Florence And The Machine frontwoman, Florence Welch, has revealed that a troubled homelife led her to start drinking at the young age of fourteen.

The 23-year-old said, "There was chaos at home so I drank. I never progressed to anything hard, luckily. I got a lot out of my system, went to wild parties, met some bizarre, amazing people and did mad things like running around naked in fields in Cornwall covered in leaves." 

She continued, "I lost a lot of inhibitions and I was encouraged to sing. That was a revelation. I discovered, as a shy kid, I could lose myself completely in singing. I didn't think it would be a career. I got into Camberwell Art College with an idea of being an artist going round festivals, occasionally singing. I never realised it would be the other way round."

Welch also admitted that although she loves her career, she is sometimes overwhelmed by the pressures of being a musician.

"I pour everything into songwriting. When it's great, it's amazing. You have to think of that when you go through the lows. There are times I just feel a bit shell-shocked and very tired. There's no time for normal things, spending time with friends or family," she said.