Coldplay: Inspired By The Cantina Band
Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes had such a following?
File Under: Intergalactic Band Camp
Honestly, it’s not really shocking. You see a headline like: “Chris Martin: I want to perform on the moon!” And you just nod and say to yourself, “Well, that makes sense!”
And apparently, Coldplay’s upcoming album was at least partially inspired by the Bith band in the Mos Eisley Cantina.
Image: Lucasfilm
You remember those guys in 1977’s Star Wars, Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes?
https://youtu.be/sHD-knhS6es
Well, let’s catch you up.
The Star Wars Databank explained:
This seven-piece ensemble of Bith musicians was a common sight at the Mos Eisley Cantina, playing swinging instrumentals for the watering hole’s staggering patrons. The Modal Nodes’ leader, “Fiery” Figrin D’an, played the Kloo horn, though some patrons preferred his work on the Gasan string drum. Other members of the Modal Nodes were Nalan Cheel (Bandfill), Doikk Na’ts (Dorenian Beshniquel), Tedn Dahai (Fanfar), Tech M’or (Ommni box), Ickabel G’ont (Double Jocimer) and Sun’il Ei’de (drums).”
Playing Music In Space
Image: Trae Patton/NBC
Now then, what does all of this have to do with Coldplay?
Working to promote his new album, and as quoted by Celebretainment, Martin told The Zach Sang Show, “One time I was watching Star Wars, and they had the scene with the Cantina band right? And I was like: ‘I wonder what musicians are like across the universe?’ and that led to this whole thing, and now here we are.”
Now, Coldplay’s entire album is set on the fictional planet “Kaotica.”
“It led us to imagine this whole other place called ‘the spheres,’ which is like a group of planets, like a solar system with lots of different places and creatures and stuff,” he said.
Image: Coldplay on YouTube
And what I found is when you’ve imagined a place like that, you can sort of become any artist within that… It’s a very freeing thing to take yourself out of Coldplay and just think: ‘OK, I’m not even human, what does music sound like?”
I mean, that is pretty deep, even though ol’ D’an and the Nodes didn’t seem to be.
Compare and contrast Star Wars and Coldplay below:
Are you excited about the Star Wars-inspired Coldplay album? Let us know in the comments.
Feature Image: Lucasfilm
