Florence + The Machine return with powerful new single King

After Florence + The Machine teased a potential new album campaign earlier this week, the group have released their first track from the project; King.

Following their 2021 release Call Me Cruella, which acted as the soundtrack for Disney's Cruella movie, Florence + The Machine tackle the subject of womanhood as they attempt to subvert gender stereotypes with the powerful new single.

Speaking on the release, lead singer Florence Welch explains: "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 30s 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."

Florence adds: "I had modelled 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."

Watch the Autumn de Wilde-directed video for King below.

MORE: Florence + The Machine's complete Official Charts history

In the UK, Florence + The Machine have notched up three UK Number 1 albums - 2009's Lungs, 2012 release Ceremonials and 2015's How Big How Blue How Beautiful. They also boast two Number 1 singles with Spectrum and Sweet Nothing; both of which were produced by Calvin Harris.