Tomorrow // Infinity Station Sessions EP // @AppleMusic#FromAppleMusicWithLove pic.twitter.com/YsYk2NykmA

— Coldplay (@coldplay) December 1, 2021

The special collection arrives as part of From Apple Music With Love, an ongoing Christmas countdown series featuring exclusive releases from a number of well-known acts. Some of the artists include Elton John, Nile Rodgers who have recently shared new content via the platform.

The EP is comprised of live versions of tracks from Coldplay’s ninth studio album, Music Of The Spheres, which came out in October and also includes a new rendition of the band’s 2010 single, “Christmas Lights.” You can listen to the EP below.

The band are also set to embark on an eco-friendly world tour next year which will likely feature many of the tracks on the EP as well as the aforementioned album Music of the Spheres. The dates are scheduled for London’s Wembley Stadium (six nights), Glasgow, Paris, Berlin and other European cities throughout July and August.

This comes after they first committed in 2019 to not return to live touring until it could be done sustainably, Coldplay has finally announced their tour. They have pledged to cut direct emissions by 50% compared to their recent tours and are planning to use solar installations and kinetic energy at every venue to power a mobile rechargeable show battery as well as plant a tree for every ticket sold.

Chris Martin previously discussed their aims by stating “We’re very conscious that the planet is facing a climate crisis. So we’ve spent the last two years consulting with environmental experts to make this tour as sustainable as possible, and, just as importantly, to harness the tour’s potential to push things forward.” He then continued “We won’t get everything right, but we’re committed to doing everything we can and sharing what we learn. It’s a work in progress and we’re really grateful for the help we’ve had so far. If you’d like to come to a show and sing with us, we’re so excited to see you.”

The Infinity Station Sessions EP Track Listing:

1. Higher Power
2. Human Heart
3. People Of The Pride
4. Coloratura
5. Christmas Lights

For fans, the EP will no doubt be forty-five special minutes, whether you were at the Radio City Music Hall concert or not. It has all the thrill of live music and all the intimacy that Rex Orange County is so good at cultivating. In the midst of it all, right as ‘Best Friend’ is about to take off, he asks that everyone put their phones away because “anyone that didn’t come into this venue will have no clue – this moment is just for me and you!”

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REX ORANGE COUNTY LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL – LIVE ALBUM out tomorrow 12pm ET / 5pm BST

A post shared by rex orange county (@rexorangecounty) on Sep 29, 2020 at 10:35am PDT

In addition to the EP, Funny How Things Go From One Thing To Another is wonderfully introspective. At 25 minutes it’s not particularly long (by the standard of this kind of thing!), and the footage largely speaks for itself. Rex voices over occasionally, but there are no words needed to explain the atmosphere of the tour. We get this anyway from footage of the stage being prepared, of thousands of pieces of colourful confetti being sifted, of fans queuing for hours and hours before the gig starts, and of an endless string of intimate moments. Rex Orange County and his band are always hugging, and there is no doubt that every member of the tour is supported through everything.

And likewise, he is polite and respectful but also generous and tactile with his fans. Throughout the documentary, he speaks about making the gig environment inclusive and comfortable. You can tell that it works as you see fans dancing away or falling to the floor in delight when the house lights come up. Rex Orange County understands this: “I’m just like them, them and their friends and parents and everyone they know.”

So when the pandemic strikes off the last few dates of the tour, Rex Orange County is evidently gutted – for a number of reasons. He is part of an industry that has come to a standstill, and the tragedy of losing live music has been expressed in so many ways since March. But what Rex says is this: “there was no hugging or any contact.”

For some, a socially distanced return to touring and fan interaction is viable and indeed welcome. For Rex Orange County, it’s very clear that this would entirely contradict the ethos of a Rex Orange County gig, a Rex Orange County tour or even a Rex Orange County pop up shop. Everything that contributes to the Rex Orange County experience is warm and intimate and personal. The first thing he does when he gets on stage is head straight for the crowd.

The combination of the EP and the documentary show a young, vulnerable male artist. It’s rare to find someone so authentic – and so generous, with their energy and their emotions. Rex Orange County is certainly riding a peak of his career, but this won’t be the last. He just has too much to give, to his band, to his industry and to his fans.