Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has shared some tips for those struggling with depression. Check it out below.
The singer dropped his personal list of recommendations for mental health in a new Instagram post, which he shared while the band are currently on tour in Hong Kong.
In the clip, he explained that he has “noticed a few people, including myself, struggling a bit with depression”, and added that he wanted to share some things that have been helping him “in hopes that some of them might be good for you too.”
The first tip he shared was to engage in a practice called “Free-form writing”, in which you spend 12 minutes journaling – writing down your thoughts, worries, mindset and more – and then either burn the paper or throw it away.
Another recommendation he made was for “Transcendental meditation”, which he explained has “been very good for me”. According to a website he recommends fans visit for more information, the practice is “a simple mental technique, practised silently with the eyes closed, sitting in any comfortable position”, that works to provide more mental balance and clarity.
Martin also suggested something called Proprioception, which he described as “body movement to help balance your brain”. For this, he gave a shout-out to a man named Jim Costello, who he explains developed “a thing called the Costello Method, that’s very helpful, especially for young people with ADHD or autism.”
As shared on the website link, the method is “a movement-based approach to healing that begins in the body, not the mind”, and is about “helping people stop bracing, rebuild trust in their body, and finally feel at home in themselves.”
Other shoutouts from the ‘Clocks’ singer included ‘Music For Psychedelic Therapy’ by Jon Hopkins, a film called Sing Sing, a book titled The Oxygen Advantage which is “great for breathing”, and the music of NME 100 alumni Chloe Qisha.
Check out the full video above. Visit here for links and more information on the personal picks from Chris Martin, which he says are “making me stay happy and grateful to be alive”.
The clip from the Coldplay frontman about depression comes following him speaking to NME about mental health last year. The interview took place as an exclusive, in his first and only written interview for new album ‘Moon Music’, and saw him open up about how the writing process led him through some dark times.
When asked if his huge set at Glastonbury last summer – which included a surprise appearance from Michael J Fox – helped him overcome the “existential crisis” he previously discussed, Martin responded: “In a way, [Fox] being there at Glastonbury reminded us what the whole spirit of the band and the festival is: trying to find the joy. And when you can’t find it, you need to have some good tools to go looking for it.”
He continued: “When things appear overwhelmingly positive, that’s so often because it’s what the singer needs most. My head tends to fill with so much negativity that over the years – in fact from the very beginning – music has been the place where I find a light and an explanation for some of the more challenging things in my life, or the people’s lives that I see.”
In terms of how the theme of mental health and optimism impacted the new album, Martin shared: “‘Moon Music’ is kind of the story of waking up in the morning and feeling terrible about yourself, terrible about the world – depressed, isolated, separate, alone, and not able to be yourself.
“Through the album, it’s a journey to feeling the complete opposite at the end of the day.”
‘Moon Music’ was given a glowing four-star review by NME, and described by Rhian Daly as a record that looks to “pull Martin and those feeling like him back from the brink, one pop song at a time”.
Later this year, the band will embark on a UK tour this summer, where they will take over stadiums in London and Hull. Also, showing their commitment to providing support for grassroots venues, 10 per cent of their proceeds will be donated to Music Venue Trust. Visit here for any remaining tickets.
2201