Weeks before the launch of Coldplay’s seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (Sony Music), Chris Martin told Rolling Stone: “We wanted to marry all the music that we love, from Drake to Oasis. There was a feeling that we don’t have anything to lose.”
The statement came at a time when the world was talking about his divorce after 10 years of marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow.
Can the man deliver after their “conscious uncoupling”? He sure has, with bandmates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion.
Excerpts from a chat.
How come you released A Head Full of Dreams within one year of Ghost Stories? What’s the album’s vibe?
I was excited to get back to the studio after Ghost Stories. I deliberately made the album reflective... kinda night-time album. Ghost Stories was “cathartic”. By the end of it we felt in a really great mood. And then we said let’s make the other thing that we have always dreamed of making and called it A Head Full of Dreams. We were in the right place to make it, we were feeling some great joy.
How did you write the songs on the album?
I had been asking Jonny (Buckland) if he could create a riff like Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. And one day he was playing a guitar part and that was it. Then I started playing on top of it. Basically, this was a creation by the whole band. We were able to try things on songs that we have not been able to try before. We were a bit self-conscious about making happy music, we were more comfortable making that kind of music. For the first time in our life we felt great and were like, let’s just do it.
Working together excites you, right?
It was the most enjoyable time we have ever had in a studio. It wasn’t without stress but it was extremely creative and exciting. We were generally relaxed in the studio; we were not constrained by anything. We wanted to make exciting, colourful music. No one felt like they didn’t have a say; everyone contributed. It was enjoyable.
How do you guys keep in touch while not recording?
We spend a lot of time apart. We, in fact, give space to each other, so we have time to miss each other. We do see each other every couple of weeks. But the main thing is communication, sit in a circle and listen to every bit without being angry. We communicate pretty good.
How was it working with Beyonce on the track Hymn For The Weekend?
When we were making the song, it was about an angel coming into your life and making you feel great. Then I asked the rest of the band if we could ask Beyonce, if she would make it and they all said okay. Then it took quite a while to take up the courage (to ask her). Then I just asked her, ‘We have this song about an angel....’ and then she said, ‘Ya’, and I said,‘Great’. She came around and did it.
What is funny when she comes to a studio is you just get overwhelmed with how many different things she can do and the many different voices she can come up with. She can do the loud or go very low; it’s amazing. For us, she chose something she has not used very much before, we were like wow this is a different Beyonce.
COLDPLAY’S CAL CONNECT
OPENING NOTES: I first met the members of Coldplay when I was recording a show in Sheffield in 1999 and they were the support act. I can’t remember who the headline band was but they’re history. I’ve worked with Coldplay on many occasions, from their first BBC session to their headline performances at Glastonbury. My role has always been looking after the live broadcast mix.
KNOWING CHRIS MARTIN: He is a bundle of creative energy. Even after stadium shows, on the plane back to London he will be working on new material.
THE EVOLUTION: The great thing about them is they are constantly evolving. At the moment, their obsession is modular synths and electronica.
THE FANMAN: When we were waiting on the tarmac to board a plane somewhere in Germany, Chris spotted a group of fans on the perimeter fence. He ran over to talk to them and recorded one of the kids doing a German rap version of a Coldplay song on his phone!
SEVENTH ALBUM: A Head Full of Dreams has a much more positive energy than the last. (The previous album) Ghost Stories was very introspective whereas this one is outgoing and optimistic.
Producer-sound engineer Miti Adhikari retired from the BBC in 2012 after having worked at the Maida Vale Studios in London for more than three decades
Cal musicians decode the Coldplay magic
Chris the hottie: Chris Martin is very desirable. He has the most unique voice with a larger-than-life falsetto. He is one of those singers whose style of singing can make a particular line really beautiful. I love the way he expresses himself on stage. If he feels like jumping or running around, then he does just that. And it’s not a ‘stage act’. These guys don’t need to put on an act.
Signature sound: Coldplay has a very stadium-friendly sound, where the audience sings the chorus along with them. So it is important for them to involve the audience.
All heart and soul: For me the previous album Ghost Stories felt more real. Chris poured his heart out. At that time he was going through the breakup (with Gwyneth Paltrow), and he beautifully expressed his feelings through the songs. That album was all about love, heartbreak and pain.
Seventh album: In its entirety the new album has a more radio-friendly sound. And Coldplay being Coldplay, they will always produce a song that will get to you. Adventure of a Lifetime did it for me. The guitar line is too addictive. They are a very adventurous band. They take risks with every album, make an effort to explore new sounds and genres. And that’s what I love the most about them.
Tanya Sen is a vocalist with the band Zoo
Chris the hottie: Chris Martin’s wit along with his electric stage presence makes him stand out amongst all the rockstars. The man goes into a trance while performing. He really becomes one with the music. Even though all their moves are well-synced and rehearsed, there is something very natural and honest about how Chris Martin carries himself on stage.
Signature sound: Their sound is gradually evolving. The lyrics are not overtly emotive but pretty gut-wrenching at the same time.
All heart and soul: There is something very magical about the song Fix You and I’ve experienced it countless times in bad situations. “Lights will guide you home/ And ignite your bones/ And I will try to fix you” is like a soothing balm for many a broken heart. One of my favourites is Warning Sign. The song is about a regret one has about letting go of a loved one. In fact, listening to songs like The Scientist or Trouble during the wee hours acts like a drug; helps a lot in introspection.
Seventh album: A Head Full of Dreams is pretty great. My favourites from the album are Everglow, which is probably about his ex-wife, and has a heart-meltingly beautiful pre-chorus, A Head Full of Dreams, Adventure of a Lifetime and Up&Up. Also, I really liked the video of Hymn For The Weekend... they’ve really made India look like a dream in it.
Madhubanti has sung in films like Aami Aar Amar Girlfriends, Shesh Boley Kichhu Nei and Shudhu Tomari Jonno
All heart and soul: Coldplay melodies have a strong recall value, being repeated over different chords.
Signature sound: From the signature Jonny Buckland guitar lines all throughout Shiver to the classy two-note bending guitar line in Yellow, almost all of the songs in the albums have amazing hooks. From their fourth album Viva La Vida, electronic music started to seep into their mix of genres creating a unique soundscape. The soundscape designing went from a guitar-heavy, piano-rock sound to a more keyboard-heavy, synthpop sound. Will Champion, the drummer, also continually experimented with his drum sounds replacing the traditional drum kit with drum machines.
Seventh album.... Has a lot of funk and dance music elements and most importantly, the major difference in the sound lies in the fact that it is way more uplifting than its predecessors. Adventure of a Lifetime has elements of dance music, funk, neat production and of course the use of hooks in the form of guitar lines that the song starts with and repeats itself in every chorus. The new album has some huge names as collaborators such as Beyonce, Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Tove Lo. The change in the sound of Coldplay cannot be denied but the transformation has been very graceful, one step at a time.
Ritaprabha is a guitarist with Cactus
Compiled by Arindam Chatterjee
