Biography

Meanwhile EP
Meanwhile EP
EP by Gorillaz
Released	26 August 2021
Genre	Reggae
Length	9:53
Label	Parlophone; Warner;
Producer	Gorillaz; Remi Kabaka Jr.;
Gorillaz chronology
Damon Albarn chronology

Meanwhile EP is an extended play by English virtual band Gorillaz, released on 26 August 2021. The EP was released as a celebration of Notting Hill Carnival in London, England, an annual event that was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

Background

On 29 June 2021, Damon Albarn revealed in an interview with NME that Gorillaz was working on new "carnival-themed music", saying that their upcoming record would return to the band's roots.^[3]

On 10 August 2021, Gorillaz debuted three new songs, "Meanwhile" (featuring British rapper Jelani Blackman), "Jimmy Jimmy" (featuring British rapper AJ Tracey), and "Déjà Vu" (featuring Jamaican singer Alicaì Harley), during a free concert at The O₂ Arena in London, England exclusively for National Health Service employees and their families. They then performed them again at the subsequent concert open to the public the next day (both of which served as the first live audience concerts of the Song Machine Tour).^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Damon Albarn, Remi Kabaka Jr., and the tracks' respective guest(s).

*Meanwhile* – Standard edition
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Meanwhile" (featuring Jelani Blackman and Barrington Levy)	3:09
2.	"Jimmy Jimmy" (featuring AJ Tracey)	3:03
3.	"Déjà Vu" (featuring Alicaì Harley) (Live from NW10)	3:41
Total length:		9:53

Personnel

Gorillaz

Damon Albarn – vocals, production (all tracks), bass, keyboards (tracks 1–2), steelpans (track 1), guitar, melodica (track 2)
Jamie Hewlett – artwork, design
Stephen Sedgwick – mixing (tracks 1–2)
Remi Kabaka Jr. – production, percussion (all tracks), drum programming (tracks 1–2)
John Davis – mastering
Samuel Egglenton – engineering (tracks 1–2)
Femi Koleoso – drums (tracks 1, 3)
Mike Smith – keyboards (track 3)
Jeff Wootton – guitar (track 3)
Jesse Hackett – keyboards (track 3)
Karl Vanden Bossche – percussion (track 3)
Seye Adelekan – bass (track 3)

Additional musicians

Jelani Blackman – vocals (track 1)
Barrington Levy – vocals (track 1)
Jorja Smith – additional vocals (track 1)
Isabelle Dunn – cello (track 1)
Nina Foster – violin (track 1)
Oli Langford – violin (track 1)
Sarah Tuke – violin (track 1)
AJ Tracey – vocals (track 2)
Alicaì Harley – vocals (track 3)
Ade Omotayo – additional vocals (track 3)
Angel Silvera – additional vocals (track 3)
Matt Maijah – additional vocals (track 3)
Michelle Ndegwa – additional vocals (track 3)
Petra Luke – additional vocals (track 3)
Rebecca Freckleton – additional vocals (track 3)

Additional technical

Alicaì Harley – programming (track 3)
Dave Guerin – engineering (track 3)
Matt Butcher – engineering, mixing (track 3)

References

^ Whitaker, Marisa (26 August 2021). "Hear Gorillaz Tribute To West London On New Meanwhile EP". Spin.
^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (26 August 2021). "Gorillaz – 'Meanwhile' EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival". NME.
^ Andrew Trendell (29 June 2021). "Damon Albarn on new "carnival-themed" Gorillaz music and talk of a Blur reunion". NME.
^ Guttridge-Hewitt, Martin (11 August 2021). "Gorillaz debut three new songs at free concert for NHS workers". DJ Mag. Retrieved 25 August 2021.

[1] Whitaker, Marisa (26 August 2021). "Hear Gorillaz Tribute To West London On New Meanwhile EP". Spin.

[2] Williams, Kyann-Sian (26 August 2021). "Gorillaz – 'Meanwhile' EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival". NME.

[3] Andrew Trendell (29 June 2021). "Damon Albarn on new "carnival-themed" Gorillaz music and talk of a Blur reunion". NME.

[4] Guttridge-Hewitt, Martin (11 August 2021). "Gorillaz debut three new songs at free concert for NHS workers". DJ Mag. Retrieved 25 August 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Gorillaz
Damon Albarn Jamie Hewlett
Studio albums	Gorillaz Demon Days Plastic Beach The Fall Humanz The Now Now Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez Cracker Island
Compilations	G-Sides D-Sides The Singles Collection 2001–2011
Extended plays	Tomorrow Comes Today Feel Good Inc. EP Dare El Mañana / Kids with Guns iTunes Session Meanwhile EP
Video albums	Celebrity Take Down Demon Days Live Slowboat to Hades
Remix albums	Laika Come Home
Singles	"Clint Eastwood" "19-2000" "Rock the House" "911" "Tomorrow Comes Today" "Lil' Dub Chefin'" "Feel Good Inc." "Dare" "Dirty Harry" "El Mañana" / "Kids with Guns" "Stylo" "Superfast Jellyfish" "On Melancholy Hill" "Doncamatic" "Revolving Doors" / "Amarillo" "DoYaThing" "Saturnz Barz" "We Got the Power" "Ascension" "Andromeda" "Let Me Out" "Sleeping Powder" "Strobelite" "Garage Palace" "Humility" "Hollywood" "Tranz" "Momentary Bliss" "Désolé" "Aries" "How Far?" "Friday 13th" "Pac-Man" "Strange Timez" "The Pink Phantom" "The Valley of the Pagans" "Cracker Island" "New Gold" "Baby Queen"
Other songs	"5/4" "Rhinestone Eyes" "Empire Ants" "Phoner to Arizona" "Hallelujah Money" "Charger"
Tours	Gorillaz Live Demon Days Live Escape to Plastic Beach Tour Humanz Tour The Now Now Tour
Touring members	Damon Albarn Mike Smith Jeff Wootton Seye Adelekan Remi Kabaka Jr.
All contributors	Stephen Sedgwick Dan the Automator Kid Koala Miho Hatori Cass Browne Simon Tong Howie Weinberg Danger Mouse Mick Jones Paul Simonon Ben Mendelsohn The Twilite Tone Jean-Michel Jarre James Ford Simon Katz Simon Jones Morgan Nicholls Roberto Occhipinti Demon Strings
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations Rise of the Ogre Bananaz Song Machine Spacemonkeyz Monkey: Journey to the West "On Your Own" Blur The Good, the Bad & the Queen Tank Girl De La Soul Del the Funky Homosapien
Category