“Cosmic Love” by Florence + the Machine
5songpjct: You have a pretty huge imagination. I remember a lot of world-building when we grew up together, a lot of stories and little performances. It is fun to see these same traits in your daughter. What do you see when you hear “Cosmic Love?”
Nicole: Florence Welch makes me feel like I could be a bohemian fairy. She just has this magical aesthetic with the long flowery dresses and barefoot performances, and there is usually strings or harp in her music. I tend to lean toward magical and dystopian fantasy as an escape when I read (the truth is stranger than fiction) and Florence fits perfectly there as a storyteller.
Her poetic lyrics are both beautiful and dark at the same time. It is hard to put into words, but when you hear her you are surrounded by this grandness. I think you and I both have a fondness for dark and moody things and this song somehow feels like that, while also being epic and hopeful.
5songpjct: Do you think that is from our family, the theater people and artists?
Nicole: I never thought about my bizarre imagination or taste in music or literature as artistic, but I guess that kind of makes sense. I actually have a degree in Journalism, but didn’t really think of any writing I’ve done as art either. I definitely have a specific taste in design and fashion, certainly influenced by our family. I always regretted not exploring more visual art in school but maybe those other things are my art. Interesting. My flare for performing elaborate musical numbers ended when our lip-syncing group broke up in the 80s, but I totally break out that part of myself with my kids. I really wish I still had the lace, fingerless Madonna gloves, though.
5songpjct: I moved to Los Angeles shortly before this album came out. It will always have a special place in my heart for Florence + the Machine because of the cross country dance parties we used to have over Skype with the kids to “Dog Days are Over.”
TOMORROW we feature a song by Phantogram.