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Writer's pictureSharleen Linton

Man Like Chris Martin: BTS Magic of Coldplay x Laura Mvula


A man and woman smiling at the camera
Sharleen Linton & Chris Martin at Glastonbury rehearsals

So imagine getting the call to work with such an amazing artist called Laura Mvula being completely unaware at the time that this is also a gig with Coldplay. As long as I've been singing , what I'm about to share with you is EASILY the top 3 most magical, musical experiences I've EVER HAD.


Firstly, let's talk about the amazing Laura Mvula. The musical genius. The one who's music got the attention of the one and only Prince as 'the one to watch'. Whenever I work with her, I feel like I get access to her musical brain. The complexities of her vocal harmonies has me geeking out for DAYS. The utter pleasure!


About Chris Martin and Coldplay: it's very clear he's dedicated to his music. His ethos seems to be about love, unity and magic and it rings through his lyrics and his music. At the same time, he's down to earth; kind, thoughtful. He made sure all of us as singers were thoroughly looked after. We were fed, watered and they even hired an icecream van to drive into our rehearsal so we could have ice cream on our break. I don't know about you but that's the way to my heart! 😂


So, as we're doing production rehearsals, I could see the many moving parts to this Glastonbury performance. You've got Coldplay themselves, their staff, equipment and then the singers, a string section and a brass section.


Fast forward and it's the day of the show. We're backstage at the Pyramid Stage and when I say 'back stage', I really mean it's a luxury, temporary building. There's a catering area full of delicious food, areas where there's soft furnishings with people talking and watching large monitors showing what's happening on the Glastonbury stage and, of course, the dressing rooms as well as the artist bar. I was so blessed to have a dressing room adjacent to my good friends who sing with Michael Kiwanuka, another music genius.


Then it was show time! I want you to try and imagine this with me being backstage on the Pyramid Stage directly behind Coldplay, all dressed and ready to go on stage. Listening to Coldplay perform their set was one of the most mind blowing experiences that I've ever felt. It felt like that is their musical mission in life, to spread light and joy and happiness and love and it was enchanting.


So the choir and I sang Humankind with Coldplay and Violet Hill with Laura Mvula. I can't describe the feeling as anything except jubilant and magic! After I sang I watched Coldplay perform Fix You from the side of the stage and I saw the entire crowd lose their minds. I saw all of the lights and the beauty and I was absolutely mesmerized.



A group of men and women smiling at the camera
Laura Mvula, Sharleen Linton & choir backstage at Glastonbury


After the show backstage I was doing more celebrity watching 👀. I got to meet Idris Elba and I got a huge bear hug from Tom Cruise. He hugged me like I was a long lost friend and he will always be my bestie in my head 😂 .


If you want to discover how to create magic with your speaking voice to double your income in your corporate career and in your business, then go ahead and join The Voice Channel. It's my free Telegram group with free gifts inside of it about how to speak and be persuasive so that you get paid, heard and respected. The link is below.


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