gai Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Chris Martin on Post-Divorce Depression, Coldplay's New 'Hippie Album' Coldplay team with Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Gwyneth Paltrow for Rumi-inspired LP "It's about love and acceptance and embracing what happens to you," says Chris Martin of the upcoming 'A Head Full of Dreams.' Michael Kovac/FilmMagic A few years ago, Coldplay's Chris Martin was feeling "depressed and overwhelmed." He was in the final stages of his 10-year marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow, and he felt increasingly insecure about the music he was making. "I wasn't looking at things in a healthy way," he says. Then a friend gave him some books, including Man's Search for Meaning, a memoir by psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, and a volume by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. Martin says one poem, "The Guest House" — which suggests "inviting in" dark thoughts — helped him get through the period around his divorce. "It kind of changed my life," he says. "It says that everything that happens to you is OK. The idea is to accept what happens to you and not run away from anything — and trust that things will blossom and become colorful." Martin features the poem in a psychedelic spoken-word section of Coldplay's seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams (due December 4th), which is all about his road back from anxiety and heartbreak. "It's all true," Martin says. "It's about love and acceptance and embracing what happens to you. It's quite a hippie album. All of our records were a journey to get to this one." Martin says that Coldplay's last album, 2014's spare Ghost Stories, was a "smaller record" — deliberately. "It frees you up to do whatever you want next — just look at Bruce Springsteen's career." Instead of touring behind Ghost Stories, the band stayed in the studio. "I was being sent so many songs from the universe that I said, 'I've got to just keep recording,'" says Martin. This time, Coldplay ratcheted up the ambition. They started work with Stargate, the Norwegian producers behind hits by Beyoncé and Rihanna. Nothing was off the table. "We wanted to marry all the music that we love, from Drake to Oasis," says Martin. "There was a feeling that we don't have anything to lose. We're very comfortable now with the fact that we're not for everybody." The producers were demanding. They required demos for every song ("We felt unsigned again," says Martin), and the members had to unanimously agree on which songs to record. "For every song that made it, eight or nine didn't," Martin says. Coldplay were encouraged to recruit outsiders; Noel Gallagher plays guitar on "Up & Up," and Beyoncé guests on two tracks, including the club stomper "Hymn for the Weekend." (Blue Ivy even gets a backing-vocal credit.) But the most surprising guest of all was Paltrow, who sings backup on the farewell ballad "Everglow." "We just did it in the studio one day," Martin says after a long pause. "It was just a friendly kind of thing." Martin's favorite moment on the album sounds the least like Coldplay: "X Marks the Spot," where he spits rhymes through a vocoder over drum loops. "Most of the instruments on that song didn't exist when we made our first album," Martin says. "People who want us to be a rock band might be disappointed, but I don't think we really are a rock band." Last year, Martin sent fans into a panic when he suggested Coldplay's next album would be their last. "I have no idea what's going to happen," he says now. "If one day we make another record, then that's wonderful." Then he clarifies: "We're definitely not splitting up." The band will tour the U.S. next summer, before bringing its show around the world. "I think it will feature some jazz fusion for six or seven hours," Martin jokes. "I don't know if it's going to be wildly different from what you might imagine — [it will be] all our best songs with some awesome production. If you're a Coldplay fan, you'll love it. And if you don't like us? Don't worry about it. It's OK." x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 U.S. tour next summer. I guess after the UK tour so very probably July or August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aschall Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 wow. some revealing details about the album here. they REALLY aren't holding anything back. but I trust everything they did is tasteful considering how ruthless they are about cutting ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christa42 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Good stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayrn43 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 JAZZ FUSION PLZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMDB9 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Good interview, but each one just keeps revealing more things that hardcore fans will be disappointed about.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 X Marks the Spot," where he spits rhymes through a vocoder over drum loops well okay. That sounds interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Another credit on the album (Blue Ivy). Who hasn't got a credit on it now? :laugh3: It does all sound very interesting. 'X Marks The Spot' has been the least talked about track but could end up being the most! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Safy Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Martin features the poem in a psychedelic spoken-word section of Coldplay's seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams (due December 4th), which is all about his road back from anxiety and heartbreak. what does this mean? does it mean that one of the songs on the album would be just a recital of that Rumi poem? :confused: or is it an interlude between songs.. every new article/ interview about this album makes me feel more confused about it!! It just sounds so...random & messy :inquisitive: like it has a strange mix of things that don't fit at all with each others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 what does this mean? does it mean that one of the songs on the album would be just a recital of that Rumi poem? :confused: That's precisely my understanding as per the interview Chris did with Ryan Seacrest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Safy Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 That's precisely my understanding as per the interview Chris did with Ryan Seacrest. then which song could it be? Birds maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_escapist Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 then which song could it be? Birds maybe? No. Kaleidoscope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowCouldIForget Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Why is it usually just Chris' friends/lasses/kids/idols who end up on these features? Let him rap and hand out drinks if he wants. As long as I only have to hear it once. I guess I wasn't expecting much from the album to begin with. :disappointed: [video=youtube;A-LHqF8asIw]] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IneedYou23 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 "People who want us to be a rock band might be disappointed, but I don't think we really are a rock band." I dislike that he said this. I mean, I get it, but I dont want too. I feel like they had the potential to be a great "Rock" band or at least make a great "Rock" album. They were heading in that direction with their earlier stuff and feel they could have been a great modern rock band. I guess he is really influenced by pop music right now. Maybe one day they will make a rock album but I shouldn't get my hopes up. They'll always be my favorite group and I always learn to embrace their current sound. You just wonder sometimes what could have been if they ever went down that road or ever do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdMartin Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I ran away Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 "People who want us to be a rock band might be disappointed, but I don't think we really are a rock band." Wonder why he is explaining himself on that matter in recent interviews all of a sudden. Hm, is somebody keeping an eye on the LP7/Oldlplaying threads ? :thinking: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Adversary Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Wonder why he is explaining himself on that matter in recent interviews all of a sudden. Hm, is somebody keeping an eye on the LP7/Oldlplaying threads ? There's a section in the Martin Roach biography which stated during the Viva era they actively checked the site. I can't be bothered finding the direct quote now but I'll have a look in the morning. I'd say it could be a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I ran away Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 There's a section in the Martin Roach biography which stated during the Viva era they actively checked the site. I can't be bothered finding the direct quote now but I'll have a look in the morning. I'd say it could be a possibility. Cool. I have the Roach biography too, but can't remember that part :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Adversary Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Cool. I have the Roach biography too, but can't remember that part It was actually during the X&Y era on the twisted logic tour when Richard Ashcroft was touring with them IIRC. Can't remember the exact quote but it was something along the lines of "Ashcroft noted after shows the band huddled around a computer monitor and checked the fan reaction to different parts of the set on fan forums" Hope that jigs your memory :) I'll find the exact page number later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I ran away Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 It was actually during the X&Y era on the twisted logic tour when Richard Ashcroft was touring with them IIRC. Can't remember the exact quote but it was something along the lines of "Ashcroft noted after shows the band huddled around a computer monitor and checked the fan reaction to different parts of the set on fan forums" Hope that jigs your memory :) I'll find the exact page number later. Ah right, now I can remember the "huddled around computers" part ! It's ok, you don't need to look it up. Well, back then they were not as big though and they seemed to actually give a damn about people's opinions more than now, so I don't know. And well, that sentence of Chris is one we have heard before but it is bad news anyway... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentleparachute Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 ^ They have always cared about what people think, and I think they still do... They just have decided to be themselves and let go of other people's expectations of what they should be. Doesn't mean they don't care, just that they are happy to be themselves rather than worry too much about the 'what ifs' from other people. The thing is, no matter what they do, there will always be people out there who have a different opinion and want them to do / be something else. The way I see it, this one is them trying to do as much as they can by including everything as much as possible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I ran away Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 ^ They have always cared about what people think, and I think they still do... They just have decided to be themselves and let go of other people's expectations of what they should be. Doesn't mean they don't care, just that they are happy to be themselves rather than worry too much about the 'what ifs' from other people. The thing is, no matter what they do, there will always be people out there who have a different opinion and want them to do / be something else. The way I see it, this one is them trying to do as much as they can by including everything as much as possible... While I politely disagree with you, I would like to let you know that I appreciate your relaxed and gentle mindset towards the band. I do not share your opinion but I appreciate your approach, I don't know how to say it :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentleparachute Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 While I politely disagree with you, I would like to let you know that I appreciate your relaxed and gentle mindset towards the band. I do not share your opinion but I appreciate your approach, I don't know how to say it :D Wow... that's a nice thing to say, thank you! What's your mindset / approach towards the band? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I ran away Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 What's your mindset / approach towards the band? I have a harsher attitude towards them than you; like some of the fiercer Oldplayers here I don't think "they should make whatever they want to" but rather "they were such a great and artistically capable band, why can't they deliver to that standard anymore ? Why have they become so similar to the mainstream dancey pop stuff you can hear 24/7 on the radio ? " I guess I kinda reproach them that ! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42Escapist Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 At least there is one thing we can all agree on now, as if it wasn't already implied beforehand... they aren't going anywhere after this era. Hopefully that will put this round of split rumors to rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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