9th Nov 2007 - Will Champion Interview - The Rhythm Studio

[busybeeburns]

Coldplay's Will Champion talks to The Rhythm Studio about the new album, life on the road and his beloved Saints...

 

How’s work on the new album going?

 

It's going very well. We have our own studio now which is great because it means we can go in at any time of the day and we don't have to worry about wasting time in an expensive studio. We've been writing and playing for most of the year now and have been recording for about 2 months... so far!

 

What was the inspiration behind recording in various churches in Spain?

 

The idea was to have a little bit of a change of scenery. We were just recording group vocals and wanted to go to spaces that were acoustically and aesthetically interesting, to give the record some different character.

 

How has Brian Eno influenced the Coldplay sound?

 

Brian's work has always been an influence on us. From the things he's done with Bowie and Talking Heads to his own solo records, his use of atmospheric sound and electronic treatment of traditional instruments is something that we've used heavily in the past. Funnily enough, this record sounds less Eno-like than the last couple even though it is the only one he has worked on officially!

 

The final leg of the Speed Of Sound tour finished earlier this year – Do you enjoy life on the road?

 

I find that 'the grass is always greener' when i am coming to the end of touring or recording. By the time we're finishing an album, I'm so keen to get back to playing live, but when we're 18 months into a tour, all I want to do is get into the studio.

 

Is there a particular venue or location that you have found particularly special to play?

 

Madison Square Gardens in New York is always very special. But for the sheer size and sense of occasion, it is hard to beat Glastonbury.

 

How did you get into playing drums?

 

My next door neighbour when i was growing up had a drum kit and I occasionally played on that and also during music lessons at school. But then I started playing other instruments when I was about 14 and didn't really look at a drum kit. When I went to university my friends started a band up and needed a drummer so i said i would give it a go.

 

Do you think your drumming has benefited from the fact you play other instruments?

 

My approach to playing the drums has always been from a musical perspective. I'm not one for big fills and flashy rolls. I try and listen to the song and only play when it is really necessary. It is just as important when you don't play as when you do.

 

What’s on your stereo at the moment?

 

I'm listening to the Klaxons record, Albert Hammond Jnr, Arcade Fire and a lot of Hip Hop.

 

Do you have any advice for young drummer and bands who are just starting out?

 

I feel that it is important to base a band around a group of friends. Chemistry between band mates is something that you cannot overestimate. It's more important than technical ability in my opinion.

 

What would make you happier: Southampton back in the Premiership or another Coldplay no.1 album?

 

Judging by their current form, I think a return to the premiership is unlikely for the Saints, but in a dream world I would gladly take both!!

 

http://www.therhythmstudio.co.uk/page12.htm

[Leire]

thanx por posting :)

[PlayingCold]

Intresting...

[joshtimo]

Something tells that Sleeping Sun will very much reflect the sound of Coldplay's new album - that and the new simplistic approach adopted on their website and MySpace.

[Cris_Santos]

Will always has nice words to say :) Thanks for posting, Ian!

[winigwl]

thanks for posting

[twistedlogic]

Hehe, too bad for Soton..

[Romy_arg]

The final leg of the Speed Of Sound tour finished earlier this year – Do you enjoy life on the road?

 

 

that was the name..?

BUT.. IT WAS "TWISTED LOGIC TOUR"..or I am wrong? :thinking:

 

 

anyway thanks for posting! :)

[alyssa]

Do you think your drumming has benefited from the fact you play other instruments?

 

My approach to playing the drums has always been from a musical perspective. I'm not one for big fills and flashy rolls. I try and listen to the song and only play when it is really necessary. It is just as important when you don't play as when you do.

 

Noo no no Willlll--it's too regular! Mix it up a bit! :wideeyed:

[WCFan]

thanks for posting!!! always nice to hear fr Will -- he has such sweet things to say --

 

Do you have any advice for young drummer and bands who are just starting out?

 

I feel that it is important to base a band around a group of friends. Chemistry between band mates is something that you cannot overestimate. It's more important than technical ability in my opinion.

 

Aww, what can I say -- the man has his priorities straight when it comes to the band and music --what a sweetie!!! :nice:

[crazyduckette]

Aww, nice little interview from Will there, and good to hear about the new record too.

[ApproximatelyInfinite]

Something tells that Sleeping Sun will very much reflect the sound of Coldplay's new album - that and the new simplistic approach adopted on their website and MySpace.

 

i really really hope so!! ive been hoping that ever since it was released.

 

thanks for posting! though i think that no matter when this interview was released, it was given a couple months ago. theyve been in the studio longer than 2 months, to my knowledge, anyway, and the most recent albert hammond jr album was released last spring.

[Ladybug]

Very cool! Thanks for finding and posting it, Ian. :thumbsup:

[Open-Politik]

alot of hip-hop

 

i really would have expected more from willie but i am so disapointed with him.anything else he could have listned to i would be all right but hip hop is shit and gettin shitter down the drain.it just makes me very angry.:angry:

by the way wasnt it will who said "were not singing bout hoes on the streets of compton"?

[Fixed]

Leave Will, or Willie, whichever you prefer, alone. Just because he listens to hip-hop doesn't make him a bad person, or that Coldplay are going to start talking about hoes and such like.

[Open-Politik]

actually will listening to hip-hop kind of makes him a bad person. i just cannot view him in the same way.

WTF is so good about hip-hop now anyway.its not like its a genre with skill or feeling.its just about tryin to be cool,fukin girls and swearing way 2 much.thats music these days.frankly im disgusted. and i cant belive will champo has liking in this music. thts why im so upset,i expected coldplay to be sophisticated listening to music tht touches the heart.:angry:

[Fixed]

But don't you think it'd be a tiny bit funny if we do get a bit of hip-hoppery on album 4 - The Napies worked a treat if you ask me :P Will would look very cool with a big ol' drum machine gettin' his Timbaland on.

[Open-Politik]

that wqould be FUNYY.hahahaha

they can be like d12 where eminem(chris) kinda take all the limelight

[miss capa]

actually will listening to hip-hop kind of makes him a bad person. i just cannot view him in the same way.

WTF is so good about hip-hop now anyway.its not like its a genre with skill or feeling.its just about tryin to be cool,fukin girls and swearing way 2 much.thats music these days.frankly im disgusted. and i cant belive will champo has liking in this music. thts why im so upset,i expected coldplay to be sophisticated listening to music tht touches the heart.:angry:

 

Hip-Hop is awsome! It's the kind of music you turn to when you're life is awsome and you want to explode with happiness, cus hip-hop gets you going! Will, has his personal tastes, I have mine, you have yours....

 

Leave our Will alone!

[Fixed]

The Way I Are is the way forward - Kerri Hilson's a babe.