Simpson is therefore better placed than anyone to lift the veil on the creative workings of Coldplay.
COLDPLAY ALBUM HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND FULL
Simpson helped to set up both of the band’s two North London studios, The Bakery and The Beehive, and in addition to being co–producer, he also co–engineered and mixed most of A Head Full Of Dreams. Since Simpson starting working with Coldplay in 2002, his role has gradually extended to the point where he has become an integral cog in the Coldplay machine. Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen (interviewed back in SOS May 2010) are experts in pop/R&B, and have (co-)written and (co-)produced dozens of hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Katy Perry and more. A Head Full Of Dreams was co–produced by Simpson with Norwegian duo Stargate, who share an arrangement credit on the album with the band as well. The band’s seventh and latest studio effort is A Head Full Of Dreams, which again has been extremely successful, despite missing out narrowly on the UK and US top spots to Adele’s 25. Simpson, who sometimes uses the pseudonym Rikademus, has also co–produced every Coldplay album since Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008).
The unsung and often overlooked hero in this context is Rik Simpson, who has worked with Coldplay as an engineer since the band’s second studio album, A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002). They have achieved this impressive feat through a series of panoramic, multi–coloured album productions, made with the help of well–known producers including Ken Nelson, Markus Dravs, Brian Eno, Paul Epworth and Stargate. With over 75 million record sales worldwide, eight Brit Awards and seven Grammies, Coldplay are arguably the most popular rock band of the 21st Century. Photo: Richard EcclestoneĬoldplay’s unlikely alliance with R&B hitmakers Stargate resulted in a truly trans–Atlantic production, which saw co–producer Rik Simpson clocking up plenty of air miles! Rik Simpson in the control room at Coldplay’s The Beehive studio.