Chris Martin opens up about Gwyneth Paltrow split for first time

Chris Martin is opening up about his split from Gwyneth Paltrow about a month after the news hit.

The Coldplay singer has been making the rounds to talk about the band's new album, and in a interview with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, he talked about the marriage and inspirations behind his new music: "I wouldn't use the word breakdown. This was more a realization about trying to grow up basically...if you can't open yourself up, you can't appreciate the wonder inside. So you can be with someone very wonderful, but because of your own issues you cannot let that be celebrated in the right way."

He added, "What changed for me was, I don't want to go through life being scared of it, being scared of love, being scared of rejection, being scared of failure...About two years ago I was a mess really because I can't enjoy the thing that we are good at and I can't enjoy the great things around me because I'm burdened by this -- I've got to not blame anyone else and make some changes."

Martin, 37, and Paltrow, 41, revealed they were calling it quits after 11 years of marriage back in March. They announced on Paltrow's blog. The couple have two children together.

Coldplay's upcoming album, "Ghost Stories," is due out May 19.