The Mountain: Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett Interview

Gorillaz co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett was interviewed by Radio X's Dan O'Connell about the band's new album The Mountain, that will be released in early 2026. 

The project, moved slightly ahead of its initial schedule, is shaping up to be their most spiritually profound and unexpectedly joyful work yet, born from a period of deep personal loss. The album's central theme was catalyzed by the death of both Albarn’s and Hewlett’s fathers in a short period. 

This shared grief sent Albarn on a series of trips to India, where he found inspiration in the country's open and celebratory rituals around death, such as the cremation ceremonies on the Ganges. 

The goal for The Mountain is to explore death without fear, framing it as a natural cycle and aiming to make listeners feel more at ease with the subject. This philosophical approach is woven directly into the music. The creative process involved revisiting archival recordings from past collaborators who have passed away, including saxophonist Marqueis Smith and D12's Proof, weaving their posthumous contributions into new songs. 

The album also features a host of living legends, with confirmed collaborations from Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle and sitarist Anoushka Shankar, whose contributions add to the record's depth. 

Reflecting on 25 years of Gorillaz, Albarn cites key collaborators like the late Bobby Womack and Dennis Hopper, while noting that his favorite track remains the very first single, "Tomorrow Comes Today." 

The duo emphasized their preference for always moving forward creatively rather than dwelling on past works. To bring this new material to life, Gorillaz will embark on a major UK tour starting in March 2026. 

The band is set to play their biggest-ever UK show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June, with a capacity of approximately 65,000. 

The tour is described as a logistical challenge, requiring nine buses for performers and equipment, but is designed to be a dynamic and evolving live experience. 

Albarn praised the essential role of their predominantly female management team in orchestrating the massive undertaking. 

The Mountain represents Gorillaz at their most resilient - transforming personal grief into a collective, celebratory, and genre-bending album that confronts life's biggest questions with a vibrant and hopeful energy.

Watch the interview below

Gorillaz 2026: Damon Albarn Confirms New Album in Four Languages

Head's up- a new Gorillaz album is coming up in 2025! 

Damon Albarn has pulled back the curtain on his whirlwind of creativity, revealing that he’s been “buried in music-making” and, in a twist, the upcoming Gorillaz album will feature four different languages.

Speaking to The Sun, the Blur and Gorillaz frontman shared how the post-reunion rush of Blur didn’t slow him down one bit. “It’s been non-stop,” he said. “I was staging an opera in Paris while diving into the new Gorillaz record. Honestly, it’s been mad. But, let’s face it, the whole world’s gone mad, so none of this feels strange anymore.”

He added, “I’ve been ridiculously busy creating music -that’s my heartbeat. I guess I’ll have to start letting people hear it soon. There’s always this metaphorical dustbin bag of songs waiting to be tipped out and recycled into something new.”

While earlier this year Albarn hinted that fans might get the record in 2025, he told The Times that the album won’t drop until 2026. Still, he left us with a tantalising tease: “My new Gorillaz record is in four languages!”

On Britpop’s Fiercest Rivalry

In the same interview with The Sun, Albarn gave a surprisingly humble take on the legendary Britpop face-off between Blur and Oasis. Reflecting on the 1995 chart showdown, where Blur’s Country House beat Oasis’ Roll With It, he now shrugs it off:

“Oasis won — the battle, the war, the whole campaign. Let’s be real, it was obvious, wasn’t it?” he admitted. “They’re the victors. They’ve got the crown. I’m happy to step aside and concede. This summer belongs to them, and good on them. I hope it’s brilliant for everyone. I’ll be in a very, very different place.”

He even cheekily called himself “prophetic” for predicting the Gallagher brothers would eventually patch things up. “I mean, come on two brothers? They were always going to reconcile. It’s a good thing.”

On Music and Missteps

Albarn also spoke to The Times about wanting to collaborate with artists in Palestine and Israel amidst the ongoing war. He took a swipe at the controversy stirred by Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, calling it “one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve ever witnessed.”

The rap-punk act faced backlash after chanting “death to the IDF” and making provocative gestures during their set. “When he started goose-stepping in tennis whites — I mean, I’ve done some questionable things on stage, but not quite that bad. Testosterone takes over, you lose perspective. It’s a shame, but everyone’s just on edge these days,” Albarn remarked.

Upcoming Gorillaz Shows

Fans won’t have to wait until 2026 for a taste of Gorillaz magic. The band is gearing up for a series of exclusive shows between August 29 and September 3 at London’s Copper Box Arena. Each night, Albarn and the full Gorillaz crew will perform one of their iconic albums from start to finish, paired with immersive visuals by co-founder Jamie Hewlett.

To top it all off, there’s a mystery gig scheduled for September 3 2025, though details remain tightly under wraps. These shows will also coincide with the final week of their House of Kong exhibition — an unmissable treat for fans.