Singer songwriter Beckah Amani performs special version of Coldplay song We Pray at Music of the Spheres tour
A local artist has earned the gig of her life as she performed a “special version” of one of Coldplay’s songs at their Music of the Spheres concerts.
Music
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rising Burundian-Australian singer songwriter Beckah Amani was torn between locking eyes with Chris Martin or surveying the 60,000 fans watching her perform with Coldplay at their Melbourne concerts.
The independent artist was selected by the band to join them on stage at their Music of the Spheres concerts on the weekend to sing the lyrics she penned for their Open Verse challenge for their single We Pray.
“Now we’re going to play a special Melbourne version of this song with a local artist called Beckah Amani, so please be super kind to them because they’re new,” Martin announced as she took the stage on Saturday.
It was the first time the emerging independent artist had performed on a stadium stage, let alone with one of the biggest bands on the planet, so the adrenaline was surging through her as she stood in the wings waiting for her cue.
“I’m so nervous, so nervous. I’ve never played a stadium before, I don’t know what that feels like,” she said ahead of the big moment.
“So to be doing it with Coldplay, is just insane.”
The first vinyl record Amani bought was Coldplay’s Parachutes. The were the first band she ever saw in concert. And their song Sparks was one of the first covers she recorded and uploaded to social media when she was 15.
When Amani saw the band’s Open Verse contest call-out, she got busy and penned her lyrics and recorded them in eight hours.
She uploaded her verse, and crossed everything; there are thousands of Tik Tok and YouTube videos from artists and fans offering their take on the aspirational anthem.
“This was just so out of the blue. I’d like to believe the 15 year old girl who did the Sparks cover was manifesting but it’s just such a big thing to dream,” she said.
The Gold Coast-based artist met Martin on Saturday to rehearse their duet.
“Meeting him before and rehearsing the song with him, I knew it would feel natural. Then the musicianship aspect kicks in. I’m a performer, this is what I do.”
Her stadium debut with her most loved band came just a few weeks before the November 29 release of her debut album This is how I remember it.
Amani hopes singing with Coldplay in front of 120,000 fans at the two weekend concerts will turn people onto her music.
Martin spent much of his downtime in Melbourne hosting gatherings with local musicians including Gordi, Kian and Radio Free Alice, shining a light on homegrown talent as the industry struggles to engage Australian audiences with emerging artists.
“I hope people get excited about wanting to know more about me after hearing my verse,” she said. “It feels like (Martin) is going around and spreading a little bit of magic everywhere. “When you’re from Australia and trying to get (your music) around the world, it’s hard, but for a big musician to come out and say to the most local artists that no one knows ‘I love what you’re doing’, to be seen and to be encouraged in that way is just so special.”
Beckah Amani’s We Pray verse.
“We pray for the ones where the sun’s been down and the light hasn’t come out
We pray for our sisters and brothers searching for meaning, looking for a way out
We pray for the ones who’ve lost all hope, waiting for someone to care
We pray and remember to exist is a gift, To be loved is to be seen
So together we pray.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Singer songwriter Beckah Amani performs special version of Coldplay song We Pray at Music of the Spheres tour
Music legend Quincy Jones’ cause of death revealed
Details have emerged about the death of music giant Quincy Jones ahead of an all-star memorial for the legendary mogul.
Delta news fans have been waiting years for
Aussie star Delta Goodrem has made a huge announcement that will make longtime fans very happy.