FNX FILES [THURSDAY – 5/15]

With Coldplay's long awaited fourth record, the stakes are higher than ever for their label home, EMI. The label's head, Guy Hands, recently increased the pressure on the band, calling Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends "across the world, the most anticipated album of the year." But how does Coldplay singer Chris Martin feel about life on a major label in the year 2008?

"Being on a major label at the moment is like living in your grandparents' house," Martin told Billboard. "Everyone knows they need to move out, and they will eventually, but we kind of like our grandmother. It's obviously an antiquated model, because of the Internet, but we really love the people we work with. If we knew what the solution was to everything, then we'd do it. We have absolute respect for the Radioheads and Raconteurs and people who can do what they like. We're in contract though, so we're just going to make the most of it and enjoy the people we get to work with."

Discussing the band's one-week giveaway of their new single, "Violet Hill," Martin said, "Of course we want to sell a lot of records. But we want to get right back to the root of everything, by saying, 'Here you go, have a song, have a concert.' All that other stuff we have to do because we're in contract, that's all going to happen, of course, but it's just starting from that place. It makes us feel good as a group of people." Drummer Will Champion adds, "More than ever, you've got to give people a reason to be excited about music. With content being so available, you just want to give people as much as possible."

As for making Viva la Vida with legendary producer Brian Eno, Martin said that after two years of promoting X&Y, the band needed to "recharge." He added, "It's weird being in Coldplay, because we've taken onboard a lot of opinion, a lot of different experiences, and we had to hibernate for a while to feel like we had anything worth doing...The place we got to two years ago just felt a little dirty. We weren't really speaking to each other. We all had our corner office in a big tower block, but there was no vibe." Martin continued, "I just felt...we have to play in a little room, burn all our awards and reviews, not go to swanky dinners, erase all that.'

Champion told Billboard, "We always have the intention of giving ourselves time to decompress after albums and tours, [but] by the end of a recording session we're anxious to get on with it and tour. Then, by the end of the touring cycle, you're thinking, 'We've written some great songs, let's get back in the studio.'"

As for their future with EMI, Martin joked, "Well, I think we're in contract until ... the end of the Space Age. On my deathbed, someone will come up and say, 'You still owe me three records.'"

Coldplay have just been added to the lineup as performers for the 2008 MTV Movie Awards on June 1, along with the Pussycat Dolls.

Source - FMQB.com

Coldplay – Violet Hill [VIDEO]

Coldplay – Shiver [VIDEO]

Noel Gallagher and Chris Martin – Live Forever [VIDEO]

Noel Gallagher and Chris Martin – Yellow [VIDEO]

Coldplay w/ Richard Ashcroft – Bittersweet Symphony [VIDEO]