Damon Albarn - 2014

In the '90s, Damon Albarn was best known as the cheeky lad fronting Blur, leading the Britpop pack of upstarts confronting American grunge with ebullient, Union Jack-waving brio. Restless to explore other artistic avenues, Albarn eventually formed three other bands: Gorillaz, The Good, the Bad & The Queen, and Rocket Juice and the Moon. He has worked extensively with Malian and Congolese musicians via Oxfam and the Africa Express project and has collaborated on several opera and theatre pieces. However, it has taken Damon Albarn until 2014 to release his first "official" solo debut under his own name. That album, Everyday Robots, is a wistful, heavily autobiographical journey, awash in childhood memories and unease with the technological advances that define our modern age.

Last month, Albarn and his band, dubbed The Heavy Seas, were joined by members of the Harlem Gospel Choir and the Scorchio Quartet for very special (and crowded!) session in FUV's Studio A. Tonight on FUV Live at 9, listen to a conversation with Damon Albarn and a beautiful live session that includes songs like the youthful reverie "Hollow Ponds" and the baby elephant anthem "Mr. Tembo."

[recorded: 04/16/14]