Four nights at a sold out Croke Park. 320,000 fans. One of the biggest bands in the world.
It has been quite a week for Dublin singer Aby Coulibaly, supporting Coldplay for the Irish leg of their Music of the Spheres World Tour.
On the final night, she performed the band's latest single 'We Pray’ alongside frontman Chris Martin.
"This has been one of the craziest, most overwhelming and exciting weeks of my life," she told RTÉ News.
Ironically, Aby had always wanted to go to a Coldplay gig.
At Croke Park she became the first local act to open for the band at one of their concerts. She says it was "an honour" and emphasised the importance of visibility for up-and-coming Irish musicians.
"I’ve seen Coldplay bring out a big artist. So, for somebody like me, it means a lot."
The singer-songwriter felt like she had always been destined for big things. Exactly what that was, she wasn’t sure. But this opportunity feels bigger than she could have imagined.
"I am delusional in the sense that I know I'm going to be successful and do great things. My mam taught us that when you believe something will happen, it will.
"But I don’t know if I could have said I saw myself on a stage with Coldplay. Especially the level that I’m at now. I definitely didn’t see that happening right now."
During the pandemic, Aby quit her full-time job in insurance to pursue a career in music.
"Leaving my job was really scary. But I knew that was the right thing to do. I knew I was capable of a career in music."
"I’m not meant to do anything else. There is no other path for me."
After opening for Coldplay Aby says feels she feels "inspired" and has "so much more to do".
But do weeks get much better? Her response is simply, "No!"
Video: Sinéad Brennan
