Gucci's New Muse

BY ELLA ALEXANDER 06 June 2011


FRIDA GIANNINI has described Florence Welch as her inspiration for Gucci's autumn/winter 2011 offering.
"As I was imagining this collection I was thinking of a strong and somewhat mysterious muse. Florence is that kind of woman," she explained. "I met her in Los Angeles at this year's Grammys and was captivated by her presence. She has a powerful personality and an entrancing quality to her performances. She also has that confident and self assured look that goes hand in hand with the Gucci woman."
Having picked Mark Ronson, Rihanna and James Franco to appear in previous Gucci campaigns, Giannini believes she has an eye for emerging talent.
"I chose to work with all three of them before they became as popular culturally as they are today," she told Dazed Digital. "I think Gucci has been successful in bridging past and present. We have a rich and storied past, but we always have an eye to the future, which these collaborations represent."

Elle UK

Florence in this month's Elle UK.

Not Fade Away

Florence Welch: Not Fade Awayfrom Tabitha Denholm on Nowness.com.

This is the final part of the Letters From America series, this also being the Letter from New Orleans.

Outfitted in Day of the Dead regalia, Florence Welch conjures a soulful rendition of Buddy Holly's 1957 hit in new music video “Not Fade Away.” Produced by Louisiana native C.C. Adcock and recorded in New Orleans last year in the midst of Florence and the Machine's North American tour, the cover is part of a forthcoming 19-track tribute album, Rave On Buddy Holly, which commemorates the late musician’s 75th birthday. "When I was 10 my grandmother took me to see the Buddy Holly musical and I've had a crush on him ever since. And now my boyfriend looks slightly like him!" Welch laughs. The compilation's producers, Randall Poster and Gelya Robb, enlisted the likes of Patti Smith, Julian Casablancas, Paul McCartney and Karen Elson (with Jack White) in testament to Holly’s immeasurable influence. "He elevated the ordinary to poetry,” says Poster, renowned music supervisor for films by Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese and Todd Haynes. "A lot of artists have found inspiration and identified with Buddy Holly, because they feel like he's everyman, not a superman. He gave John Lennon the confidence to wear glasses." NOWNESS asked Poster to annotate standout tracks from the album, available on June 28.

Florence and the Machine, "Not Fade Away"
Florence was an artist that we wanted to have on the record from the beginning. By virtue of where she was, the track has this New Orleans arrangement: it breathes a Cajun influence. The song bears a geographic imprint.

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Rave On Buddy Holly

RAVE ON BUDDY HOLLY CELEBRATES ROCK ICON’S 75th BIRTHDAY
AND ENDURING LEGACY

Daringly Original Tribute Collection Features My Morning Jacket, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Nick Lowe, Florence + The Machine, Cee Lo Green, Paul McCartney, Kid Rock, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Julian Casablancas and more - Available June 28, 2011
From Fantasy Records /Concord Music Group

For immediate release - April 28th, 2011 — In his short-lived but extraordinary life, Buddy Holly left behind a body of work so enthralling, his enduring influence is nearly impossible to overstate. The melodic joy and fierce independent streak at the core of his artistry is profoundly felt on Rave On Buddy Holly, a 19-song collection of indelible Holly covers by a rich assemblage of current musical visionaries and creative kindred spirits. Fantasy/Concord will release Rave On Buddy Holly June 28th, 2011.

Rave On’s striking collection of musicians share Holly’s insurgent rebel spirit and outsider point of view. The artists cross generations and styles, collectively and defiantly embracing Holly’s distinctive rough and tumble inventiveness. Very few songwriters could inspire passionately personal, fearless cover versions from performers such as My Morning Jacket, Cee Lo Green, Justin Townes Earle, The Black Keys, Florence + The Machine, She & Him, Modest Mouse, Paul McCartney, Julian Casablancas, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Fiona Apple and John Brion, Graham Nash, The Detroit Cobras, Kid Rock, John Doe, Karen Elson, Nick Lowe and Jenny O. Which is part of what makes this much more than a mere “tribute album.”

Rave On Buddy Holly steers clear of the reverent re-creations typically found on similar projects; the artists clearly felt free to explore radically new interpretations. Florence + The Machine bring an industrial New Orleans vibe to “Not Fade Away” (with help from Bayou icon Ivan Neville on keys). The Black Keys’ elemental accompaniment touches the emotional core of “Dearest” while Modest Mouse takes “That’ll Be the Day” into truly avant-garde territory. Cee Lo Green’s exquisite vocals, for example, echo among handclaps and percussion on his epic reading of “Baby, You’re So Square.” Paul McCartney’s take on the originally lilting “It’s So Easy” is a raw, propulsive excursion filled with boisterous spoken ad-libs. Lou Reed lays down a blazing “Peggy Sue,” replete with overdriven guitars and loopy keyboards. The romantic underpinnings of Holly’s music are cleverly revealed in Rave On’s multiple male-female pairings: Apple and Brion, Reed, Elson and (husband/producer) Jack White and She & Him.

Known for his work with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson and Todd Haynes, esteemed film-music supervisor Randall Poster was sought out to produce and oversee the project. “As the tracks from various contributors were gathered for the album,” explains Poster “we seemed to be gathering pieces of a complex and original puzzle … that traces back to the roots of rock and roll and shapes so much of the music that followed.”

Poster gives special recognition to producing partner Geyla Robb and her overall influence on Rave On’s exceptional blend of tender toughness. Poster also credits the album’s richness to the various track producers, such as Matt Sweeney, Joe Henry, Jack White and C.C. Adcock.

A true pop pioneer whose astonishing tunes boasted rock ‘n’ roll punch, irresistible hooks and boundary-pushing sonic sweep, Buddy Holly would be 75-years-old on September 7th of this year. Sadly, of course, he died in 1959 at age 22. But Holly’s music never died, and has exerted a profound influence on virtually every part of the pop music soundscape. His sparkling hooks, tender lyrics and elegantly concise compositions set the bar for all the rock, country and pop tunesmiths who followed in his brilliant wake. A bold affirmation that proves his music, on the eve of his 75th birthday, is more relevant than ever, Rave On Buddy Holly tips its collective hat with love and appreciation.

Rave On Buddy Holly track listing:
1. Dearest -The Black Keys (2:06)
2. Every Day - Fiona Apple & Jon Brion (2:19)
3. It’s So Easy - Paul McCartney (4:35)
4. Not Fade Away - Florence + The Machine (4:02)
5. (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care - Cee Lo Green (1:31)
6. Crying, Waiting, Hoping - Karen Elson (2:25)
7. Rave On - Julian Casablancas (1:55)
8. I’m Gonna Love You Too- Jenny O. (2:11)
9. Maybe Baby -Justin Townes Earle (2:06)
10. Oh Boy - She & Him (2:18)
11. Changing All Those Changes - Nick Lowe (1:41)
12. Words Of Love - Patti Smith (3:20)
13. True Love Ways - My Morning Jacket (3:25)
14. That’ll Be The Day - Modest Mouse (2:15)
15. Well…All Right - Kid Rock (2:09)
16. Heartbeat - The Detroit Cobras (2:20)
17. Peggy Sue - Lou Reed (3:19)
18. Peggy Sue Got Married - John Doe (3:57)
19. Raining In My Heart - Graham Nash (3:30)

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Team Flo in Grazia

Florence and Hannah Marshall are in this week's Grazia UK.

Flo Fashion

Elle
Florence wears a Mark Fast dress to Mayfair club Annabel's to watch Lady Gaga perform.

At the moment I am unable to find an image of the dress on the catwalk.

Florence Attends Private Lady Gaga Concert

Heat

Daily Mail

HM's Twitter
Florence among other celebrities such as Will.I.Am, Kate Moss, Erin O'Connor and team Flo fashion designer Hannah Marshall attended a private Lady Gaga acoustic set in Mayfair club Annabel's.