Gorillaz announces ninth studio album ‘The Mountain’ with Indian collaborations

British virtual band Gorillaz has unveiled plans for its ninth studio album, "The Mountain", set for release on March 20, 2026, under its new label KONG. The animated group, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, revealed that parts of the album were recorded across India—in Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi—giving the project a distinct South Asian influence.

"The Mountain" features an impressive list of collaborators, including legendary singers Asha Bhosle and Asha Puthli, sitarist Anoushka Shankar, flautist Ajay Prasanna, and sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash. The band has also teamed up with Syrian electro-folk performer Omar Souleyman, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, and rapper Mos Def (Yasiin Bey).

 

 

 

 

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Ahead of the album's launch, Gorillaz released the first single, "The Happy Dictator", a collaboration with American pop-rock duo Sparks. Vocals from late friends of the band—including Bobby Womack, Mark E. Smith, and Tony Allen—also feature on the 15-track record, which blends five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.

In addition to sessions in India, recording took place at Studio 13 in London and Devon, as well as in Los Angeles, Ashgabat, Damascus, New York and Miami. Production credits include Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, Remi Kabaka Jr, and Bizarrap.

Following the release, Gorillaz will embark on a nine-date UK and Ireland tour beginning March 21, 2026, in Manchester and concluding on June 20 at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"The Mountain" follows the band's 2023 album "Cracker Island", continuing Gorillaz's tradition of eclectic global collaborations and genre-blending sound.