Although the album is rife with elevating electronica, Plastic Beach is no light listening. The exploration of prevalent issues such as environmentalism and climate change gives the album delicious darkness, a mood that Albarn wishes to continue in Plastic Beach 2.

Albarn spoke about Plastic Beach and the album’s pertinence ten years after its release. In a recent interview with Radio.com, Albarn said that “sadly, more than ever the need to keep reminding people that we need to change our habits; to somehow help our climate is really necessary.” Albarn said.

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Time is running out for YOU to get your hands on one of these SIGNED Song Machine Test Pressings, just like 2D. So what are you waiting for?gorill.az/testpress (UK only désolé!) READ ALL ABOUT IT- @Guardian- @nmemagazine- @mojo4music

A post shared by Gorillaz (@gorillaz) on Oct 28, 2020 at 12:01pm PDT

Albarn explained his choice to give Plastic Beach a sequel, meditating that “maybe I need to revisit it, really.  I don’t think we can ever leave ‘Plastic Beach’. I’d like to just have an album called ‘Clean Beach’, but at the moment it’s still ‘Plastic Beach’. So Plastic Beach is a nice idea for me creatively but it’s also really depressing…but it’s necessary.”

Following the October 23rd release of Song Machine: Season One, Albarn confirmed today that Gorillaz will go on tour next year. In 2021, the virtual band will embark on their first live tour in two years.  Gorillaz will begin the Song Machine Tour in Köln on June 16th, 2021, and end the tour in London at a show on August 8th. Tickets for the Song Machine Tour are on sale now, and more information regarding this can be found here.

Gorillaz took to social media today to confirm a 2021 tour. The cartoon band shared a snap of the tour dates to Instagram, writing in the caption: “You’ve got ’til MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (GMT) to purchase Song Machine album with a #circleoffriendz pass for first access to Song Machine Tour 2021 tickets!” The post was greeted ecstatically by fans, gathering over 25,000 likes in a few short hours. 

Before beginning their upcoming tour, Gorillaz will end 2020 with a live stream debut of Song Machine: Season One. Gorillaz will play a series of live performances on December 12th and 13th, broadcasting the virtual gigs across three different time zones. 

The upcoming live stream marks the first collaboration between Gorillaz and LIVEnow. Director of LIVEnow Marc Watson relayed his excitement towards the live stream in an official statement. Watson said: “we are really proud to work alongside Gorillaz to create something truly special for fans all around the world. ‘SONG MACHINE LIVE’ will raise the bar on what to expect from live-streamed concerts.”

Song Machine: Season One is out now. The confirmed dates for Gorillaz Song Machine Tour 2021 go as follows:

16/06/2021 – Tanzbrunnen – Köln
18/06 – Parkbϋhne Wuhlheide
01/07 – Rockhal – Luxembourg
11/08 – The O2 – London

Albarn’s’ declaration follows the recent release of their first episodic project, Song Machine: Season One, a seventeen track story that premiered on October 23rd. A killer collaborative iteration, Song Machine: Season One contains tracks like the Beck collaboration The Valley of The Pagans and Pac-Man with Schoolboy Q. Song Machine also features the likes of Skepta, Elton John and Robert Smith of The Cure. 

The successor to the project, aptly titled Song Machine: Season 2, will be released in coherence with the Gorillaz movie, says Albarn. Speaking on the New Arrivals show on Radio.com, Albarn confirmed that “We are supposed to be making a film while we’re doing season two of ‘Song Machine.’”

Albarn detailed life behind the scenes of filmmaking, confirming that “We signed contracts, we’ve begun scripts and stuff. Making an animated film that’s kind of abstract is quite a big risk for a movie studio because they’re very expensive.” 

To greenlight a film so abstract is a bold move from the film studios, explains Albarn. The Feel Good Inc. CEO elaborated, saying “If you’re telling a slightly obtuse, weird story that only sometimes makes any sense, it’s quite difficult. That’s what we’ve discovered. But we will do it, we are doing it. I see a lot of people doing animated videos these days but I don’t think they really touch the quality of ours. We’re more in the world of Studio Ghibli.”

Just like their timeless music, the Gorillaz movie will most certainly be genreless. Albarn spoke on this divergence from music labels, saying that the collaborative Song Machine is “a further reminder that while the post-genre mindset is now crucial to mainstream success, Gorillaz have always been keen to encourage emerging artists to embrace their diverse inspirations.”

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Blink and you’ll miss it..Nice one @youtubemusic

A post shared by Gorillaz (@gorillaz) on Oct 27, 2020 at 9:17am PDT

In celebration of their new iteration, Gorillaz are planning a series of live-streamed performances through a partnership with LIVEnow. Broadcasting on December 12th and 13th across three different times zones, ‘SONG MACHINE LIVE’ will see a multi-sensory, captivating fusion of Jamie Hewlett’s otherworldly visuals.

Hewlett, who also poses as Gorillaz’ pianist 2D, will be joined by his fellow virtual bandmates, bassist Murdoch Niccals, guitarist Noodle, and percussionist Russell to mark Gorillaz’ first live performance since 2018.

An official press release regarding the new project stated that “‘Song Machine’ is the ongoing and ever-evolving process that sees Gorillaz release new episodes throughout 2020, recorded and captured live in Kong Studios and beyond, and made available as and when they are ready.”

Director of LIVEnow Marc Watson said of the upcoming live stream event: “We are really proud to work alongside Gorillaz to create something truly special for fans all around the world. ‘SONG MACHINE LIVE’ will raise the bar on what to expect from live-streamed concerts. It demonstrates our commitment to creativity and innovation as we build LIVENow into the world’s leading destination for live-streamed content.” More information regarding tickets for ‘SONG MACHINE LIVE’ and its respective time zones can be found here.

Song Machine: Season One is out now.