- 2025-12-13
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MUSIC
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Gorillaz Releases New Song “Damascus” featuring Omar Souleyman & Yasiin Bey
British virtual band Gorillaz, consisting of virtual: Murdoc Niccals (bass), 2-D (vocal), Noodle (guitar) and Russel Hobbs (drums), Non-virtual: Damon Albarn (vocals/guitar/keyboards), Jamie Hewlett and Remi Kabaka Jr. (drums), released a new song “Damascus” on December 12, 2025.
On the track, the band teamed up with Syrian singer-songwriter Omar Souleyman and American rapper Yasiin Bey.
The song is the fourth single off of their upcoming ninth studio album “The Mountain”, which is set to be released on February 27, 2026 via the band's own label KONG.
The band has bumped the album release date ahead three weeks, from March 20 to February 27.
The band first performed the song at Copper Box Arena in London back in September.
It was written by Damon Albarn, Omar Almasikh, and Yasiin Bey. Produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, and Remi Kabaka Jr.
The band recorded it in Damascus, London, Devon, Mumbai, and New York.- The new album comprises 15 tracks, featuring guest appearances from Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash, Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Puthli, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Bizarrap, Black Thought, Bobby Womack, Dennis Hopper, Gruff Rhys, IDLES, Jalen Ngonda, Johnny Marr, Kara Jackson, Omar Souleyman, Paul Simonon, Proof, Sparks, Tony Allen, Trueno, Trugoy the Dove and Yasiin Bey.
The album features performances in multiple languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Yoruba.
The theme of the album is death. Jamie Hewlett told DAZED about the album, “Reincarnation is a fantastic way to start the day, philosophically. You don't know what part of the multiverse you'll come back in; the unknown is what's exciting.” -
He continued, “Death from a western perspective is all so depressing, but in India it's quite positive. When I was visiting my mother-in-law, I witnessed a lot of people in tears about the fact that a family member was going to pass away, but it was also crossed with celebration about the fact that they were coming back, that their journey begins again. I thought, if we could transmit that message through a Gorillaz album, wouldn't that be a nice gift?” - source : Apple Music
