Damon Albarn has been making music for more than two decades, with his bands Blur, Gorillaz and The Good the Bad and the Queen. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he explains why it took him 25 years to put out a solo album.
"I just never imagined it was something I'd do," he told them. "Who doesn't love playing in a band? It's f**king brilliant. The best. Maybe I was just subconsciously avoiding a solo album."
The idea to put out a solo album came about two years ago when he was working on a Bobby Womack comeback album with XL Recordings owner Richard Russell. He and Russell tossed around the idea of starting a band together, but ultimately Russell told him, "Look, if you ask me what I want to do, I want to produce you."
Planning an album under his own name, Albarn gave Russell 60-plus songs to choose from. Some were digital files, some were on cassettes, some were on scraps of paper and others were recorded on cell phones.
The album explores Albarn's childhood as well as how relationships are changed by technology. Guest artists on the effort include Brian Eno ("Heavy Seas of Love"), Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan ("The Selfish Giant") and The Leytonstone City Mission Choice ("Mr. Tembo").
The end result, Everyday Robots, is due out April 28. Check out the album's title track here, and let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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