Gorillaz have entered a new era, and it's filled with even more star-studded collaborations. On June 22, the virtual band released "Cracker Island" feat. bassist Thundercat, the first single off of their album of the same name. The song, which peaked at number two on the Billboard alternative airplay chart, is the group's highest charting song since "Feel Good Inc." in 2005.
Additional tracks on the upcoming album include "Tormenta," made in collaboration with Bad Bunny; "New Gold" feat. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown; "Possession Island" feat. Beck; and a new song called "Baby Queen." The full tracklist also includes "Oil" feat. Stevie Nicks; "Silent Running" and "Skinny Ape" feat. Adeleye Omotayo; "The Tired Influencer"; "Tarantula"; and an unnamed bonus track.
In a January interview with the Los Angeles Times, Damon Albarn explained that "Baby Queen" was inspired by an interaction with a 14-year-old Thai princess at a Blur concert in 1997. "'Song 2' started and she stood on her throne and stage-dived into the crowd," he said. "The reason I've written a song about it is because I had a dream about this princess very recently; she'd grown up and we spent time in my dream together, her as a woman. So there you go: 1997 was a long time ago, but at the moment it's not."
"Cracker Island" is currently available for preorder and will make its debut on 24 Feb., 2023.