[2][3] It features guest appearances from Selena Gomez, We Are King, Jacob Collier and BTS, as well as returning contributions from electronic producer Jon Hopkins.

According to lead singer Chris Martin, its concept and themes were not only based on Mylo Xyloto, but also inspired by the Star Wars film franchise, which made him and the other band members wonder what other artists could be like across the universe, while also using the planets as canvas to explore human experience.

[8] At the time Everyday Life was released, in November 2019, one of the hints was hidden within the bifold of the booklet of the physical vinyl and digibook editions of the album, in which a black and white billboard in a field advertises "Music of the Spheres".

[11] According to bassist Guy Berryman, when the band "made [2019's] Everyday Life, we knew we weren't planning on touring it, so that directed the course of that album musically.

[25] Lead singer Chris Martin stated that the theme for the album was inspired by "wonder[ing] what musicians would be like across the universe" after watching the fictional Mos Eisley cantina band perform in Star Wars and making speculations in relation to outer space sounds.

[26][27] The album is set in a fictional planetary system called The Spheres, which consists of nine planets, three natural satellites, one star and a nearby nebula.

Following the album's track listing, they are: Neon Moon I ("Music of the Spheres"), Kaotica ("Higher Power"), Echo ("Humankind"), Kubik ("Alien Choir"), Calypso ("Let Somebody Go"), Supersolis ("Human Heart"), Ultra ("People of the Pride"), Floris ("Biutyful"), Neon Moon II ("Music of the Spheres II"), Epiphane ("My Universe"), Infinity Station ("Infinity Sign"), and Coloratura ("Coloratura").

The artwork featuring the planetary system was created by Pilar Zeta, who had worked on Coldplay's previous two albums Everyday Life and A Head Full of Dreams (2015).

[33] On 23 April 2021, a post from an account titled 'Alien Radio FM' on social media released a set of coordinates (51°30'24.6"N 0°08'34.4"W) that led to Green Park in Piccadilly, London.

[38][39] Martin had stated that the theme for their upcoming music had been inspired by "wonder[ing] what musicians are like across the universe" after watching the fictional Mos Eisley cantina band perform in Star Wars.

[43] On 1 October 2021, Coldplay announced a one-off album launch show at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London,[44] in which they were introduced by Simon Pegg and joined on stage by Ed Sheeran, Fleur East and We Are King.

In each city, there was a "custom-built installation" that enabled fans to "be transported to The Spheres – the distant solar system that plays host to the band's latest album, where each of the twelve tracks is twinned with a different planet."

During the event, fans had the opportunity to "create their own alien language messages, snap selfies in the augmented reality photo booth, and even help to power the experience through bespoke kinetic walkways."

[50] The official music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was released on 8 June 2021, it features Chris exploring the fictional planet Kaotica.

It features both groups performing the song alongside a fictional band named "Supernova 7" in different futuristic planets, set during an era where music is banned around the universe.

[57] "People of the Pride" impacted American alternative rock radio stations on 8 March 2022,[58] although Chris stated during an interview the song would not be marketed as an official single.

[70] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian also gave the album two stars out of five, calling its pop tones a "desperate" attempt by the band to stay on top of the record charts.

[25] Rhian Daly of NME gave the album four stars out of five and declared that "While Music of the Spheres feels like quintessential Coldplay, there are some more surprising moments buried in its tracklist", citing the songs "People of the Pride" and "Infinity Sign" as examples.

[68] He elaborated that "This sci-fi concept piece is the spiritual successor to technicolor predecessors Mylo Xyloto and A Head Full of Dreams – outpacing both with its sharp focus and lean runtime – while maintaining the boundary-pushing energy heard on the Kaleidoscope EP and Everyday Life".

AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung stated "while they typically end their albums on a grand, uplifting note, ["Coloratura"] takes the prize for ambition and sheer beauty".

[68] Ella Kemp, writing for Rolling Stone UK, said the song "might be the most dazzling thing Coldplay have ever done, a sprawling Pink Floyd-esque experiment which pays off infinitely".

[76] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times felt the album's concept "only really registers" on "Coloratura", praising the elaborate orchestrations and "more sophisticated lyrics than the gaucheries of the previous songs".

[77] Bobby Olivier of Spin, however, felt it was "overlong",[78] while David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit said it "lacks a sense of originality, as all of emotions and lyrics have in way appeared in their music previously".