Musical Roots

Coldplay

Coldplay secured a permanent position in music’s elite by simply writing beautiful songs. Although most Coldplay songs are pensive, each one is also steeped in an unusual and sincere optimism rarely found in modern rock bands. The band's music has been called "meditative" as it "reflects on their emotions" and lead singer/songwriter Chris Martin "endlessly examines his feelings". Songs like the remorseful "Trouble," with its memorable piano-line, the lonely "Fix You" and mega-hit single "Clocks" reveal a hybrid of lyrics that can only be described as joy and remorse, all wrapped into one. "We just want the songs to reflect reality," says Martin, one of the original founders of Coldplay.

Before the band, Chris Martin grew up in a close family from Devon, England. In fact, he still visits home very often, as the eldest of five kids, raised by a schoolteacher mother and an accountant dad. It’s here where he started banging out tunes on the family piano at an early age. He is a self-proclaimed over-achiever and worries constantly. He rarely drinks, never smokes and admits life can be pretty damn good. He's a shy product of boarding school where he soon graduated to the guitar and has been in bands since the age of 15. He considers the big three in music to be: Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Tom Waits.

It all began when Martin met guitarist Johnny Buckland in 1996, during orientation week, their first week of college at University College in London. Two and a half years later, they had their first official band session along with fellow classmates, bass player Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion. After completing their final exams, Coldplay signed to Parlophone Records for a five-album contract in the spring of 1999.

Just months after Coldplay released their #1 debut album, “Parachutes”, they were hailed as Band of the Year 2000, in the music press. In doing so, Coldplay may well be the most profound British act to emerge out of the millennium so far. No one was more surprised by their popularity than the band themselves.

“A Rush Of Blood To The Head” soon followed in 2002 to rave reviews and would earn them two Grammy’s, including Record Of The Year. Their third album, “X&Y” would be released in June 2005 and would go on to sell 8.3 million copies worldwide.

Coldplay began work on their latest album “Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends” in late 2006. They would soon take a break from recording to tour South America, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

The band revealed that the album is a mix of Hispanic influences, after having recorded in churches and other areas in Latin America and Spain during their tour. Martin has described this album as a new direction for Coldplay. A change from their past three albums, which they have referred to as a trilogy. Martin has also revealed that this album features much less of his falsetto, and he has allowed his voice's lower register to take precedence. Some songs on Viva La Vida, such as "Violet Hill", contain distorted guitar riffs and bluesy undertones.