[2015-12-03] Coldplay interview on PAPEL

[gai]

Coldplay, against war and ISIS: "I do not believe in killing us, believe in" Imagine "

Chris Martin does not drink, but all the time messing with your finger in the throatwo oil , a traditional Chinese medicine that restores the yang in the body. And you do not mind falling into the cliche musician committed to peace and a better world, like Bono , at a time when jihadist attacks in Paris seem to question our Western system of dealing with conflicts.

 

It has been 15 years since he and the rest of Coldplay released Parachutes , that first album that reformulated the intensity of pop at the turn of the century. Since then, much has happened, as the group has become the heir of U2 singing on that hope in big stadiums. O marriage and subsequent divorce from Chris Martin (Devon, UK, 1977) with actress Gwyneth Paltrow . Or the consecration of his formula futboleros break at Viva la vida (2008). Or many reinventions and assimilation.

 

But even after all this time and the evolution of the wild world, lead singer of British band still clinging to his positivity. And not loose in this strange morning in Los Angeles Paramour mansion , where Coldplay presents his latest album, A head full of dreams ("A head full of dreams"), an album that becomes the bright and cheerful response to Ghost Stories , published last year in which Martin realized his sadness over the divorce with Paltrow.

 

In the pool of the mansion, which belonged to Antonio Moreno , the Spanish heartthrob of Hollywood silent era, which is said to be haunted after the death of the latter's wife, Daisy Canfield, an heiress of floating petroleum business a multicolored circles made with flowers, like those drawn on the album cover. He and the rest of the group ( Jonny Buckland , Guy Berryman and Will Champion ) are reunited with color and with the routine of promotion after the silence of Ghost stories , which even took on tour.

 

But even despite the contrast, Martin retains the hope of the first disc. IfParachutes ended with the song Everything's not lost ("Not all is lost"), the phrase that closes the disc, Up and up , it is Do not ever give up ("Do not ever give up"). "It is curious that our first album and the latter ending in the same way," explainsChris Martin . "A long journey to return to the same message. But I still believe it and I remember it every day: we must never give up hope. "

 

"Our previous album," he adds, "it was more quiet, introspective and somewhat constrained, something in gray and blue. We did it because we wanted to try to get comfortable with the feeling of being sad, because if we we allowed that, at the end end up in a different place. So, instead of going on tour, we came this idea of A head full of dreams , colorful and cheerful album. That is, that this project allowed us to do this, as a catharsis. "

 

So instead of whining, Martin and his colleagues have focused this "head full of dreams' to the dance floor with songs like Adventure of a lifetime , Hymn for the weekend and cut that gives title to the disc, between samples of Barack Obamaand collaborations Noel Gallagher or Avicii . "A group like ours does not fit into any category. We are erratic, but always genuine. If we make a piano ballad is because it really is what we want; We dance if we do something, it's because we want, as well. The sound is always sincere. "

 

The question is not whether or not Martin believes the effects of oil wo cree- seems like as if it really works or not. The same with music: does it make sense to make songs about making the world a better place if they do not get better? " We sing Imagine , John Lennon, the day after the attacks in Paris . And I firmly believe that it is better to go find someone to fight option. When it happens so crazy, you have to do something or will head. So, instead of going straight to aggression, the role of music is sometimes express your feelings in a safer way, "he argues. " The guy who played the piano Imagine outside the Paris Bataclan certainly calmed people . In our case, when we interpret it felt graceful. Because Lennon really believes in what he sings and me too. I do not think what to shoot and kill. I believe in it, believe in Imagine . "

 

"Of course ... music can not convince anyone of ISIS to change his mind , but it sure will help us respond, "continues Martin. "Now many are confused and sad, a good time to remember that many of us believe in peace, many people are friendly and considerate of others. And that song represents this. "

 

Interior and exterior . But the leader of Coldplay is also aware of how difficult it is to combine these two worlds, the inner and the outer, emotions and events. "If I have a feeling that I get in out in song, recorded only if I see someone else feels reflected in it, if you connect to the outside. And vice versa: if I see something I record outside only if it is reflected in the interior. "

 

Gives an example: "On this album there's a song, Birds , which on one hand is a love song, but it also talks about Israel and Palestine . I wondered what if someone falls in love with someone Palestine in Israel, which I'm sure it happens all the time. " "Start falling in love / start the riot" ("Start to fall in love / the revolt begins'), a verse proclaims the issue. "What touches me is to understand how individuals relate amid these situations."

 

But again, the effect is not always as expected. Phil Collins , and massaging their blanditas songs, is perceived by many as the epitome of obnoxious singer. But there are reports that he has snorted the ashes of his father, or dealings with minors, or that he has engaged in black masses or destruction of hotel rooms.Something similar happens with Bono, of U2. And, of course, with Chris Martin and Coldplay's songs.

 

The singer seems to understand that the reaction to his positive spirit is precisely negative . "No human being is only positive or negative. White or black. We all have both sides, the light and the dark. No Angels, is a myth, no one is a unique thing, "he defends himself. "It is easy to fall into cynicism because everywhere you look there is aggression, war, destruction. I get it, okay? It is true that for some Imagine not tell them anything. And if you've lost your cousin in an attempt not want to hear, you're angry. No music that has a full meaning for everyone. This is what we have learned in the world: that nobody thinks the same ", he says before it reaches the but:" But that does not mean we can not play the music to people who want to listen, "he reaffirmed. "Your election as a human being is to decide which side you want to be. We can be very aggressive, but we can also simply be happy. "

 

" I do not care if someone has a negative response regarding Imagine, U2 or us . If we can be a punching bag in which people vent ... perfect. Because it's good for them, "says sweetly everything you can while releasing a smile that invites you to fall in love with him. "Besides, going back to white or black, I like that Paul McCartney wrote Helter Skelter , which is one of the darkest songs from theBeatles . " And that Charles Manson says inspired him to plan the murder Cielo Drive . "Uh. I know nothing of that, "Martin runs off with another smile.

 

World music. In this sense, mixing ideas and stories from around the world and, above all, musical references, it becomes an almost political positioning. "The wonderful thing about music is that now do not have to stay in a single category.While you are genuinely doing what you do, whether salsa, tango, rock, rap ... not really matter how you do it. You need not only be a blues band at this time, because we are exposed to so many things that influence you come naturally; your world is more open. "

 

And that's when the dance appears as another positioning face reality. "See, we love to dance, but we are not experts," says Chris. "But increasingly, I feel the need to feel a rhythm that moves me to say what I mean. Sometimes, the more political songs come with a rhythmic rush, as Say it loud . I'm black and I'm proud of James Brown "he recalls. "At a very basic level, dance is the way people express themselves and gives back to the problems. If you dance without you care what anyone thinks, if you say "to take the ass," always end up feeling a little better. I do it every day on stage. I know it sounds stupid, but I need to do and I do not care: "Dance like no one was watching ... and do not read the reviews. '"

 

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translated by google from here. check the course for a video clip from the interview as well.