Coldplay

Coldplay isn’t only one of the most popular British bands but also a torchbearer for an art-rock sound whose roots reach back through Radiohead, U2, Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Yes, the music is anthemic enough to fill arenas—“Clocks”, “Speed of Sound”, “Paradise”, “A Sky Full of Stars”—but detailed and atmospheric, too, stretching the conventions of modern rock without ever losing the emotional thread. Formed in London in the late ’90s, the band debuted with 2000’s Parachutes. Seasons have changed—the arty experiments of 2008’s Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, the electro rush of 2011’s Mylo Xyloto, the eclecticism of 2019’s Everyday Life—but the core of its sound has been consistent: Propulsive, uplifting, grand but vulnerable. In step with the earnest spirit of its music, the band has also poured considerable resources into philanthropy: performing at Live 8, sponsoring The Ocean Cleanup efforts and notably investing in renewable energy to power 2021’s Music of the Spheres World Tour in support of the album of the same name. Their 10th studio full-length Moon Music (2024), arrived while touring their previous era, keeping pace with a passionate and celestial vibe. “It’s our manifesto, or my way of looking at things right now,” leader Chris Martin told Apple Music. But no matter if it’s now or then, whether in crowded bars, lonely bedrooms or packed stadiums, their effect remains more or less the same: At the end of the day, Coldplay comes for the heart.