Coldplay fans are currently enduring a bittersweet moment.
The world-renowned British band, composed of pianist Chris Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman as well as drummer and percussionist Will Champion, have released new music for the first time in three years.
In late June, the alternative rock and pop group released “feelslikeimfallinginlove”, their first single since they released their ninth studio album, “Music of the Spheres”, in 2021.
This love ballad, which has had scores of fans from all corners of the globe swooning, marks the first single from their forthcoming album, “Moon Music”, which is due to be released in October.
But just as scores of people worldwide embracing their new music as they await even more, there are others who remember Martin’s remarks in 2021 about their musical days possibly coming to an end soon.
During an interview with Jo Whiley of BBC Radio 2 at the time, the 44-year-old musician explained that the band would stop releasing new music next year but that they would continue to tour with their existing catalogue.
“Well, I know I can tell you: our last proper record will come out in 2025 and after that, I think we will only tour,” Martin said.
“Maybe we’ll do some collaborative things but the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then.”
The band’s frontman also explained to the UK publication “New Musical Express” (NME), just how intense it is to keep releasing new material.
“We’re going to make 12 albums. Because it’s a lot to pour everything into making them. I love it and it’s amazing, but it’s very intense too,” he was quoted as saying.
He added: “I feel like because I know that challenge is finite, making this music doesn’t feel difficult, it feels like, ‘This is what we’re supposed to be doing’.”
“I don’t think that’s what we’ll do,” he concluded. “I know that’s what we’ll do in terms of studio albums.”
Coldplay fans are now finding themselves in a place where they are enjoying the band’s new music, while also dreading the day that the hits stop coming.
The group’s contribution to the industry has been monumental since they made their breakthrough back in 1997.
Many of their hits, including “Yellow, Clocks”, “Adventure of a Lifetime”, “The Scientist”, “Paradise”, “Viva La Vida” and “Higher Power” have gone on to define modern music history.
Earlier this month, they released the music video for “feelslikeimfallinginlove”, which was released directed by Ben Mor, who was also the brains behind “Hymn For The Weekend”, the band’s 2015 collaborative track with Beyoncé.
Shot in black and white, the new music video stars actress, writer and storyteller Natasha Ofili performing her own American Sign Language interpretation of the song.
It also features the deaf members of the Venezuelan Sign Language (LSV) section from El Sistema Venezuela’s Coro de Manos Blancas (White Hands Choir), a world-renowned performing arts ensemble from Barquisimeto.
In the video, Coldplay is also seen performing the song at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, in front of an audience who were invited via the band’s social media.
Its release cames just days after the band headlined the acclaimed Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
Coldplay has been lauded over the decades as one of the best live performers in the industry, and this too was the case for their record fifth headline performance at the festival, which included fireworks, lasers and confetti.
But they grabbed even more headlines when they were joined on stage by beloved actor and Parkinson’s disease advocate, Michael J Fox.
The 63-year-old actor played the guitar with Coldplay for their hit song “Fix You”, with this surprise appearance bringing many in the crowd to tears.
Martin announced on stage that it was the retired actor’s role as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future” which inspired the creation of Coldplay.
“The main reason we’re in a band is because of watching ‘Back to the Future’,” he said.
“Thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr Michael J Fox, thank you so much, Michael, our hero.”
In the hit 1985 sci-fi flick, Fox played a high school guitarist who time travels to the 1950s and performs Chuck Berry’s hit, “Johnny B Goode”, at a school dance.
This wasn’t the first time the actor had joined the band on stage.
As a long-time Coldplay fan, he previously joined the at a New Jersey concert in 2016.
Meanwhile, when the band, who are still on their epic “Music of the Spheres World Tour”, are not making new music or serenading fans around the globe, they are also doing their part for the environment.
This is as their upcoming album promises to set new standards for sustainability as each LP will be made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, with nine bottles used per record.