Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle And The Virtual English Band Gorillaz Are Brewing Something

Gorillaz, the world’s most compelling animated band and arguably Damon Albarn’s most enduring experiment are scaling new heights. Their newly announced ninth studio album, The Mountain is bringing something exciting like never before. At the heart of this latest chapter are two Indian icons: Anoushka Shankar and Asha Bhosle.

If the concept of Gorillaz has always thrived on juxtaposition — lo-fi meets high concept, hip-hop meets electro, cartoon meets commentary then The Mountain takes that formula global with parts of the album recorded across India including Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi.

In the sound mix are Anoushka Shankar, sitar virtuoso and daughter of Pandit Ravi Shankar, and legendary vocalist Asha Bhosle, both of whom are said to bring gravitas and grace to the project.

Shankar whose musical vocabulary stretches from classical ragas to cutting-edge electronica and jazz is said to bring a fierce intellect to the album’s more meditative corners. Her interplay with Albarn, particularly on the track The Mountain also featuring Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, is speculated to be as elegant as it is urgent, bringing together different sounds in a unique way.

And then there’s the legendary Asha Bhosle.

To describe Asha Bhosle merely as a Bollywood playback singer is to undersell a voice that defined generations. Now in her 90s, she still exudes that singular blend of velvet and fire. Her contribution to The Shadowy Light speculated to be built on a dusty 1970s melodies and also features Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

Also featured on The Mountain are other Indian stalwarts: Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash on sarod, bansuri master Ajay Prasanna, and cult disco legend Asha Puthli. Add to that an eclectic cast from Sparks and Johnny Marr to Yasiin Bey and Omar Souleyman and the album reads like a post-genre atlas.

The production is equally global. Albarn shares duties with James Ford, Remi Kabaka Jr., Samuel Egglenton, and Bizarrap. Recording took place everywhere from Studio 13 in London to backstreets in Ashgabat and rooftops in Miami. The album’s five-lingual palette — English, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, Yoruba — reflects not just sonic diversity but philosophical intent.

Thematically, The Mountain is expected to navigate displacement, devotion, digital alienation, and dreams of ascent, literal and metaphorical. It's an album with the bones of a pilgrimage and the pulse of a rave. Moreover, Gorillaz will support the release with a nine-date UK and Ireland tour beginning 21 March 2026, culminating in a headline show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June.

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Who Are Gorillaz?

Gorillaz is a virtual band created by British musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett. Formed in 1998, the band is composed of animated characters, 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs, who represent the band members in the fictional world. Unlike traditional bands, Gorillaz merges music with multimedia, combining rock, electronic, hip-hop, and pop influences in a genre-defying sound.

Led by Albarn, known for his role in Blur, the band's projects often feature a rotating cast of guest artists, spanning genres from hip-hop to world music with songs ranging from Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood and Feel Good Inc. Albums like Demon Days (2005) and Plastic Beach (2010) cemented their status as innovative, boundary-pushing artists. And are now gearing up for spectular release of their nineth studio album The Moutains set for a release on 20 March in 2026.