The interview was recorded during the week Africa Express was in Mexico and was released in full on YouTube on October 31, 2025.

Damon Albarn explains that The Manifesto is one of the most spiritual projects Gorillaz has ever made, built from travels in India, layers of animation, and unused recordings from late artists like Bobby Womack and Proof. He says he and Jamie Hewlett have fully recovered their creative “mojo”, stronger than at any time since Plastic Beach. Albarn believes Gorillaz works because anything is possible in a cartoon world, and that much of his real life naturally seeps into the characters.

He also reflects on death, saying it’s not an end but a continuation where what we leave behind remains in the world.

• He doesn’t own a phone and never uses TikTok.

• Gorillaz originally aimed to be completely anonymous.

• The Manifesto includes six languages.

• He confirms he worked with BZRP on the album.

• Damon says Gorillaz has always been spiritual at its core.

• His ideal day: yoga, breakfast, work until 5 p.m., no night-time studio sessions.

• He feels he and Jamie are creating as strongly as they did during Plastic Beach.