The two join a long list of names already known to have collaborated on the band’s upcoming seventh studio album, including Beyoncé herself, as well as Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, and pop singer Tove Lo, alongside recordings from Chris Martin’s own two children.
What exactly each of the collaborators will contribute remains to be seen, but they were picked based on their close relationship to various members of the band. The group combines for an interesting mix of voices, especially the addition of Paltrow, who split with Martin in 2014, with the two officially divorcing in April of 2015.
Martin described the impetus for the interesting series of partnerships, which were inspired by a poem called Guest House by 13th century poet Rumi according to a recent interview with the lead singer.
“Everyone who got asked to sing on our album has an important part in our lives,” Martin said to the Wall St. Journal reporter, “I don’t want to get too hippie, but what I’m trying to learn in my life is the value of every human. Inclusiveness is the key thing, and it all comes from that Guest House poem. The “choir” started with my two kids coming in after school and recording. We recorded Blue Ivy Carter in New York when her mom Beyoncé was in the studio. It comes from learning about Greek tragedy, where the chorus chimes in at times. To me, when we use that sound, it’s to affirm what I’m saying. ‘We agree with you, Chris. Keep singing.’”
Coldplay recently released the first single for the new record, an upbeat dance-pop number called Adventure Of A Lifetime. It’s the kind of club-style jam that the band hasn’t attempted before, and strikes new ground for the band and their millions of loyal fans.
Overall, it appears Coldplay is taking a leap away from the introspective indie-pop of anthemic songs like Yellow and Clocks that originally brought them to international fame in the early 2000s.
Regardless of what comes of this change of pace, it’s always impressive to see a band try to move beyond their roots for something new. Head Full of Dreams will be released December 4.
