8legs: Gorillaz

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How Gorillaz Reconnected and Made Their Best Album in Years

Albarn and Hewlett describe The Mountain as a cohesive, expansive world built around grief, collaboration, and cross-cultural influences.
The Mountain includes voices of deceased artists alongside living musicians, a concept first sketched in Gorillaz Manifesto from 1999.
Albarn highlights grief as a driving force behind the album, noting personal losses and a trip to Varanasi contributed to its themes.
The artists compare AI to other tools, with Hewlett calling AI a possible tool in the art world and Albarn admitting he doesn’t know how to use it.
The pair discuss future U.S. shows and the role animation plays in attracting new, younger audiences to Gorillaz.
Albarn notes the shift from Blur to Gorillaz as a move toward community and collaboration beyond traditional rock acts.
Hewlett reflects on how cross-cultural collaboration has enriched the album and Gorillaz’s reach.
The interview touches on the ethics of AI, asserting that it cannot replace the human element in art.
Both artists acknowledge the evolving media landscape, including streaming, and their preference for direct engagement over passive consumption.
The Mountain release timeline includes live performances in Los Angeles and an exhibition, with more U.S. dates hinted.

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