Damon Albarn: Studio Tour, 'Cracker Island' & Coachella | Apple Music

Although he is used to being the voice and talent behind Gorillaz, Damon Albarn is giving Zane Lowe an up-close look at who he is.
Albarn invites Zane to his sacred Studio 13 in West London to tour the environment where he makes music. In the studio, Damon shows his archive of musical instruments, and gives a glimpse of his and Jamie Hewlett’s process for creating the illustrations associated with Gorillaz.
Damon and Zane wind down by discussing his experience at Coachella 2022 with Billie Eilish, new music, and collaborating with the likes of Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks, and Tame Impala.
00:00 - Equipment Collection
9:09 - Collaboration
20:37 - Impromptu Jams and Inspiration
29:05 - West London
40:00 - The Cult of Cracker Island
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[@ChokyoDK]

It's insane how Damon Albarn has stayed relevant and on the cutting edge of music for 30+ years.

[@mollyoko]

imagine being an original artist. insane!

[@ChokyoDK]

@@mollyoko original artists fall off left, right and center or never become big enough for us to know about them. longevity is rare among artists.

[@Le_Petomane]

I love the man, since the 90's but "cutting edgy" is pushing it. Featuring: relevancy, is more accurate.

[@dewitt.powers]

If you think Damon Albarn has been on the cutting edge of music for decades or is even really that relevant in the present day culturally, I feel like you must have stopped paying attention 10-15 years ago.

[@powerbite92]

@@Le_Petomane Nepotism works its wonders

[@JRLeeman]

Damon: “And here’s my toilet seat - I bought it at B&Q in 2018 for 30 quid” Zane: “Woah - that’s amazing! That’s the greatest toilet seat I’ve ever seen!”

[@aristocratmusic]

Damon: “This right here is a bottle of BBQ sauce that I found in the bin outside of Coachella in 2010. It’s mostly empty, but it’s dear to me as these are the last few drops of this specific sauce.” Zane: “Wow! That was discontinued the same year. The formula has since been altered. You really are a true collector.”

[@justinfuller7540]

I think Zane is the most painful interviewer I’ve ever seen, he’s cringeworthy!

[@masteroogway6316]

That will cost you more than a space shuttle

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

Yeh he's a bit high on Damon's fame and gear... Fascinating insight though.

[@weswally1]

This is so true, I was cringing at Zane the entire interview! "Seriously bro, this is like my favooooourite ever Gorillaz release" Damon's like "Really?"

[@Middle8]

This is one of the greatest Albarn interviews I've seen. Great to see him in his studio and in his element -- usually he seems annoyed to be doing press. Zane is also great in keeping up the enthusiasm while still matching Albarn's mood.

[@TaylorTayMusic]

They seem like good mates

[@wombatcountry]

does this mean you'll make a video on Gorillaz?

[@erosetol]

@@wombatcountry I asked him to do so at least a few years ago. I'm still waiting.

[@elicapps6585]

You mean it's like the greatest left turn in Albarn history?

[@piggod1234]

Look like they're friends or known each other

[@kajonx]

Damon is slowly evolving into Elton John

[@halffastmusician]

Totally! Always have that same thought. 😂

[@cactaceous]

Elton John wishes he was Damon Albarn.

[@Orio69420]

Fax

[@mafraldinha25]

I saw blur live the other day and you would not believe the similarities while he was playing Sing on the piano, absolutely hilarious.

[@sofiakatelyn]

Please don't say that. On behalf of us all Blur gen fans, that leads into question where we are heading 😂😂😂

[@jannis9533]

Damon blows in the wooden instrument and it sounds like a gentle buffalo fart. Zane: THIS IS AMAZIN!

[@sulemanhussain3425]

Hahahaha! I was looking for someone to mention this 😂😂

[@TulipaBigDipa]

😂😂😂 was looking for this

[@craig3719]

I couldn’t tell if they were being serious or not 😂

[@mercai]

Weird, I also though that it was amazing. The instrument and its possibilities when heard live. I don't know much about buffalos tho

[@jeremiasnater4288]

​@@mercaiwhich possibilities

[@peakingmantis5331]

I consider Damon as my generations David Bowie. I feel honored to be a 90's kid growing up with Gorillaz

[@1292liam]

agreed

[@kathyrodrigueztorres6064]

Yes yes yes!!!!

[@fjohn10]

I really appreciate your point. Thank you for that!! I love them both, but never made the connection.

[@champagnpapi800]

2000’s kid here. Same.

[@Toripusutashi]

Gorillaz was mad good

[@november662]

Imagine being the Russian guy who made the Gorillaz fan art and watching Damon pointing it down. I would cry of happiness

[@Jason-Scott]

Zalenski killed her in Donbas 😢

[@JulianLeahy]

@@Jason-Scott source?

[@tartar412]

@@JulianLeahy He's lying! Or fool. Maybe two in one.

[@ffwlpe]

timestamp

[@arbyz_arrrrra]

​@@ffwlpe 27:18 It seems to have found

[@vaenom]

Zane: "How do you even get your hands on that? That's not something that's normally for sale, D." Damon: "No. It's not." *moves along* 27:53

[@wostmusic8482]

lmao

[@bluedunsworth3131]

I thought the same thing ha

[@allonmyownherewego9893]

man has OPS

[@paullindsay9451]

lol Damon really bored

[@tristankerr3655]

Zane Lowe is so irritating

[@graememurray964]

'Great to have 2 stadium bands.' What a legend.

[@thelucasshow4970]

Damon is such a legend and I like seeing him with more energy and having more fun then normal

[@JustMe-ty2rp]

Than usual perhaps. Perfectly normal haha

[@alecjmejia]

I have a whole new level of admiration for Damon. What a wise and inventive man and musician. We’re lucky the Gorillaz is still going on 20+ years later.

[@rockitabnormal]

Wow, this is by the far the best (and most comprehensive) interview with him I’ve ever watched. Zane works fantastically alongside him to uncover small details that other interviewers miss. Things that light him up and get him to speak from a new and authentic place about his artistry/what he envisions for the future. Fantastic all around. And what a lovely tribute at the end. Rest easy, Dave ❤

[@pifflepockle]

Muppet

[@dyangruber8441]

Damon will go down as one of the best artists of our generation ❤️

[@mojopin70]

LOL

[@EriugamGaming]

One of? He is the greatest.

[@nwut]

@@EriugamGaming bro u overestimating him fr

[@---kk7rq]

Nah lol. Blur and Gorillaz have some tunes though.

[@Procedurallydegeneratedjohn]

Jesus you definitely set a low bar. Is gorillaz the only band youve ever listened to?

[@vinylmonkeyTHFC]

A living legend. When he gives up he will finally be seen as the one of the greatest ever. What a goat. He knows so much about music and loves it. What a man

[@whyisntitpossible404]

I agree, but what about Damon?

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

wild that in the 90s there was a damon vs noel debate. when you look at gallagher's output over the next 3 decades compared to albarn it's just no contest. i think noel's a great musician btw and i dont think there has to be competitiveness in music. it's just funny that it was such a debate

[@christopheralthouse6378]

I just hope that, when the time does come, that an equally competent musician can acquire his leftover writings as Damon just doesn’t STOP making music…I can’t imagine just how many awesome songs will be just sitting unrecorded by that time just simply because there’s not enough time for one person to record all of those songs in one lifetime… The number of posthumous Gorillaz hits that would wind up released afterwards could keep fresh Gorillaz content coming out for many MANY years afterwards…😅

[@Visions_in_Toyko]

I remember being at Glastonbury festival the year the Bobby Womacks “the bravest man in the universe” lp was released, and as a long time fan of both Damon and Bobby I went to watch the show. It was obviously incredible as you could imagine as Bobby did half the show centred around the album and the second half around his greatest hits. I remember at one point Damon turning to Bobby and saying “look Bobby, look at all the people that came out to see you” and it melted my soul as it felt like Bobby had doubted whether people would be interested in coming to see this old man of yesteryear perform. The dynamic between the 2 of them was wonderful to watch and listen to and it was obvious that there was a great deal of love and admiration between the 2 men. It will always go down as one of my favourite shows I have ever seen. The following year I was attending the festival and left on the Sunday, as I got into my car and drove the long journey home Bobby Womack started to play over the radio, it was highlights of his show the year prior and the radio presenter announced that Bobby had sadly passed away. Exactly a year to the day from his Glastonbury performance. I had to pull the car over as I was filled with tears and emotions sobbing as his beautiful voice sang through the speakers. Thank you Damon for creating the music and Bobby for everything he brought to all our lives with his talent.

[@samkedwards2032]

I was there too!! That’s why I love Glastonbury, never seen so many people from such diverse backgrounds and groups come together to see all sorts of artists. It was an amazing lineup that year

[@theDutton]

God bless Glastonbury, we must protect her. Great story, thanks for sharing!

[@cl8804]

ye he ded

[@TunelessBoon]

I’m frequently baffled about why Damon hasn’t really gotten his dues as one of England’s greatest ever songwriters. The quality, range and breadth of imagination throughout his output is staggering. From Blur to Gorillaz, (with the Good, the Bad and the Queen, Mali Music, his solo stuff and many more besides sprinkled throughout) the quality has rarely dipped and I can’t think of many musicians who have been operating at the top of their game throughout four decades (Paul McCartney can’t even claim that, maybe Bowie is the only other who can?). The conversation always involves people like McCartney, Bowie, Kate Bush and the likes of Noel Gallagher (who isn’t a patch on Albarn IMO) but I think Damon is pound-for-pound as a good a songwriter/sonic architect/multimedia powerhouse as any of them. He’s earned his spot in the pantheon of greats for sure.

[@Alexandr7392]

Yea, it's always funny for me when someone says Damon collaborating with famous and legendary artists, despite the fact that he is the most legendary artist among them all

[@MichaelJames-mg3xx]

​@@Alexandr7392 That's so wrong.

[@andrew2366]

Because he ain't bothered that's why awards accolades mean nothing to him!!!

[@kael13]

I mean he spent a couple minutes saying he couldn't understand why he was winning awards every five seconds as part of Blur and that awards are nonsense anyway. So, to him, I don't think it matters. I think people who know music know that Albarn is right up there among the greats.

[@AndI0td763]

@@kael13it’s subjective. “Knowing music” doesn’t mean that they have to agree with a certain point of view. Blur and Gorillaz aren’t for everyone, or even most.

[@simonsuniverseofmusic8585]

Damon is probably the best song maker in my life right from day one. When I was younger he has had the most incredible impact in my life with his music career in everything

[@jissanhuq3792]

Ive never not had him on a “playlist” 24 years going and to think that he keeps it coming is nuts

[@gabogapo]

Pop

[@A_Tempest]

Zane obviously 'gets' Damon and is able to poke at the things that interest him while trying to elicit answers to questions and just immediately moves on when a topic is skirted, really great to see such a genuine side to him.

[@distantlore]

Damon is a breath of fresh air in the rotting wormhole that is the music industry.

[@starchaser777]

one of my greatest fears is waking up someday with the news that this man died

[@RevokeTheSarcasm]

Damon's mannerism makes him look like he's much older than he really is. This is perhaps because he's lived a life that would fill a dozen ordinary lives in terms of experiences. great artist, iconic.

[@HitchcockBrunette]

He looks way younger to me than anyone remotely his age??? It’s his wisdom and life experience that gives off wise vibes which are earned.

[@NateS917]

​@@HitchcockBrunettehe really looks his age

[@flynndean]

He's 55! And he probably looks a little younger than that. What on earth are you talking about?! 🤣

[@milanradojkovic3818]

He IS old! 😂😂😂

[@Ya-rs9mk]

@@HitchcockBrunetteeveryone missed the point

[@mikatteba225]

Didn't know Damon Albarn was a legend in Rock Music. I knew him for his collaboration with african artist in jazz gigs. A very eclectic individual.

[@LH-kr4od]

Can't believe that riff was just a suzuki preset! Brilliant stuff. Have loved Damon and followed his career for 25 years now and his creativity just seems limitless, probably because he's not afraid to do daft things like that!

[@lucent7000]

Suzuki...I wonder if that was the reasoning for one of the songs being called Left Hand Suzuki Method

[@manuelano91]

do you know waht instrument it is

[@randmiller88]

@@manuelano91 It's called an Omnichord

[@RAGINGcajunAsian]

Some Kind of Nature is probably my favorite track on Plastic Beach, so hearing that little anecdote about Lou Reed was a pretty incredible bit of backstory!

[@AlexTheGamer97]

I felt exactly the same

[@mustardegg2]

@@AlexTheGamer97 I also felt the exact same.

[@ShinyHunterCrob]

@@mustardegg2 I also felt almost the exact same.

[@mustardegg2]

@@ShinyHunterCrob only…..almost…..

[@ikhsanramadhans214]

I kinda wonder what three song did Damon send to him

[@markgatland977]

Seeing that Astoria Theatre sign in his yard almost made me burst into tears...still my most sorely missed venue, but I'm so glad that someone like Damon has got it 😊

[@LH-kr4od]

So many great nights there in the late 90s and 00s.

[@kristianTV1974]

Agreed, and likely Brixton Academy next..

[@andyb7239]

The backstory on Some kind of Nature (Lou Reed) is the most insane proof that the people who got it, got it

[@voicedbilabialtrill2514]

Zane crushing on Damon for 50 minutes straight

[@gleannmhuire]

That’s his shtick all the time.

[@bobbymoynahan]

@@gleannmhuire Totally,.. I love the interviews but he's a tad bit of a nut-rider...

[@trealmichaellee]

Wow, Zane has such an amazing rapport with Damon that made this one of the best interviews I've seen in a while.

[@taintedgaming8750]

Thats not fair, everyone is entitled to play instruments. -Damon Albarn

[@TheoreticallyNo]

Damon’s stories are ridiculous in a good way. One of the musical geniuses of my lifetime. I saw Blur in a club that held 1200 in the 90s just after the Blur album came out and the place just exploded when they played Song 2. All timer for me.

[@fnafgurljj0743]

Damon is probably the most laid back artists when it comes to touring his studio and stuff! None of that fancy smanshy stuff. Just laid back and chill ❤ We need more celebrities like that

[@kaeeberhart5376]

Damon Albarn has got to be one of the greatest musical geniuses of the 21st century (and the 90s!). I love him and all his contributions to music.

[@lilman4806]

Hands down easy

[@jissanhuq3792]

Gorillaz alone has followed me for 20+ years and they keep going. He’s outdone Radiohead for relevant longevity. Even young folks listen to the Gorillaz… He’s always been great to keep up with artists

[@MorrisJoshua26]

Damon blows a raspberry into a tube. THAT SOUNDS AMAZING

[@trevorkobe]

That Lou Reed story is great. Some Kind of Nature is one of my favorite songs.

[@psychobilly42069]

I was OBSESSED with gorillaz as a kid, by chance I got to briefly own an omnichord in high school and when I discovered the Clint Eastwood connection everyone thought I was crazy bruh

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

Damon Albarn is such a cool dude

[@Ziggernaut]

I came across Damon Albarn in 1994 my first year in secondary school and a girl i had a crush on was into a band call Blur and that time to me they were just another boy band from Britain until i was in art school year 1999 and the music he made with album Blur was the one changed my perspective of his talent incoming future and Gorillaz was defining the culture surrounding it.

[@patjackson8649]

Absolutely the greatest interview (and I've watched likely most of them) with this genius that's ever been done. Thank you. This was a delight and privilege, to see the legendary 13 and to hear Damon talking with such love and enthusiasm about his art. Dedicating the video to Dave Jolicoeur was a very touching, classy, appropriate move. Peace and love to all who helped make this.

[@biegebythesea6775]

what genius?

[@funkunko]

@@biegebythesea6775damon..

[@biegebythesea6775]

@@funkunko no

[@tonywords6713]

Thanks so much for doing this and recording it and sharing it with the world!! Its like youre there hanging out with them

[@Dave-ds4vc]

always such fun interviews with Damon!

[@stuart_kt]

I've always wanted to be on those hallways of Studio 13 and see the magical workflow of each room and this little documentary made it as a close experience to be in there! I'm excited to see how is going to be Damon's new studio!

[@AmunSun3]

Damon is a true legend and I personally consider some of Gorillaz music the most impactful to my mental health in a positive way. Especially back when I was a teen. The music kept me company on many long walks home through the city and the collaborations with some of my favourite artists were always a treat. Havent listened to the new project yet but I'll take my time and enjoy it once I get to hear it.

[@damo5791]

What a great interview. My favorite of yours to date. Seeing inside the space he creates certainly helped as too the laid-back, relaxed stories he shared. A bigger fan after watching this. Thank you.

[@Designer_Opine]

The work Damon and his collaborators create through this project is a contribution to humanity that will surely be unpacked, weighed, measured and elevated, decade after decade, long after we’re gone. Thanks for everything Damon. Thank you Zane and Apple.

[@asyria]

damon albarn is one of the greatest to ever do it. amazing musician and a huge inspiration. so ready to listen to the new album later! 🙌❤️🌟 lovely interview as well. rest in peace trugoy.

[@soulerheat]

This was such a wonderful interview 👏 ...and what a beautiful tribute to David at the end 💖 Well done guys!

[@MR.FREEDMAN]

Only Damon would own and make a hit song from an Omnichord. Legend.

[@mitya_music]

wow that was like a breath of fresh air. coolest and the most diverse Damon interview! so many laughters, joy and inspiration! thanks Zane's crew 💜

[@Joliaux76]

On several songs he can make me cry, he's the best for melody for sure and merging music styles, his album "the nearer the fontain" is a masterpiece. I am proud to have met him once in Iceland, long time ago, also a lovely person.

the "i love melancholy" on the piano i love it so much and the story with bobby womack, you can tell he really loves and misses him

[@funkp0wer]

That end got me. 😢 RIP Dave.

[@La_domniz]

Dave Rowntree is still alive

[@aprofondir]

@@La_domniz Dave Jolicoeur

[@GrahamDJCoath]

Love this so much! Glad to hear Damon is moving down our neck of the woods!

[@Coldnayermoon]

I'm obsessed with Damon's voice😍😍😍

[@nonbinaryperson1422]

50 minutes of Damon content, all I need right now❤❤

[@HitchcockBrunette]

This is easily my fave Damon and Zane interview collab ive seen yet! We’ve been so blessed in these recent years with Damon content - keep it coming. So special !!! ❤

[@leonielefaucheurwoodward789]

Damon is a true genius. He lives and breathes music. Great interview 👏🏼

[@caylalikescats]

this man made soundtracks to my childhood and is still making soundtracks for my adulthood

[@jamesjarrett52]

I was born in Fordham, a mile down the road from Damon who lived in Aldham. He went to Stanway School as did I, and then Colchester Sixth Form College, as did I. He's a few years older than me, so Blur were already in their pomp when I was sitting my A Levels, and he returned to play in our sports hall. Whenever I see him I always feel incredibly nostalgic.

[@plebjames]

It's lovely to see Damon laughing and smiling

[@Virolaxion]

Nice to hear Damon mention how important Massive Attack were to him. They need more ears. He introduced them to me when 2D "featured" on the track Small Time Shot Away

[@ShortP1089]

So happy about those deep insights into the day to day life of the biggest and most impactful artists there are. Damon really is an expcetional human being. Please don't stop. And if i could wish for something, in regard of his upcoming first performance ever: Get Jai Paul on here. I am STILL on the hype train about him, since all the way back in 2012

[@MapleGroveProductions]

So cool to get an inside look at all this from Damon. Great tour and interview!

[@blakefish80]

The finest song writer of my generation. He penned the soundtrack to my formative years. Just an immense talent.

[@SICRoosterKido]

Damon is so wholesome. And 2-D is one of my favorite artists ever 🥲

[@suechaplin9745]

Falling in ❤ with Gorillaz more and more. Wonderful interview and hope this album and Damon Albarn gets much deserved recognition. 🎉

[@suuujji]

one of the greatest damon albarn interviews!! im cheerful to see him so lively and genuine while talking about all of these fascinating things. i could listen to him talk for hours!

[@JustMe-ty2rp]

Me too. Listening to him makes me happy and peaceful inside 😌 ☺️

[@davidlee4858]

I had honestly forgot how good Zane is. This whole thing is so natural. Good work from all involved 👌

[@FUNKINETIK]

Great chat, could listen to Mr Albarb all day long. And a very special moment when he touched the face of Terry Hall and said “I never thought for a second I’d never see him again”. Two very similar creative geniuses. P E A C E : )

[@EmThePenguin]

Delighted that this exists, what a cool piece of history. I do wish that Zayne had been a bit calmer and didn’t interrupt him so much, but grateful for the interview nonetheless.

[@klara13]

the album is great, love to get some insight as always, thanks guys!

[@prismonthethehorizon5793]

This is awesome, such a treasure to see all those instruments! 💗

[@danmahalo]

Damon is such a lovely person

[@tree4116]

I'm so glad this interview exists 🤲

[@eracli0]

That story about Lou is so great and in character for him lol. I love it. I could see that being a movie honestly.

[@lawrencetisdall9850]

Damon new Blur song "The Narcissist" is his BEST work yet !! Amazing !!!!

[@StrikarIO]

I love everything in this video

[@billycallanan4314]

love that they hung fanart on the wall, proper nice touch, fan who done that must be loving it if they saw this

[@bbcerise]

What a great interview, or more like conversation. Thank you so much for that.

[@kichi6346]

Wow, what a great interview! Hopefully the video blows up

[@JohnKjorstad]

Great interview! Thank you for doing this and sharing it with the world. Damon is an amazing and creative composer. He's a true national treasure.

[@silvestersourn4125]

such a talent! saw him on a tour recently, being in his presance is so sureal

[@G.reviewz]

Thank you for making this video damo and apple music ❤❤❤

[@1855studios]

legendary interview. love the energy that came out from this duo

[@bubblybull2463]

Damon has become soooo humble and so chill with the years, it’s fabulous ❤

[@anthony8890]

This was absolutely incredible to watch.... Can't wait to listen to the new music. Great work Zane.

[@IFTUE9831]

Absolutely fantastic interview! It seemed to be inside one of those old school Rolling Stone cove stories. That's what we need more in here on the KZbin. Artists should be interviewed by the right people and inside their own creative caves and shares more clearly the process of creation of their music. Kudos to Zane and Apple music for producing this!

[@murtaghj]

Loved this, thank you

[@greenpeluca]

Hablan un inglés muy claro y por suerte pude entender. Qué buena nota! 💜💙 Damon sigue demostrando que es el mejor no esta subido al podio y tendría muchos motivos para estarlo.

[@mikhailtsyrulnikov8145]

Timeless! He only gets better

[@gakhed]

You don't know how long I've been waiting for this!

[@brettshrekington]

This interview gets a subscribe from only a few seconds in. I already know this is going to be so good. Thank you Apple

[@Coil7]

Is nobody gonna talk about how Clint Eastwood is literally a preset 💀

[@pentexsucks43]

No one's talking about it because everyone already knew

[@funkunko]

incredible interview, rest in peace dave❤️

[@scottaubrey8392]

Blur was my first live gig…Kentish Town and Country club, there’s no other way, riding high album 1990. He’s an utter legend in my eyes

[@RusPitman]

What an absolute joy of an interview

[@livkath]

the trugoy tribute at the end was so beautiful and bittersweet to hear

[@forgottenhelm1299]

Life long Gorillaz fan here since I was in High School in the early 2000's. Bought their 1st album and much of my life can be defined by the albums that came out since then. I recently saw them live foe the 1st time in 2022 in Dallas and it changed my life. Bucket list item, check.

[@novonicrose7954]

At the Toyota music factory? Because that was a magical concert and my first one

[@forgottenhelm1299]

@NovonicRose Yes. One in the very same! Sorry for the late response didn't see this notification!

[@disseminationnetwork]

Amazing collection, love to see the creative behind the scenes...great chat

[@darthgollumojg]

This was excellent. Thank you!

[@NerdyPepper]

And here we have the Damon Albarn in it's natural habitat