Damon Albarn: Last News

Taylor Swift shut downDamon Albarn claims that she does not write her own music, which he alleged in a recent interview with the LA Times.'I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this,' Swift posted on Twitter. 'I write all of my own songs. Your hot take is completely false and so damaging.

Zack Sharf Taylor Swift issued a response on Twitter to Damon Albarn, the “Blur” frontman and “Gorillaz” co-creator who claimed in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times that Swift does not write her own music. Swift, who is officially credited with writing or co-writing all of her music, called Albarn’s accusation “completely false and so damaging.”“I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this,” Swift posted on Twitter. “I write all of my own songs.

Damon Albarn has addressed the fact that Taylor Swift doesn’t write all her own songs, saying that her co-writing approach is at odds with his “traditionalist” view on songwriting.The Blur and Gorillaz frontman, and soloist in his own right, was speaking in a new interview when he highlighted what he argued are “big” differences between acts who write their own songs, such as Billie Eilish, verses those who seek input from others.He told The Los Angeles Times that performing stripped-back sets in promotion of his new album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows‘, leaves him more exposed than when performing with a full band. “You learn whether the songs are any good or whether they were popular at the time because of the sound and the attitude,” he said.The interviewer picked up on his comment and asked whether many modern acts rely on “sound and the attitude” rather than the timeless quality of their music, to which Albarn replied: “Name me someone who’s not.”After it was suggested to him that Swift is an “excellent songwriter”, he said that she doesn’t write her own songs (the interviewer clarified that co-writing is involved).“That doesn’t count.

Damon Albarn delivered a moving rendition of ‘Royal Morning Blue’ on US TV yesterday – check out the video below.The Blur and Gorillaz frontman featured as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night (January 20) in support of his 2021 solo album, ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’.Appearing live in the studio, Albarn performed the record’s ‘Royal Morning Blue’ on a piano in front of a changing, natural landscape backdrop. The musician was accompanied by a string quartet.“At the end of the world/ Stay by my side/ At the end of the world/ Stay by my side/ Royal morning blue,” Albarn sang in the gentle outro to the song before the stage faded into darkness.You can watch the performance here:Meanwhile, Albarn is due to showcase ‘The Nearer The Fountain…’ at an intimate show in London next month.

Elton John is ending 2021 on a high.

Elton John has united almost all of the 23 collaborators that appear on his recently minted 32nd album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, for what may very well be the most star-studded Zoom call of all time.Among those that appear in the chat are modern-day trailblazers like Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Dua Lipa, Charlie Puth, Young Thug and Rina Sawayama, as well as fellow music legends like Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Brandi Carlile and Damon Albarn. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder also makes an appearance, showing off an artwork of John “dominating the world” drawn by John Entwistle of The Who.“If there’s anything that’s going to make a difference in the world, connected with love, it’s music,” Wonder said in the call.

Damon Albarn and Bastille are among the leading names who have been announced for the BRITs Week 2022 gig series.The London shows will take place around the staging of next year’s BRIT Awards, which will be held at The O2 in London on February 8.BRITs Week presented by Mastercard for War Child will kick off on February 1 with Anne-Marie performing at Lafayette, before Bastille play at Earth Theatre on February 2.Albarn will close the gig series – which will also feature the likes of Joy Crookes, Maisie Peters, Becky Hill, Mimi Webb and Craig David – with a show at the Troxy in London on February 20.Further shows for BRITS Week 2022 are set to be announced next month – you can see the current line-up below.Proceeds from the shows will go

Damon Albarn has revealed that he once considered pursuing a political career but was put off after a meeting with Tony Blair.The Blur and Gorillaz frontman recalled a conversation he had with the politician – which took place “before he became Prime Minister” in 1997 – and it left him “terrified”.“Politics is such a murky business. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it when I was younger,” he told the Metro newspaper’s Guilty Pleasures column (via Contact Music).“I even went and had a strategic meeting with Tony Blair before he became Prime Minister, but that terrified me so much.

Damon Albarn showcased a host of new tracks from his solo album alongside Blur classics in Coventry last night (December 7) during his UK tour.The frontman performed a selection of cuts from ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’ at the HMV Empire including the title track, ‘The Cormorant’ and ‘Royal Morning Blue’, footage of which you can view below.He then went on to play a host of Blur classics such as ‘Beetlebum’, ‘For Tomorrow’, ‘Tender’ and ‘Girls & Boys’ before wrapping up with ‘The Universal’.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn hailed his Scots crowd as gig goers went mad for some of his biggest hits.

Damon Albarn has confirmed that a feature-length Gorrilaz film is in the works at Netflix.The frontman announced in October 2020 that a “kind of abstract” animated movie based on the cartoon band was in progress. “We are supposed to be making a film while we’re doing season two [of ‘Song Machine’],” he explained at the time.Albarn said that the band had “signed contracts” and started writing scripts.

Instead of testing a bit from the bowl, Damon decided to stick his finger in the blender.Damon continued: "I put it in, pressed the button."Then I had to pull it out, and it completely severed."He went to Paddington A&E and they told him there was nothing they could do for him, raising alarm for the musician who plays the piano.Damon said to the staff: "I said, 'I'm a pianist, I need my finger back'."Anyway, a fantastic surgeon was found on Christmas Day, and on Boxing day, I got it sewed back on."Damon was speaking to Zane ahead of the release of his latest solo album, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows.The album will be available for purchase from tomorrow.Damon also mentioned to Zane about the upcoming Gorillaz film,

Damon Albarn delivered a piano-led cover of The Human League‘s ‘Don’t You Want Me’ during a BBC live session last night (November 10).The Blur and Gorillaz frontman performed a special ‘Sofa Session’ on Jo Whiley’s Radio 2 show in support of his new solo album, ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, which arrives tomorrow (November 12).“I love The Human League,” Albarn explained of his decision to take on the 1981 classic. “Although, a disclaimer: when it should go really high I don’t because I don’t have the range.”Elsewhere, Albarn offered up a stripped-back rendition of Blur’s ‘Beetlebum’.

Damon Albarn has shared a brand new solo track – listen to ‘The Tower Of Montevideo’ below.The song is the latest preview of the Blur and Gorillaz singer’s second solo album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, which is due to land on November 12 via Transgressive.The new song is inspired by Albarn’s love of South America, and named after Palacio Salvo, a 1920s building in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo.Alongside the new track, Albarn has also shared a live performance video as part of his ongoing ‘Sublime Boulevards – Performance Films’ series.Listen to the new track and watch the performance video below:This is the fourth track to be shared from ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, following the

Damon Albarn will livestream his solo show at the Globe Theatre in London later this month.The sold-out gig will see the Blur frontman, his live band and a string quartet performing songs from Albarn’s forthcoming new album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows’, which is out on November 12 via Transgressive Records.“I love playing in the round and at the Globe you can see the moon too, marvellous,” Albarn said in a statement about the upcoming show.The live media platform Doors.Live will be streaming Albarn’s Globe show live on September 20, with the stream set to be available to watch in the UK, Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.The Albarn show will be available to watch live on the night and

After School Radio on Apple Music Hits, bassist Alex explained it took them all years to clear their debts.‘I think part of the problem with ‘Leisure’ was that it was as … I don’t know whether you had this with your band, but our first manager was kind of like our mate and it turned out he wasn’t very good at managing after all,’ he told Mark Hoppus.‘And when Leisure was coming out, we realised we didn’t have any money at all.

Damon Albarn has turned down the chance to compete on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. The Blur and Gorillaz frontman insisted he "can't be bothered" to take part in a reality TV show and has rejected offers from a number of shows over the years, from the Latin and ballroom contest to 'Celebrity MasterChef', even though he claims to be a whizz in the kitchen.

Damon Albarn has reflected in a new interview on the missed opportunities he’s had to collaborate with a host of stars during his career.The Blur frontman was speaking ahead of Gorillaz’s double-header of gigs at London’s The O2 this week, which were held in honour of NHS workers.Speaking to The Herald, Albarn was asked about the many collaborations he’s enjoyed throughout this career, and reflected on some of the big names he’s missed out on working with.“Dr. Dre, Prince and Kendrick Lamar … I missed all three of those.

Damon Albarn has been announced as a special guest at next month’s End Of The Road Festival.The Larmer Tree Gardens festival will take place from September 2-5, with the likes of Hot Chip, King Krule and Sleaford Mods all set to perform.Albarn will perform with his live band and a string quartet at End Of The Road, with the Blur frontman leading the latest additions to the 2021 line-up.Crack Cloud, Sipho, Balimaya Project, Loraine James, Anna B Savage, Kiran Leonard, Wesley Gonzalez, BABii, Gwenifer Raymond, Broadside Hacks, Sam Akpro, The Umlauts, Tiberius b, John Francis Flynn, Michael Clark and Joe Goddard (DJ) have also been added to the bill, which you can see in full below.End Of The Road have also confirmed today (August 5) that a

Damon Albarn has shared a brand new track and performance video – watch his run through of new song ‘Polaris’ below.The song and performance was teased earlier this week in a short video that saw Albarn tuning up with an ensemble who are readying themselves for a live performance.The ‘Polaris’ video has now arrived, alongside the studio version of the track, which is available on all streaming services.

DEALSProducer Barry Blue has sold his production royalties linked to the catalogue of 1970s funk band Heatwave – including 1976 hit ‘Boogie Nights’ – to One Media IP. “I am extremely proud of my work with Heatwave and look forward to working with One Media IP to ensure that the legacy and integrity of the catalogue is preserved and future-proofed in the best way possible”, says Blue.