Damon Albarn Interview by Les Inrockuptibles

“People my age say, ‘Someone else should do it now; I’ve worked hard enough.’ But you know me… I have this exhausting desire to constantly learn and improve.” said Damon Albarn.

In a new interview for the April issue of French magazine Les Inrockuptibles (out today), Damon shares his excitement for The Magic Flute II: La Malédiction, his first “real opera,” premiering in Paris next week. After several false starts and restarting the work from scratch, he believes he has finally figured out how to write for opera - so much so that he now considers The Magic Flute one of the best things he’s ever done.

“It’s entirely electronic. First of all, because it’s being staged at the Lido, which has a very low ceiling. So I thought it was the perfect place to recreate a club atmosphere (…). It’s a very modern, very contemporary work. (…) I think it will be unlike anything you’ve heard before. I can guarantee the audience a completely new experience. The version we’re presenting is really a first draft. It’s not a work in progress, because it’s much more than that. But it’s definitely for curious people! I’m super excited.”

Asked about his plans for the year, he says he’s also finishing a new Gorillaz album.

“An opera and a new Gorillaz album seem like enough for 2025!”