Damon Albarn Details Recording Gorillaz’s ‘Andromeda’ On ‘Song Exploder’ Podcast

Gorillaz will issue a new album Humanz via Warner Bros. Records on April 28. Frontman Damon Albarn appeared on the latest installment of the Song Exploder podcast to detail the recording of the album’s single “Andromeda.”

One of four songs initially issued when Humanz was announced, “Andromeda” features guest vocals from D.R.A.M. As explained by Albarn in the podcast hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway, the song was inspired in part by ”I Can’t Go for That” by Hall & Oates and “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. The podcast showcases an alternate version of the track that features D.R.A.M., who also appears briefly to discuss his involvement, on lead vocals.

Albarn reveals he was also inspired by the recent loss of people who were close to him, including collaborator Bobby Womack and Ethyl – the late mother of his partner for whom the song is dedicated. The lyrics came to him in “one splurge” as he was overwhelmed with emotion while reminiscing about “all these beautiful people that had passed away.”

“I remember being in tears as I sang that,” Albarn recalls, “because I was with them at that moment, and that’s why it’s got that emotional tug on it. I didn’t know what I singing – it was improvised – but it felt so poignant at that moment.”

Albarn also explains the various iterations the song went through over the course of a year of trying different approaches and other aspects of making the track. Listen to the full Song Exploder episode here:

https://soundcloud.com/hrishihirway/song-exploder-gorillaz-feat-dram

Humanz Tracklist

1. Ascension (Feat. Vince Staples)
2. Strobelite (Feat. Peven Everett)
3. Saturnz Barz (Feat. Popcaan)
4. Momentz (Feat. De La Soul)
5. Submission (Feat. Danny Brown & Kelela)
6. Charger (Feat. Grace Jones)
7. Andromeda (Feat. D.R.A.M.)
8. Busted and Blue
9. Carnival (Feat. Anthony Hamilton)
10. Let Me Out (Feat. Mavis Staples & Pusha T)
11. Sex Murder Party (Feat. Jamie Principle & Zebra Katz)
12. She’s My Collar (Feat. Kali Uchis)
13. Hallelujah Money (Feat. Benjamin Clementine)
14. We Got The Power (Feat. Jehnny Beth)

Bonus material on Deluxe:

1. The Apprentice (Feat. Rag’n’ Bone Man, Zebra Katz & RAY BLK)
2. Halfway To The Halfway House (Feat. Peven Everett)
3. Out Of Body (Feat. Kilo Kish, Zebra Katz & Imani Vonshà)
4. Ticker Tape (Feat. Carly Simon & Kali Uchis)
5. Circle Of Friendz (Feat. Brandon Markell Holmes)