Their debut album, Lungs, topped the UK charts upon its 2009 release. The band currently has five studio albums to their credit.

Florence + the Machine's Dance Fever Tour in Madison Square Garden (Image via Getty Images)

Florence Welch is a self-proclaimed bookworm, often posting her current reads on Instagram. In a 2016 interview with W Magazine, she claimed that reading was her escapism.

"I think reading is essentially a solitary activity. Growing up, I used reading as a form of escape. I was shy and sensitive, and so reading gave me a safe space."

In 2018, Welch released a book, Useless Magic: Lyrics and Poetry, a collection of poems and lyrics accompanied by illustrations. In 2022, she received an honorary fellowship from the Camberwell College of Arts. Notably, Welch had previously enrolled in Camberwell to study illustrations before she dropped out to focus on her music.

Florence Welch and Taylor Swift's friendship timeline explored

Florence Welch and Taylor Swift initially met in 2012 through their mutual friend Blake Lively. In a 2015 interview with Billboard, Swift described Welch as "the most fun person."

"She’s the most fun person to dance with at a party, but then five minutes later you find yourself sitting on the stairs with her having an in-depth conversation about love and heartbreak."

During the same year, Welch revealed to The Sunday Times Magazine that the Bejeweled singer offered her great relationship advice after a breakup, saying she was "good to talk to about boys."

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At the 2016 Grammys, both singers found themselves in contention as Swift’s 1989 and Florence + the Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful were nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album. Ultimately, Swift clinched the award.

In an interview with E! Live From The Red Carpet before the event, Florence Welch credited Taylor Swift for giving her the confidence to release her Grammy-nominated album.

"Well, it actually was after I finished the record [that] I saw her out and I was really nervous. I felt like I’ve made such a personal record, and you know, she manages to, like, use elements, have a life, but with such grace. And I know I was just nervous about it, and she said she was like, ‘It’s got that good energy.'”

The duo was also spotted at The 1975's London concert in 2023, where Swift took to the stage to perform Anti-Hero. Then, in 2024, Florence + the Machine featured on Swift's album The Tortured Poets Department, which also included a collaboration with Post Malone on the album's first track, Fortnight.