Who Will Feature on the New Gorillaz Album? Damon Albarn’s Collaborator Wildcards

With Damon Albarn confirming that a brand-new Gorillaz album is on the way in 2025 — and that it will feature four languages - fans have entered full speculation mode. Gorillaz have always thrived on unexpected partnerships: from old-school legends to future-facing stars, the band’s ever-expanding universe thrives on contrast, surprise, and chemistry.

So the question now is: who’s on the next guest list? Based on Albarn’s extensive track record, some informed guesses and a bit of wishful thinking are in order.

A Quick History of Gorillaz Collaborations

Since their 2001 debut, Gorillaz have set the gold standard for genre-mixing collabs. We’ve had:

• Hip hop icons like Del the Funky Homosapien, MF DOOM, De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, and Pusha T

• Soul and funk legends like Bobby Womack, Bootie Brown, and Stevie Nicks

• Pop royalty like Elton John, Carly Simon, and Grace Jones

• Experimental acts like Little Dragon, St. Vincent, Slowthai, and JPEGMAFIA

• Global stars like Bad Bunny, Ibrahim Ferrer, Fatoumata Diawara, and Zhu

Albarn has no borders linguistically, musically, or politically, and that’s what makes Gorillaz a living, breathing art project.

What We Know: Clues So Far

In recent interviews, Albarn revealed the next Gorillaz album will be sung in four languages, suggesting a truly international project. He’s also shared that he wants to work with artists from Palestine and Israel, and he’s been spotted in Paris for his opera The Magic Flute II.

Add in the fact that Albarn is politically engaged, musically restless, and very plugged into contemporary sounds and the possibilities for features grow vast.

Likely Collaborators

Let’s start with the most probable suspects based on Damon’s current and past collaborations:

1. Fatoumata Diawara

• Why? Albarn and Diawara have worked together in the past, both on Africa Express and on 2018’s Mali Music. She’s one of the strongest voices in African music today, and her ability to switch between languages and styles makes her a prime candidate for this project.

• Language: French / Bambara

2. Bad Bunny (again)

• Why? Their Cracker Island collaboration Tormenta was a standout — dreamy, woozy, and eerily beautiful. Albarn praised Bad Bunny’s work ethic and genre-bending style.

• Language: Spanish

3. Christine and the Queens (Redcar)

• Why? Albarn is currently working in Paris, and Christine’s theatrical pop would blend well with the Gorillaz aesthetic. They both lean into gender, identity, and emotion in unconventional ways.

• Language: French

4. Sevdaliza

• Why? The Iranian-Dutch singer makes haunting, politically charged electronic music. Her global identity and genre-defying sound make her a perfect fit.

• Language: Persian / English

Regional Collaborations Damon Has Hinted At

5. Israeli and Palestinian Artists

• Why? Albarn recently said he wants to work with musicians in Palestine and Israel during these turbulent times. He’s a firm believer in music as bridge-building.

• Who? Maybe DAM (the Palestinian hip-hop group), or Israeli singer-songwriter Noga Erez, who mixes electro-pop with biting political commentary.

• Language: Arabic / Hebrew

Potential Returnees

6. Little Simz

• Why? She and Albarn have worked together more than once, and their chemistry is undeniable. Her lyrical prowess would anchor the record, especially if there’s a conceptual or political narrative.

• Language: English (but with social commentary across borders)

7. Bootie Brown

• Why? He’s appeared on multiple Gorillaz tracks, including New Gold. Albarn seems to trust him as a lyrical narrator and grounding presence.

• Language: English

8. Thundercat

• Why? Their work on Cracker Island was funky, fun, and thematically rich. A reprise wouldn’t surprise anyone.

Wildcard Picks (But Not Impossible)

Let’s throw in some curveballs, the kind Gorillaz are famous for:

9. Rosalía

• Why? Albarn admires artists who defy genre boundaries. Rosalía’s flamenco-trap fusion and raw energy would electrify a Gorillaz track.

• Language: Spanish

10. Phoebe Bridgers

• Why? The indie star has a melancholic vocal style that would contrast beautifully with Albarn’s downbeat tone. Imagine her haunting a Gorillaz ballad like El Mañana or Melancholy Hill.

• Language: English

11. Ryuichi Sakamoto (posthumous tribute)

• Why? Albarn is known for honouring music legends. A sample, voice memo, or even AI-assisted tribute to the late Japanese composer could appear.

• Language: Japanese / instrumental

12. Tame Impala (Kevin Parker)

• Why? Their psychedelic tendencies are aligned, and Albarn has said he wants to "lose himself in the music again." Tame Impala’s production style fits that escapist vision.

The Visual Collaborators

Let’s not forget that Gorillaz is a visual band as much as a musical one. Jamie Hewlett is deeply involved, and with a multilingual, cross-cultural theme, we might also see input from global visual artists or animators possibly working from Europe, the Middle East, or Africa.

A collaboration with visual artists from Gaza, Tel Aviv, or Dakar wouldn’t be out of the question — especially given Albarn’s passion for global storytelling.

Final Word

Gorillaz have always been a sonic melting pot, a place where punk, hip-hop, electronica, and soul shake hands. With a new multilingual album on the horizon and Damon Albarn operating at full creative throttle, we’re likely to see a boundary-pushing record packed with unexpected voices.

From past favourites to bold new pairings and maybe a few political statements tucked between the synths, the next Gorillaz chapter is shaping up to be their most globally connected one yet.

New Gorillaz Album 2025 - Out Now

Damon Albarn has unveiled the long-awaited next chapter in the Gorillaz discography. Titled The Mountain, the band’s first album since 2023’s Cracker Island is slated for release on March 20 via their freshly launched label, Kong. The album spans 15 tracks and kicks off with a striking new single, “Happy Dictator”, featuring none other than Sparks.

The record’s production credits include Gorillaz themselves, alongside James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, and Remi Kabaka Jr., with special input from Argentine producer Bizarrap. Recording sessions took place at Albarn’s own Studio 13 in London, his studio in Devon, and spanned across India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Varanasi), Turkmenistan (Ashgabat), Syria (Damascus), and cities across the United States including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

The Mountain brings Gorillaz’s signature global sound into even sharper focus, with guest appearances that span five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Yoruba. Among the album’s diverse collaborators are Idles, Kara Jackson, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr, Black Thought, Anoushka Shankar, and Omar Souleyman. There are also pow
erful posthumous contributions from Bobby Womack, Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, Dennis Hopper, Mark E. Smith, Proof, and Tony Allen, creating a rich sonic archive that blurs past and present.

Scroll down for the full tracklist and upcoming UK & Ireland tour dates, which kick off March 21 in Manchester and feature guests like Trueno and Sparks on select shows.

The Mountain Tracklist:

1. The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash)

2. The Moon Cave (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda & Black Thought)

3. The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks)

4. The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen)

5. Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson & Anoushka Shankar)

6. The God of Lying (feat. Idles)

7. The Empty Dream Machine (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr & Anoushka Shankar)

8. The Manifesto (feat. Trueno & Proof)

9. The Plastic Guru (feat. Johnny Marr & Anoushka Shankar)

10. Delirium (feat. Mark E. Smith)

11. Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman & Yasiin Bey)

12. The Shadowy Light (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash)

13. Casablanca (feat. Paul Simonon & Johnny Marr)

14. The Sweet Prince (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr & Anoushka Shankar)

15. The Sad God (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna & Anoushka Shankar)

UK + Ireland Tour Dates:

• 03-21 – Manchester, England – Co-op Live

• 03-22 – Birmingham, England – BP Pulse Live

• 03-24 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro *

• 03-25 – Leeds, England – First Direct Arena *

• 03-27 – Cardiff, Wales – Utilita Arena *

• 03-28 – Nottingham, England – Motorpoint Arena *

• 03-29 – Liverpool, England – M&S Bank Arena *

• 03-31 – Belfast, Northern Ireland – SSE Arena *

• 04-01 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena *

• 06-20 – London, England – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ^*

* with Trueno
^ with Sparks

What Could Be on the New 2025 Gorillaz Album? Clues, Collaborations, Surprises

With Damon Albarn confirming a brand-new Gorillaz album arriving in 2025, speculation is swirling about what fans can expect from the ever-evolving virtual band. Between cryptic interviews, Jamie Hewlett's Instagram confirmation, and a few tantalising quotes in the press, we’re starting to get a picture albeit a surreal, animated one of what’s to come.

From Albarn’s recent comments, we know three key things:

1. The album is due out in 2025/2026.

2. It will feature lyrics in four languages.

3. He’s been working intensively on it alongside his opera, The Magic Flute II, La Malédiction.

That’s more than enough to spark our imaginations. So, let’s dive into the possibilities.

Multilingual Madness: What Are the Four Languages?

The most intriguing teaser so far is that the album will be in four languages. Gorillaz have always operated without national or linguistic borders, and Albarn is no stranger to working with global artists from Mali to Puerto Rico. This could mark the most culturally diverse Gorillaz release yet.

Speculatively, we might see:

• French – fitting given Albarn’s ongoing opera work in Paris and his French media interviews.

• Spanish – Gorillaz collaborated with Bad Bunny on Tormenta, and Albarn has previously shown love for Latin American music.

• Arabic or Hebrew – Albarn recently expressed interest in working with artists from Israel and Palestine, which may be reflected here.

• English – naturally, the band’s core language won’t be left behind.

A multilingual Gorillaz album not only fits the global chaos of the times but may also symbolise Albarn’s intent to transcend political borders through art.

Who Might Feature?

A Gorillaz album wouldn’t be complete without an eclectic mix of guest stars. Past collaborators include Lou Reed, Bobby Womack, Vince Staples, Kali Uchis, Elton John, and Little Simz. On Cracker Island alone, Albarn brought in Thundercat, Stevie Nicks, and Bad Bunny, showing that he’s still pulling A-list guests into the animated universe.

Given his recent remarks and activity, a few strong contenders for the new album include:

• African artists: Albarn continues to champion his Africa Express project, which brings together artists across the African continent. We might see a fresh feature from artists like Fatoumata Diawara, Moonchild Sanelly, or Burna Boy.

• Middle Eastern voices: Following his commentary on wanting to work with musicians from Palestine and Israel, it’s possible that rising voices from this region could be spotlighted — a powerful move in today’s climate.

• European or French artists: As Albarn is based in Paris for his opera, collaborations with French musicians (perhaps Christine and the Queens, Orelsan, or Aya Nakamura) wouldn’t be a stretch.

• Longtime friends: Don’t rule out a return from De La Soul, Little Dragon, or Damon’s Blur bandmate Graham Coxon, either.

Albarn has always approached collaboration with a sense of creative freedom. In past interviews, he’s described Gorillaz as a platform where ideas can emerge spontaneously, saying, “I like making records that feel like a conversation between cultures.”

Sound and Themes: What Will It Feel Like?

While Cracker Island leaned into funky synths, surreal escapism, and satire of cult culture, the next album may take a different turn. Albarn has described the current world as “crazy” and “hysterical” — themes which may well find their way into the music.

Given Albarn’s protest against AI in music — he recently joined over a thousand musicians on a silent album opposing the UK government’s stance — we might see themes of technological anxiety, identity, and resistance woven into the record. Expect eerie electronic textures, dystopian undertones, and philosophical lyrics veiled in pop hooks — classic Gorillaz fare.

And considering Albarn is juggling this alongside an opera, the album may also include orchestral interludes, theatrical arrangements, or even a narrative structure. He’s no stranger to concept-driven projects (Plastic Beach, Humanz), and with the mention of a six-week deadline to finish it, the pressure could fuel something urgent, raw, and experimental.

Live Shows and the Visual World

The new album will also coincide with a series of Gorillaz live performances in London this August and September, where the band will play their past albums in full. These shows, alongside their House of Kong exhibition, suggest that Gorillaz are preparing fans for a bigger narrative arc — perhaps one that this new album will complete or expand.

Jamie Hewlett’s visual contributions will likely follow suit, creating a vivid, possibly cross-cultural animated world that matches the album’s global sound.

If Damon Albarn's recent activity is any indication, the upcoming Gorillaz album will be genre-defying, globe-trotting, and multi-lingual — a sonic antidote to modern chaos and division. With cryptic hints and the usual Gorillaz secrecy, the record could turn out to be a dazzling collage of collaboration, commentary, and catharsis.

One thing’s for sure: it won’t be boring.