Prior to the release of Coldplay’s tenth studio album ‘Moon Magic’ on October 4, frontman Chris Martin sat down in an exclusive interview with NME to discuss the future of Coldplay and what fans can expect from their upcoming album and succeeding projects.
In the interview Martin suggested the band were approaching the end of writing new material, expanding on a comment made in 2021 that Coldplay’s catalogue would end after 12 albums – set to be concluded in 2025. However, this deadline has been extended after the success of their Glastonbury set this year and the high demand for their upcoming tour.
When discussing the conclusion of new material at 12 albums Martin stated: “The 12 album thing is very real, and it’s a nice feeling. It doesn’t mean we won’t tour or finish some compilation things or outtakes or whatever. It just means that the main story is told. That’s just what feels really right. Just knowing that’s happening supercharges all the work we’re doing now”. This interview with NME marked Martin’s first promotional interview for ‘Moon Magic’. With incredible amounts of honesty, he indicated that his capacity to discuss the meanings of his songs had declined over time and hopes fans can listen to the new tracks and decipher their meaning.
Honesty and care take precedent on ‘Moon Magic’ as Martin delved into the creative process, emphasising: “Right now, and since about 2008, if something lands in me as a song or as a good idea and it feels authentic, we’ll do it.” The creation of Coldplay’s latest album saw Martin at a new stage in his life, he continued: “Moon Magic is kind of the story of waking up in the morning and feeling terrible about yourself, terrible about the world – depressed, isolated, separate, alone, and not able to be yourself… through the album, it’s a journey to feeling the complete opposite at the end of the day”.
Moon Music, our 10th album, is finally here
https://t.co/T8bLqK7kpV Wherever you are in the world, we send you our love pic.twitter.com/gkFu0fwABC — Coldplay (@coldplay) October 4, 2024
These themes for ‘Moon Magic’ allow fans to relate to the world around them, offering a relatability for fans to listen to their own thoughts . The stories told by Coldplay throughout their discography have evidently hit close to home for fans. As the Official UK Chart announced Coldplay as the most played British group of the 21st century.
The Official UK Chart estimated that Coldplay’s most played hit ‘Viva La Vida’ is played an average of 27 times a day in the UK. This means the band have racked up 400,000,000 seconds – 13 years – of airplay this century. Other groups in the list included: Queen (2), Take That (3) and Little Mix (4).
BREAKING NEWS @coldplay‘s Moon Music is already the fastest-selling album by a UK act in 2024 https://t.co/9FEzQDBlST
— Official Charts (@officialcharts) October 7, 2024
Despite Chris Martin alluding to the end of Coldplay’s written material it is no doubt the band’s momentum will continue soar. With continuous chart-topping hits and sold-out stadium shows, fans do not need to fear as Coldplay will not escape the mainstream any time soon.
