Damon Albarn: I can stay in the game for at least 18 months

Damon Albarn has so many songs left over that didn’t make Gorillaz LP ‘Humanz’ that he can stay in "the game" for a while.
The Blur frontman has over 40 tracks that are currently unused and has said he will be making music for at least another year, hinting that there could be future music from the animated band – created by Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett – beyond their forthcoming outing, which drops later this month.
In a preview clip for his interview on Zane Lowe’s Apple Beats 1 Radio show, he said: "I’m just sort of slowly going through all tunes that sort of didn’t work out and finishing them.
"I can stay in the game for at least another 18 months, I reckon."
The full interview will air later today (06.04.17) and on the show Gorillaz’s new track with Pusha T and Mavis Staples called ‘Let Me Out’ will get its debut.
The 49-year-old rocker recently said their first album since 2011’s ‘The Fall’ will sound like funk band Earth, Wind and Fire.
He said their new direction was inspired by the "joyous party" band, who delve into a mix of genres including R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, rock, Latin and African music.
Speaking about the star-studded record, which features collaborations with the likes of Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Noel Gallagher and De La Soul, he said: "Well I think when I start I kind of have this very vague idea of where I’m heading to, but it’s not planned and then one thing leads to another. I wanted to make a real funk band like Earth, Wind and Fire or that kind of ilk, that’s what this whole record is kind of, sort of heading towards – that big, kind of, joyous party."
As well has being a "funk" album, Damon said he also hopes fans can listen to it and feel "terribly melancholic".
Asked if it is a funk record, he said: "Yeah, yeah, this band’s got the funk. This time I really wanted to make a … call it a party record, a dance record, a record you could party to and dance to, but also sit in your room on your own and become terribly melancholic over. I did set out to make an urgent, joyous and painful record and I think we’ve achieved that."
‘Humanz’ is slated for release on April 28.