Gorillaz announce guest for episode two of ‘Song Machine’

Episode two of Gorillaz’ Song Machine project is coming soon. The virtual band has now announced who’ll feature on the song. 

Gorillaz launched Song Machine in late January. Group leaders Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are skipping the traditional album release format with this project. Instead, they’re rolling out a music and cartoon series over the course of 2020.

The first taste of the project was ‘Momentary Bliss’, which featured UK punk rock duo Slaves and politically charged rapper slowthai. Albarn and Remi Kabaka Jr produced the song, with Albarn’s vocals also appearing prominently.

Watch: Gorillaz – Momentary Bliss ft. slowthai & Slaves

In a new Instgram video Gorillaz have announced that France-based, Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara will feature on Song Machine season one, episode two. Diawara’s latest album was 2018’s Fenfo. The Guardian gave it four stars and named it world album of the month in May 2018. Fenfo also received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album.

The initial Song Machine announcement stated an “ever-evolving roster” of guests would take part. In a BBC Radio interview on the day of the project’s launch, Albarn revealed he’d been in studio with the likes of Sampa The Great and ScHoolboy Q. A couple of days after releasing ‘Momentary Bliss’, the band hinted Tame Impala would also be making an appearance on Song Machine.

Watch: Fatoumata Diawara – Nterini

A few “Machine Bitez” clips will accompany each Song Machine episode. These are “bitesized conversations between cartoon band members and real life collaborators.” Bitez #1, #2, #3 came out along with ‘Momentary Bliss’.

Gorillaz, of course, are no strangers to collaboration. The band’s last album was 2018’s The Now Now, which followed just 12 months behind 2017’s Humanz. The latter included guest appearances from Vince Staples, Popcaan, Danny Brown, Kelela, Grace Jones, Mavis Staples, Pusha T, Kali Uchis, Benjamin Clementine, Savages’ Jehnny Beth, long time collaborators De La Soul, and Albarn’s former arch nemesis Noel Gallagher.

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