After releasing a web series this year, the
band are gearing up to showcase new album 'Song Machine, Season
One: Strange Timez' with three online shows in which human
performers interact with animated characters.
"Being in a room where there is no audience, you can really use
the trickery and technology that we now have available, which
was not available 20 years ago," Albarn, 52, told Reuters from
his studio in west London.
"I mean, potentially it's a whole new thing that no one's ever
seen before; that's if all the technology works on the day," he
said.
Performing arts, including theatre and live music, have been
decimated by the pandemic, which has forced cancellations and
closures around the world and left performers struggling to find
ways to keep working and connect with audiences stuck at home.
As well as having musicians on their new record, including Beck
and Elton John, appear in person or as a hologram, Albarn said
their animated characters Murdoch, 2D, Russell and Noodle would
also be involved.
"It's risky in the sense that there's so much that can go wrong.
But what else can we offer people at this moment in time that's
value for money and also artistically kind of adventurous and
retains the spirit of what live music is and what must not be
lost?"
Albarn hopes that next summer live concerts and festivals will
be able to take place again in Britain, but if the wait goes on
for much longer, live music culture could change.
"We stand perilously on the abyss of a digital avatar where you
know, we slowly become insignificant," he warned.
This year saw the launch of Gorillaz's Song Machine audiovisual
project – a series of self-contained episodes that ended up
becoming an album.
"I just wanted to do something that was sort of much more
spontaneous and had had the ability to be far more flexible and
fluid," Albarn said.
Reflecting on the creation of Gorillaz 22 years ago, Albarn said
his animated band exceeded his expectations and enabled them to
not be "shackled by the usual things that get in the way with
bands after a long period of time."
Albarn dismissed recent rumours that he might have a track to
release featuring Paul McCartney, explaining that it was just a
small recording he had from when they once jammed together after
dinner.
"I never said that I had a tune or anything," said Albarn.
Gorillaz's three performances are set to take place from London
on December 12 and 13.
(Editing by Mike Collett-White)
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