Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

Exclusive! Coldplay Interview

MTV News spoke to Coldplay about their love of Rihanna, working with Kylie and their awesome new album
11:33, Friday, 6 June 2008

MTV News: When and how did you decide to start this new album?

Chris Martin: What normally happens with us and what definitely happened this time is as soon as we finish one record, we think we can do better and so we start working on another one because we feel like we have everything to prove again. You know what I mean? So as soon as we finished X&Y, we got straight back to work because we knew we could do something better.

How do you go about writing as a group?

CM: We have a team of 8 year olds who work in a factory just outside London all the time and we go there and see what they got, and often they have hits, and we take them.

CM: We try to take influences from everywhere and we try and not use any formulas especially on this record well, all the records weve done. But once youve done three albums theres a danger of falling into formula and so we tried to avoid that at all costs.

Is there a temptation to reinvent yourselves?

CM: I think as much as possible we look at what other people are doing and try and steal all the good bits from all of them. So you look at Umbrella by Rihanna and you think oh that drum beats good and you look at Stronger by Kanye West and think oh those glasses are good and then you look at Greenday.so we are affected by everythings thats going on but we steal from so many different places that hopefully it becomes untraceable.

So then do you think lets pick a producer? For instance, Brian [Eno]? Tell us how that came about?

CM: We called up Brian to see if he knew anybody who could produce us. The words of the phone call were. Please can you come in for a sandwich and tell us if you think you know anyone that could help us improve. And he said, Well I definitely agree you can improve and I think I can do it for you. To which we said Greatwhat flavour sandwich do you want? and that was the beginning of the worst year of his life (laughs).

What was it like working with him?

Johnny Buckland: Well hes an incredibly enthusiastic person, he just is full of energy for new ideas and new things, hes not at all affected by

CM: The Weather

JB: Yeah, or his past achievements,

CM: He never mentions his past achievements

JB: No

CM: So when youre working with someone like Brian who doesnt mention his past achievements, youd feel silly if you mentioned yours so its a good kind of restart. We thought God weve gotta try and impress Brian today, you know, and he doesnt care how many Grammys youve won or whatever. In fact he couldnt care less, so thats quite liberating in a way, cos hes not concerned with your past at all.

According to reports he had to bring you back togetherany truth in that?

JB: I mean for me, he didnt really fulfill that role. I think Phil our fifth member, if anything, he came back to us to working with us again, and that really brought us together, hes like. If anyones ever upset or angry, hes always there to put his arm around us, calm us down, bring us back.

CM: Our fifth member PhilI dont know if youve seen that Metallica film Some kind of monster, hes like the therapist in that. Except, weve known him since we were kids. Every good band should have somebody like that.

How do you decide on the name of the album?

JB: We were on tour in South America last year and in Mexico we went to Frida Kahlos house and you saw that painting didnt you? Called

CM: Viva la Vida. And I saw this painting, and Frida Kahlo is this, shes not alive anymore, but she was a Mexican Artist who paints in very bright colours, but theres always real life within it and sadness and darkness, but it always looks very uplifting. And so when I saw that picture I thought, well thats kinda what were trying to write about at the moment. And then a little voice in my head said, Well it does sound like Ricky Martin and another voice said, Well, dont worry about it. So its always been called Viva La Vida, despite everyones protestations, but thats just what it had to be called.

Did that influence the artwork on the website etc?

CM:We had this idea for artwork that um, sort of felt that about our own band that we wanted to kill it and start it again, so we thought well how would it be in a revolution when people break in to a palace and get rid of the old institution? And we thought, maybe theyd paint over all the pictures and just kinda trash the place. So thats where the idea for our Album cover came from, ruining a great masterpiece by scribbling on it.

Did that lead you to making your first track available for free on download?

JB: We made our first track downloadable for free because we didnt want to be taking all the time. When you release an album, it can sometimes feel like youre, you know, on the hard sell. So, I think we wanted to give something back to people who supported us

Weve heard stories that some of the vocals were recorded in a Spanish church?

JB: We went on a kind of field trip to Barcelona to record some vocals. We wanted to do lots of group singing, lots of chanting and things. We wanted to do it somewhere sunny and interesting, so yeah we just decided to go to Spain and we found a really amazing old nunnery and we did some singing in it. CM: we didnt find any nuns though

JB: No

CM: We did try and invoke the spirit of a choir of nuns while doing those vocals.

JB: whats that film?

CM: The sound of music?

JB: no with the choir of nuns

CM: Sister Act. And Sister Act 2 with Lauryn Hill. Thats classic.

Is there anything different about this album?

CM: the way we feel about our new album is that weve kind of thrown away our old tricks which makes us a bit nervous but its also potentially more exciting in the long run. Weve tried very hard to write songs that people will want to sing along to but hopefully present them in a colourful way.

Whats the idea between the couple of ones that are like 2 tracks in 1?

JB: We limited ourselves to sort of 45 minutes of music on this album and so we wanted to fit in as many ideas as possible and do slightly more unexpected things so theres some songs have complete right turns to somewhere else. We didnt want to do a standard song structure every time.

CM: Also, we used to work in shops when we were younger and I noticed that every time they did a, I worked in a supermarket, and every time they had a packet of biscuits or something and did a special offer where you buy one packet and get another one free everybody liked those biscuits more, so we thought lets try that with the album in a couple of places, well have a buy one get one free.

Do you still get nervous when youre about to release something?

CM: The answer tot hat question is " were more terrified than ever. Only because we tried really hard.

JB: Waiting for the release of this album is probably more nerve-racking than it ever has been. Im not sure hwy. I dont think well ever enjoy this period.

CM: imagine, you know how in Rocky, you have the trainer Mickey. Imagine he felt like how we feel. You train something; youve done all you can on it then you have to let it go. So youre just like ok fingers crossed. But we definitely couldnt have put anymore love into it than we did.

What can fans expect form this new series of live shows?

CM: think were mainly gonna play Bon Jovi songs and a couple of our B-sides. Its not an essential night out. I take that back, it is an essential night out. Were such hit whores. If we have the slightest hint of a hit then well play it, you know. Its about trying to make the perfect nights entertainment. In all seriousness were putting this concert together and were trying to make it as entertaining as anything that you can go and see and that obviously involves playing songs that people like.

What do you make of the Jay-Z headlining Glastonbury debate?

JB: I dont know why there is a debate about whether its right or wrong that Jay Z should be playing, its ridiculous.

CM: I think its a bit like people complaining about Mozart playing the Camden Falcon. Its like yeah its pretty different but dont we want to go and see him? Hes brilliant! Theres not really any issue, only unfamiliarity. Anyone who isnt into it is probably a c**t.

Is there anyone at the moment who youre particular fans of?

CM: From our point of view since weve last been around, Amy Winehouse has appeared, who is the best singer Ive heard in my life apart form Beyonce. Who else? We like a lot of things. We like the ting tings, we probably like the same stuff you do.

JB: Rihanna

CM: Rihanna of course, who else?

Another female, Kylie, you did a track together.It didnt quite make it on the album. Is that true?

JB: Kylie sang on a track we did but we havent finished it.

CM: we just havent finished it. It will definitely come out one day. Its pretty sexy. I just dont know why we havent finished it yet. I do know why actually cos were waiting for one line of words.

From Kylie?

CM: No No. I just cant come up with it.

Coldplay-- "Clocks"

Biography

Coldplay is a British alternative rock band, formed in London, United Kingdom in 1997. The band comprises vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion.

Having released four successful albums, (all of which debuted at #1 on the UK album chart) Coldplay have also achieved great success with their singles, such as Yellow, Speed Of Sound, the Grammy-winning Clocks and the US and UK #1 single Viva La Vida.

Frontman Chris Martin credits 1980s Norwegian pop band a-ha for inspiring him to form his own band.

Coldplay’s early material was often compared to that of Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, while also drawing comparisons to U2 and Travis. Since the release of the band’s debut album, Parachutes (2000), Coldplay has also drawn influence from other sources, including Echo and the Bunnymen and George Harrison on A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) and Johnny Cash and Kraftwerk for X&Y (2005).

Coldplay are one of very few current British music acts to achieve major success in North America. Despite their large worldwide popularity, the band has remained protective of how their music is used in the media, refusing its use for product endorsements. In the past, Coldplay had turned down multi-million dollar contracts from Gatorade, Diet Coke, and Gap, who wanted to use the songs “Yellow”, Trouble, and Don’t Panic respectively. According to Martin, “We wouldn’t be able to live with ourselves if we sold the songs’ meanings like that.” On the other hand, “Yellow” has been used to back TV trailers for “The Simpsons” and “Viva la Vida” from their latest album features on the current iTunes TV advert.

Since 2002, Coldplay have been active supporters of various social and political causes. They have been visible advocates of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign and Amnesty International. The group has also performed at various charity projects such as Band Aid 20, Live 8, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The band has released four albums: Parachutes (2000), A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002), X&Y (2005), and more recently, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008).

At the Brit Awards 2006, Chris Martin stated that fans would not see them for a long time, suggesting it would be some time before another studio album was released, if at all. However, the previous day on Valentine’s Day 2006, during UK Radio DJ Chris Moyles’ Breakfast show, Martin had said, “The next album is very good, and I know because it is already written”, and rumours were that the band would hire their own ‘HQ’ studio in the style of Kraftwerk’s Kling Klang base to record it, so it would seem there was more to come from Coldplay yet.

Coldplay never intended to become England’s favorite rock & roll sons when their signature rock melodies ruled the charts throughout 2000. The quartet yearned to mess around a bit, plucking their own acoustics for fun while attending the University College of London. All had been playing instruments since their early teens and had been influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, The Stone Roses, Neil Young, and My Bloody Valentine.

They never imagined taking reign of the UK’s ever-changing rock scene. Each member had come from a solid household of middle-class parents who encouraged music. Martin, the eldest of five siblings, began playing the piano as a young child. He started playing in bands around age 15 and sought solace in the words of Tom Waits. Buckland, on the other hand, was into the heavy guitar work of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix and was playing guitar by age 11. Scotland native Berryman was into funk instead of indie rock, therefore leaving him to play bass. The multi-instrumentalist Champion had not planned to be a drummer until he joined Coldplay. He favoured playing guitar, bass, and the tin whistle, but caught on to playing percussion when the band became official.

When they burst onto the scene, Coldplay were heart-wrenching like Travis, passionate like Jeff Buckley, and as fresh as Oasis. They played their first gig at a festival for unsigned bands in Manchester, and the Safety EP was issued shortly thereafter. The Brothers & Sisters EP was issued by Fierce Panda and released a year later. (Both releases saw only 500 pressings.) Their sweet melodies and swooning lyrics landed Coldplay a UK deal with Parlophone in April 1999, and the five-track limited edition Blue Room EP followed that autumn. With nods from the media, the dream pop foursome was hailed as the next Travis, thanks to their simplistic acoustics and charming personas. Two more EPs, Shiver and Yellow, arrived in Spring 2000.

Their full-length debut, Parachutes, earned the band a Mercury Music Prize nomination in the UK. It saw a US release in November 2000, and a month later “Yellow” was chosen as the theme song for all promo spots for the American TV network ABC. The well-received hype surrounding Coldplay continued throughout 2001 as well; they were nominated for three Brit Awards and embarked on a sold-out ten-date tour of the US. Rumours of a split consumed most of the US tour. Martin frequently battled nasty colds and voice exhaustion, which led Coldplay to cancel a series of American dates and scrap a European tour. With all gossip aside, Coldplay resumed playing in Summer 2001 and earned additional success with second single “Trouble”.

By the autumn, they had headed into the studio for a second album. Rumour had it that it might be Coldplay’s last album, since the band members felt they might not capture such brilliance again. A Rush of Blood to the Head was released in August 2002. The CD/DVD package Live 2003 was issued a year later. Capturing the band’s show at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, it highlighted Coldplay’s monumental success worldwide with A Rush of Blood to the Head. Martin specifically earned a higher notch on the celebrity scale by marrying actress Gwyneth Paltrow in December 2003. Paltrow gave birth to the couple’s first daughter, Apple Blythe Alison Martin, the following April.

Fatherhood did not stop Martin from working, as Coldplay began recording material for a third album within weeks. Previously recorded material with longtime producer Ken Nelson was scrapped early on, while producer Danton Supple (Morrissey, The Cure) joined Coldplay to complete the recording of X&Y. “Speed of Sound” marked Coldplay’s first single from their long-awaited third effort in Spring 2005; the album followed in June, topping the charts around the world, including America and Britain.

Coldplay’s fourth album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends was released on June 12, 2008 in the United Kingdom, with the first single Violet Hill having been previously released as a free download through their official website for a week from April 29, 2008.

The latest album is currently being given lots of positive feedback for its originality in melodic acoustics and slightly less ‘synth-dependent’ riffs. It offers a great insight into how significantly the band’s music has adapted and developed to themselves and the public.

Viva la Vida was produced by Brian Eno, mixed by Markus Dravs, and drew influence from the time the group spent in South America.

Barely a week before the album was released, a duo with Kylie Minogue which was intended to be used was scrapped with the comment that ‘it was too sexy’. However, they plan to release it as a single or on a deluxe album expected at around Christmas 2008.

On Dec 1, 2008, Coldplay released “Lhuna” with Kylie Minogue at the launch of the (RED)WIRE™ website to mark World AIDS Day 2008. This is the world premiere of the song.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida