Blur songwriter Damon Albarn is currently researching magic and philosophy for his ambitious new opera.
Damon Albarn has many strings to his bow. A Britpop warrior with Blur, the singer then formed the ongoing multimedia explosion that is Gorillaz.
Meanwhile, Albarn has also expanded into the world of opera. Teaming up with Jamie Hewlett, the singer scripted the music and words for the acclaimed production ‘Monkey: Journey To The West’.
A lavish experience, the opera is now set to be followed with a bizarre new collaboration. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are preparing to work with comic book legend Alan Moore on a forthcoming opera.
Focussing on 16th century mathematician John Dee, the project has seen Damon Albarn research the world of “Hermetic magic and catalysts and philosophy”.
Speaking to NYMag, the singer explained some of the concepts behind the new idea. “It’s based on the life of John Dee, who was a very influential force in Elizabethan Europe, especially England,” he said.
“He was responsible for creating the concept of the British Empire. So he affects all our lives in one way or another. He was an alchemist. It’s about his life.”
Continuing, the Gorillaz star explained that he has “not really” been working on the musical side yet. Currently playing a handful of American tour dates with the cartoon pop collective, Damon Albarn is welcoming the break from writing.
“This will be the first time I’ve stopped writing for six months,” he explained. “I’ve just been reading about Hermetic magic and catalysts and philosophy, which is what all of his stuff is based on — Euclid and Pythagoras and all of that stuff. It’s a lot. And it’s been brilliant.”
