Music Monkey Duo Talks ‘Journey To The West’ Opera

Damon Albarn is a musician who loves the alter-ego. The multi-facted Londoner started as the vocalist/keyboarder for seminal ’90s brit-pop band Blur, before breathing life into four animated pop stars called the Gorillaz in 2001. His partner Jamie Hewlett (co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl) designed the foursome of 2D, Noodle, Russel Hobbs, and Murdoc Niccals, who became the face of two multi-platinum albums (Gorillaz, Demon Days).

His most recent project goes under a new name: Monkey. With Hewlett once again handling the visuals, Monkey recently released Journey to the West as an album, which is also currently being performed as an opera in the UK. Yes, the kind where the fat lady sings. Damon and Jamie greeted press at the Spotted Pig in New York last week to give more insight to the production of the soundtrack, the struggle of animation, and advertising at the Beijing Olympics. Read the interview below…