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Damon Albarn is writing a family musical Damon Albarn is writing a family musical
(about 3 hours later)
Damon Albarn says he is to write a West End musical "in the spirit of Lionel Bart". The Blur founder, who has previously written two operas, claims he will soon turn his attention to making "a mainstream musical" for children and their parents. Damon Albarn says he is to write a West End musical "in the spirit of Lionel Bart". The Blur founder, who has written two operas, claims he will soon turn his attention to making "a mainstream musical" for children and their parents.
"It's funny for me to say 'I'm writing a musical', but, yes, that's what I’m doing next," Albarn revealed to the Daily Star. Albarn is hoping to begin the project in September. "It's funny for me to say, 'I'm writing a musical', but, yes, that's what I’m doing next," Albarn revealed to the Daily Star. Albarn is hoping to begin the project in September.
This isn't a new compulsion for Albarn, who released his first solo album in April: "It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because musicals are great when they’re done well," he said. He had intended to make another opera, similar to Monkey: Journey to the West and Dr Dee, which premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2007 and 2011 respectively. "[Originally it] was going to be a leftfield, experimental opera. But it's lurched into a mainstream musical for families." This isn't a new compulsion for Albarn, who released his first solo album in April. "It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because musicals are great when they’re done well," he said. He had intended to make another opera, similar to Monkey: Journey to the West and Dr Dee, which premiered at the Manchester international festival in 2007 and 2011 respectively. "[Originally it] was going to be a leftfield, experimental opera. But it's lurched into a mainstream musical for families."
Following its first shows in Manchester, Monkey: Journey to the West was eventually staged the United States, France, and at London's O2. Its Mandarin-language soundtrack was also released by XL Recordings, debuting at No 5 on the UK albums chart. Following its first shows in Manchester, Monkey: Journey to the West was eventually staged in the US, France, and at London's O2. Its Mandarin-language soundtrack was also released by XL Recordings, debuting at No 5 on the UK album chart.
Before attempting his own version of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Albarn still has a pair of solo tour dates in Japan. And though he said in February he "hasn't got the time" to make new music with Blur, Albarn is apparently writing new rock tunes: they're "uptempo songs that sound like Gorillaz", he said, and may presage a return to working with Jamie Hewlett, the artist who collaborated on that project. Before attempting his own version of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Albarn still has a pair of solo tour dates in Japan. And though he said in February he "hasn't got the time" to make new music with Blur, Albarn is apparently writing new rock tunes. They're "uptempo songs that sound like Gorillaz," he said, and may presage a return to working with Jamie Hewlett, the artist who collaborated on that project.