Florence + the Machine Share New Song ‘King’

Florence + the Machine are back with new music. The English indie rock band fronted by Florence Welch shared the track, “King.”

On February 23, Florence + the Machine dropped a new song with an accompanying music video to “King.” This track marks the band’s first new taste of music in almost four years. Their last record was High as Hope, released in June 2018 via Republic and Virgin EMI Records.

The “You’ve Got the Love” singer teased her much-needed return to the music scene on February 22. She writes on her Instagram, “Did you miss me…” followed by a black heart emoji. Florence shares an image of herself taken by Autumn de Wilde, a frequent collaborator of hers. In addition to this stunning photo, the singer also shared a sneak peek at the “King” music video, also directed by De Wilde.

Autumn De Wilde is a photographer and director, most notably known for the film, Emma, the 2020 film that starred Anya-Taylor Joy in the titular role. De Wilde also directed Florence in the music video for “Big God,” a single from the band’s last album.

Florence Welch discussed the meaning of “King” in a statement. She reveals, “As an artist, I never actually thought about my gender that much. I just got on with it. I was as good as the men and I just went out there and matched them every time. But now, thinking about being a woman in my thirties and the future, I suddenly feel this tearing of my identity and my desires. That to be a performer, but also to want a family might not be as simple for me as it is for my male counterparts. I had modeled myself almost exclusively on male performers, and for the first time, I felt a wall come down between me and my idols as I have to make decisions they did not.”

This powerful quote has Florence reflecting upon what it means to be a woman in rock music, a genre that has often been male-dominated. She sings, “I am no mother, I am no bride, I am king,” further highlighting her power.

Congratulations to Florence + the Machine on a powerful return to the music scene. Fans can watch the music video above and stream “King” on all major music platforms.