The idea of Gorillaz, the British cartoon band, joining forces with Sparks, the ever-evolving American alternative pop pair, feels like something straight out of imagination for fans who lean toward the more unconventional side of music.
Night owls were treated to that dream becoming reality on Thursday evening, April 9, when the two acts came together for a live take on “The Happy Dictator,” the lead single from Gorillaz’s ninth studio album The Mountain, released through the group’s own imprint KONG.
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Any time Gorillaz hit the stage, there is always curiosity about how Damon Albarn and his collaborators will bring the band’s animated world to life. In the early years, figures like 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle appeared on large screens while the real musicians stayed mostly hidden behind the visuals.
For their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jamie Hewlett’s signature artwork stepped aside, allowing the performers to take center stage. Albarn embraced the role of the “happy dictator,” dressed in military-style clothing, complete with aviator sunglasses and a red beret.
The Mountain reached the top of the U.K. albums chart in March, marking the third time Gorillaz have landed at No. 1 there. In the United States, the group also secured another chart-topping moment, earning their fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock and Alternative Albums chart.
Produced by Gorillaz alongside James Ford, Samuel Egglenton and Remi Kabaka Jr., with additional work from Bizarrap, The Mountain was recorded across multiple locations including Studio 13 in London and Devon, as well as sessions in India spanning Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi, plus Ashgabat, Damascus, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. The project brings together a wide range of collaborators, including Sparks, and features songs delivered in Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.
Gorillaz will continue The Mountain Tour across the U.K. and Europe starting in June, with a run that includes festival appearances and a special headline show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, June 20. The performance is set to be their largest hometown concert so far, with support from Sparks and Trueno. Additional dates are scheduled through January 2027.
Watch the late night performance below and check out Gorillaz’ tour dates here.
On AHHCade, PNAU are leaning fully into emotion for their upcoming seventh studio album.
“There’s something deeply connected about music and the path we’ve been on,” PNAU’s Nick Littlemore shares while introducing the new project, which is scheduled to arrive July 31 through Sydney independent label etcetc, under the TMRW Music umbrella.
“We’re creating songs from the heart,” he says. “Even though these tracks are built with electronics and technology, at their core they are emotional expressions. Peter, myself and everyone we worked with wanted to create a feeling of home, whether that’s on the dancefloor or inside the listener’s mind.”
The upcoming record includes the recently unveiled “Tu Corazon (Your Heart)” featuring Mexican rock band The Warning, as well as the energetic new track “Nirvana” with EARTHGANG and sadMONTH, which officially dropped today, May 8.
“Nirvana” pairs PNAU with Atlanta duo EARTHGANG and also marks the first collaboration with sadMONTH, the new creative venture from Littlemore alongside Toronto artist Dom Dias.
Littlemore describes the song as “the beginning of an entirely new chapter. It’s intense, chaotic and taps into a future version of punk electronic music. Expect something restless, rhythmic and completely untamed.”
EARTHGANG added: “With ‘Nirvana,’ we locked into this euphoric and elevated energy together with PNAU and rode that electro wave. Huge love to everyone involved in bringing this track to life and making it hit the way it does.”
Representatives for the group have also hinted that additional unexpected collaborations will be revealed in the near future.
PNAU, made up of longtime friends Littlemore and Peter Mayes, are following up their 2024 release Sambanova. Over the years, the duo have built a career filled with major records and industry recognition. Their global breakthrough came after teaming up with Elton John for the 2012 remix album Good Morning to the Night, which reached No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. They later reunited with Elton for the 2021 remix Cold Heart featuring Dua Lipa, creating one of the biggest worldwide hits of the decade.
To celebrate the release of the new album, PNAU will launch the Australian run of their Nirvana Tour 2026 next month. The East Coast regional dates begin June 19 at Gilligan's in Cairns before finishing July 4 at Woodport Hotel in Erina.
Stream “Nirvana” below.
