Welcome to this weeks Flow Feature! We hope you have all had a marvellous week and enjoyed watching as our favourite band members either ventured around the world or settled in to family life for the next year. This weeks Flow Feature is on Hazel Coleman!

For Hazel, that first moment of discovery was during the summer holidays in 2009. She was fourteen at the time, but remembers that exact moment that Florence + The Machine entered and changed her life. It was the last holiday that Hazel would be free from the workforce, and she had spent it well, chatting on the internet with friends, listening to music and writing her own songs. As her years of freedom were coming to a close, the years of rebellion and pushing boundaries were just beginning. She had started talking to a boy
that would tragically go on to be her first love, started hanging out with new people and drinking energy drinks, all the while thinking she was ‘so cool’. 

Later in the holidays while staying with her grandparents, Hazel was dragged out to the go shopping in Tesco. She had wandered off to the CD aisle with the little pocket money she had, when an album caught her eye. It was ‘Lungs’ by Florence + The Machine. Hazel had heard the song ‘Dog Days Are Over’ before, and a friend had given the album a positive review, so she picked it up and on an impulse went and purchased the album that would change her life. 

Lungs soon became the soundtrack to Hazel’s summer. Their sound was different to anything else she had ever heard. The music was so beautifully composed to reflect the haunting lyrics. Though Hazel never felt they were able to live up to Lungs, the album inspired many of her own lyrical attempts. Hazel eventually got the boy, the friends, and had Lungs playing in the background as it slowly carved its way into her heart, soul and history. 

As her teenage years began slowly slipping away from Hazel, everything started to fall apart. She had been left heartbroken, friendships began to buckle and fall apart, and Hazel gained a much less than favourable
reputation. In the Autumn of 2010 she had even begun self-harming in a desperate bid to escape the complications that her life had developed. She felt that those she trusted were too often letting her down, leaving her isolated. 

While she was struggling to stay afloat in this life, things were also falling apart around her at home. After many years living in an unhappy marriage, her parents decided to split up. Hazel remembers the anger she
felt as her parents fought over her, both wanting her to take their side. The worst fight she can recall was over Hazel choosing her father over her mother. As Hazel sat at the top of the stairs crying she wondered if her parents’ relationship would become the blueprint for the rest of her own. 

2011 was a very dark year. The long divorce process began between her parents, and Hazel couldn’t add her own problems into the mix. More failed relationships meant Hazel had managed to push away more people, isolating herself from the world bit by bit. The only thing she let in was music. The dark themes in Lungs were her saviour, the world, and the band telling her that she was not alone. They spoke to her in a way that nothing else could. The lyrics in ‘Blinding’, “no more dreaming like a girl, so in love with the wrong world”, reflected how she felt about herself. She would sit and listen to it in bed at night, crying her heart out.

October of that year was to become the lowest point in her life. She had completely shut herself out from the world. It was just Hazel and Florence. She was completely alone, until she wasn’t. There was a guy that she knew was feeling as empty as she was, who she trusted and let into her world. She trusted him to much, and after he got what he wanted, he betrayed her and told her that she has been ‘the biggest mistake of his life’. 

That was the final stroke for Hazel. Not only was she now the ‘slut’, but she was alone again. No one around her had the patience to care anymore, as if she had become invisible. Her family was a mess, the recent passing of an uncle only adding to the pain. Everything was wrong. 

That was when Hazel planned her suicide. 

She was going to sneak out of the house in the dark hours of the night, walk across to the beach, fill her pockets with stones and walk into the sea. She had only one reservation – she wanted to listen to Ceremonials before she died.

And that is when Florence + The Machine saved the life of Hazel Coleman.

To this day Hazel believes that has she not waited to hear Ceremonials she would have taken her own life. At the time, she had the guts and the right frame of mind to do it.

The 31st of October changed Hazel. As soon as ‘Only If For A Night’ started she knew this album would be perfect and deliver home some much needed truths. Hazel cried her way through the tracks. ‘What The Water Gave Me’ had Hazel convinced that Florence knew of her intentions, and was singing directly to her. ‘Never Let Me Go’ was the same, as if Florence was telling her that she couldn’t give up, or just give in. Hazel remembers sitting on the floor, crying in a daze as Florence sang to her, telling her to live. 

The few months after that night were tough. She felt strong urges to end it all, but with Ceremonials on her side she fought back at life and tried to find a reason to live. And that she did: Florence + The Machine were coming on tour.

The 4th of March, 2012 was one of the best days of her life. The whole band just a few metres in front of her, playing the songs that saved her life. She could have spent the whole gig screaming at the stage,
telling them exactly what they meant to her, and what they had done for her, but they wouldn’t have heard through the thousands of fans telling the same stories. The night was perfect, and for the first time in a long time Hazel cried tears of joy, rather than the sadness that she had come to know. 

With her own family broken, Hazel found a new one to allow her heart to call home. She had suddenly found herself as a Flow, part of the family. I had found people who loved, admired and owed so much to the band just as she did. Everyone was so lovely, and she found many new friends to talk to about the band and to just have a laugh. It was an incredible feeling to belong somewhere, and somewhere so established to even have their own book club!

She had become resigned to the fact that she wouldn’t get to see the band again for a while, but she was wrong. The universe surprised her yet again, and she saw Florence _ The Machine live for a second time on the 4th of December 2012. She cried just as much as the first time, if not more. From her place at the front of the crowd she recognised many around her as Flows. That made the night even more special as the laughed and celebrated together. The best part of the night for Hazel was during a silence in the crowd between songs, when Hazel was able to Tom Monger’s attention. Not only did he see her, but he waved and blew her a kiss. He later tweeted her apologizing that they were unable to meet, to which Hazel replied that he had ‘practically made her life’.

Hazel still finds it so hard to believe that the kindness of the band members to their fans has led them to know of her existence. Tom often tweets her with advice as she starts to learn to play the harp, the lovely Sam is always kind enough to reply to everyone, and on her 18th, Tom, Sam and Chris all send her birthday wishes. Even her queens, Florence + Isabella, have retweeted her on occasion. 

Hazel owes Florence + The Machine so much. They gave her the courage and the strength to see her through her teenage years. Though she still battles with depression, she finally stopped self-harming, and she is alive. She knows she will eventually get better, and that there is always hope for her, a lesson she learnt from Florence.  

Hazel intends to get several tattoos to pay homage to Florence + The Machine and all they had done for her – a birdcage, a harp and a rabbit. Her own battle scars to remind her how far she has come, and how their music helped her through the darkest times in her life. Their lyrics will always be a part of who she is.

One day she hopes to meet the band in person, and tell them how much they mean to her. They saved her life, and inspired her to go on to reach her goals. She knows that she would be dead if it were not for them, and she is so glad that they helped her to realise just how much there is to live for. 

Thank you Hazel for bravely sharing your incredible story with us! We are so glad that you had Florence + The Machine to guide you through those dark times and pull you through to the other side. Now you not only have the band and their music, but the entire Flow family to be there for you whenever you need. 

We hope you enjoyed this weeks Flow Feature! We would love to hear your story next. All you need to do is send it to us via email or through our website and your story could be before the eyes of the entire Flow
  community.


Inspiring Flows xXx

Welcome to this weeks Flow Feature! This week’s feature is on 16 year old Amanda McGeer from Ireland!

Amanda only recently entered into the world of the Flows, discovering Florence + The Machine in July 2012. For Amanda, it all started with her love for another popular band, Snow Patrol. She loved everything about this band, their music, their musicianship, and their lyrical skills. During January of 2012, while watching a popular Irish late night television show, ‘The Late Show’ hosted by Ryan Tubridy, Snow Patrol performed
their song ‘In The End’ from their 20122 album, and followed up by announcing that they would be headlining a festival at Phoenix Park on July 8th. 

Amanda had never been to a concert before, let alone a festival, and she was unsure how to go about organising for such an event, so as much as she desperately wanted to see Snow Patrol live, she didn’t set her hopes high. Amanda’s luck turned a few weeks later at school, when a friend announced that she would also be interested in seeing Snow Patrol live as their way to celebrate the end of their Junior Certificate exams. The plans evolved from there and on the day tickets went on sale they were lucky enough to get their hands on a pair.

As the weeks went by, more and more talented artists were being added to the line-up, and eventually the one and only Florence + The Machine appeared on the list. With all her focus on her school work, and she had never taken the time to ensure she had all the latest CDs, so although Amanda had
heard the name ‘Florence + The Machine' before, she had never taken the time to investigate their music. When she found out she would also be seeing them live, she made sure she got a copy of Ceremonials so that she would be prepared for their show. Little did she know that she was now holding what would soon become such a major part of her life. 

When she sat down to listen to Ceremonials it was the first time Amanda had ever listened to an album all the way through.  Right from the opening track she was hooked, blown away by everything the music had to offer. The messages in 'Only If For A Night', that beautiful long note in 'No Light, No Light', and the experiences and passion of 'Breaking Down'. These were the first songs that had ever struck Amanda on such a personal level. From that day on, she knew she had discovered something incredible, and was getting herself into something very special. 

The build-up to the day of the concert was brilliant. She was so excited, but nervous at the same time. By now Amanda knew every word to every song of Ceremonials. The only thing she regrets from that day is that she went to her first Florence + The Machine gig with little knowledge of Lungs, only knowing 'Dog Days Are Over' and 'Cosmic Love'. However that did not taint the event in the slightest. If anything it made the concert even more special, full of beautiful surprises beyond her dreams. Though she doesn’t remember every detail from the concert, having been swept up in the event and hit by such an incredible wave of emotion and inspiration, she will never forget that day. The intro to 'Only If For A Night' before Florence entered the stage, the 'Dog Days Are Over' crowd jumping ceremony, the human sacrifices in 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)', and of course that one note in 'No Light, No Light'. Amanda was blown away by the power Florence and the band held over her during that concert. She was taken to a completely different realm, where not one of the 44, 999 other people around her existed, it was just her and Florence. The shock at the end of the concert was surreal, forced to enter back into the real world, but as a different person. 

Since that day Amanda has only grown more and more obsessed with Florence and her beautiful Machine, and they have influenced so many of Amanda’s choices. Amanda has been encouraged to be creative with her fashion, and to not be afraid to stand out and reveal who she really is inside. Florence has shown Amanda that there is so much more to life than what she thought, and even gave her the confidence to sing and perform in front of a crowd for the first time. If she is ever having a bad day, all Amanda needs to do is go to her room, plug in her earphones and blast Florence + The Machine, and her problems are gone. 

When she listens to Florence’s soaring vocals, she becomes part of a different world for a while, a place where she is at peace, where beating drums loudly, wearing capes and covering yourself in glitter is the way of life. I think we can all agree that it is a beautiful place to be. 

The next best thing to finding the band and their music has been discovering their fanbase. Through the band, and through social networking sites such as Twitter, Amanda has been able to meet incredible Flows from all around the world, and build life-long friendships (those who know Amanda will know what she is talking about). Amanda doesn’t know how she would be able to function without these incredible people in her life. Florence has not only provided her with their music and inspiration by the bucket load, but has given her a new family, with amazing people that she trusts with her life. 

Amanda never thought that one festival ticket would change her life so immensely, and open up her world to such incredible experiences and such beautiful people. Since then she has also been able to attend another Florence + The machine concert, the final of the Ceremonials Tour, dressed as Isa in the theme of ‘Mischief’. How fitting that she would be able to attend the final show of the tour dedicated to the album that brought her so much. 

Thank you Amanda for sharing your beautiful story! Though you only joined our family in the past year, you are no less of a Flow than anyone else, and we welcome you with open arms. We hope that Florence + The Machine will continue to bring you happiness and inspire you to be everything you can be.

We hope you all enjoyed this weeks Flow Feature. Apologies for the delay this week. Due to an unexpected power outage that lasted the whole night we were unable to publish it at our regular time. Never fear, next week all will be back to normal, and if you send us your story to our email or
  website, it might just be your story that we share! Have a wonderful week.



Inspiring Flows xXx


 

Welcome to this weeks Flow Feature! This week the Flow community has been having a tough time, and we felt it was important to share with you a group dedicated to sharing some care and love with Flows around the world. This weeks Flow Feature is on the newly formed group called ‘Spread The Flove’, who formed amidst the anger and disagreements of a large group of Flows in recent weeks.

In the past couple of weeks a large number of Flows have been caught up in a whirlwind of emotion, which for some has gone to the extreme. ‘Spread The Flove’ admins Aimèe, Jenna, Kirsty and Georgia were heartbroken to see the turmoil that their fanbase was in, and leapt to immediate action. They were desperate to find a way to bring the Flows together again, and to make them all feel good about themselves and each other once again. 

The ‘Spread The Flove’ team were inspired by Florence back in the Lungs era. At the time Florence seemed to be experiencing chaos with her own emotions, which was what drew many Flows into the world of Florence + The Machine. It was the understanding and comfort we found in Lungs, and later Ceremonials, which held us all together, and continues to inspire us to overcome what may at times seem like the impossible. So many Flows have found their way back to happiness and rediscovered the light in their lives through Florence + The Machine. ‘Spread The Flove’ were formed on this very foundation, and on the hope that we will continue to do so.

‘Spread The Flove’ hope that even after the Flows have laid down their swords and shields, they will be able to continue to bring Flows together, and hold the family close. They aim to bring happiness into the lives of Flows, to assist Flows in developing their self-esteem, to hold Flows hands as they trudge through the dark patches in their lives, and most importantly to ensure that every Flow knows that they are loved, cherished and cared for. ‘Spread The Flove’ hope that they can bring a smile to the face of every Flow, whether through their cheerful tweets and positive attitude, or just the feeling they will have of not being alone. 

‘Spread The Flove’ aim to continue the group well into the future to offer support to Flows for a long time to come. Although it would be wonderful to be recognised by the band, their sole reason for creating and running ‘Spread The Flove’ is because they enjoy helping people through dark times, and being able to pull them back from the edge and guide them home.  

Thank you to ‘Spread The Flove’not only for sharing your inspiring story with us, but for having such kind hearts to go out of your way to try and pull the Flow community through the dark times it experienced this week. We hope that you can continue to do your wonderful work for as long as you are needed. Perhaps there will be a day where you are no longer need as a guide, and can remain simply as our friends. 

We hope you enjoyed this weeks Flow Feature! Though it broke many of our hearts to see sections of our fan base torn apart, it was so wonderful to see the good that the situation brought out in so many of
you. Thank you all, and remember to keep spreading the
Flove…


Inspiring Flows,



xXx

Welcome to the first Flow Feature of 2013! It’s a new year and already it looks to hold extraordinary things for us. On the first day of the New Year we passed 100 likes on our Facebook page, an incredible milestone. It has been truly heart-warming to have such immense support from you all in the months since we began. A massive thank you to every single Flow out there. A very special mention to the Florence + The Machine Fan Club who have given us such strong support from the beginning, we could not have come so far in such a short time without your help, we are eternally grateful.

We hope you all had a safe and spectacular New Year’s celebration. Now settle in for the first Flow Feature of the New Year. This week we present to you fifteen year old Jess Buxton from Derby, England. 

Jess Buxton belongs to the small group of Flows who have been with Florence + The Machine right from the start. The first Florence + The Machine song that she heard was ‘Dog Days Are Over’ right after its initial release in 2008. Jess was led to the band when her dear friend Simon told her to look into their music. As soon as Lungs was released, Jess scrounged around, scraping together the last few dollars she had to her name to get a copy (which was a choice she has never regretted). 

The album remained on repeat for hours and hours, every day for weeks on end. Jess’s obsession reached the point that her mother gave up and bought her a set of headphones just to make the house quiet once more. 

Being one of the early Flows, who discovered Florence + The Machine so early in their career, has been a wonderful experience for Jess. Through the past 4 years the band and their music has accompanied Jess through many ups and downs, and played a vital role in her individual growth, including her battle against depression.

For Jess, the album Ceremonials holds a special power over her heart. The lead up to the release of Florence + The Machine’s sophomore album was a whirlwind for the heart, mind and soul for any Flow. When Jess first listened to the album through, it was as if she’d found what was missing in her life, without ever knowing there was a hole to fill. She has listened to that album just as much as the first, and it joined Lungs as another ‘Bible’ to live by.

Despite the power that both albums gave her, the true revelation of Jess’ life was in 2012, during the Ceremonials tour, when she was finally able to see Florence + The Machine live in concert. It was genuinely one of the best nights of her life, and strengthened the relationship that she had with the band and their music. Magic was in the air that night, and Jess felt her head and her heart expanding with each passing moment. 

One of the privileges of being with Florence + The Machine from such an early stage is that Jess has been able to watch the band grow and evolve. She was with them as they were transformed and as the whole world slowly opened their eyes to the wonder that is Florence + The Machine. Not to mention hearing the difference in Florence’s heavenly voice, how her magnificent talent continues to evolve and leave us all in awe. 

Another aspect that Jess is ever grateful for is the chance to be part of such a brilliantly unique and lovely fanbase. The Flows, who are so loyal and kind, who care so deeply for Florence, the band and each other. 

“I can honestly say that Florence and The Machine have and always will have a gigantic place in my heart, and I will carry them with me throughout my life. They will be the band that my children have no choice but to love, just as much as I do.”

Thank you to Jess Buxton for sharing your beautiful story, we hope that the light Florence + The Machine have shed on your life, and the lives of all Flows, will do nothing but burn brighter with each passing day. 

We hope you enjoyed this weeks Flow Feature, the first of so many more to come in 2013. We would not be able to operate without the bravery shown by the Flows who are willing to share their stories and the support of the whole Flow community. We would love to hear each and every one of your stories, and we hope one day Florence + The Machine give you the courage to share it with us. Until next week…


Inspiring Flows xXx