Gorillaz have released two new tracks, “The Hardest Thing” featuring the late Tony Allen and “Orange County” featuring Bizarrap, Kara Jackson, and Anoushka Shankar. The songs serve as companion pieces to the animated band’s forthcoming album, The Mountain, which is due in under two months. According to Stereogum and NME, the tracks tackle themes of grief, adding emotional depth to the project’s already sprawling, collaborative sound.
“The Hardest Thing” spotlights Tony Allen, the influential Afrobeat drummer who died in 2020, underscoring Gorillaz’s continued engagement with legacy artists and global rhythms. “Orange County,” meanwhile, pairs Bizarrap’s production with Jackson’s distinctive voice and Shankar’s sitar, blending hip-hop, folk, and Indian classical textures. Consequence notes that the songs arrive as the latest previews of The Mountain, following earlier singles such as “The Happy Dictator” with SPARKS, “The God Of Lying” with IDLES, and “Damascus” with Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey.
Why It Matters for SoCal Fans
For Southern California listeners, “Orange County” carries an obvious regional hook in its title, even though no OC venue has been announced as a setting or show location. The track’s cross-cultural lineup also aligns with SoCal’s diverse live-music ecosystem, where artists like Bizarrap and genre-blending collaborators frequently draw large crowds. Gorillaz themselves are set to return to Los Angeles with two shows at the Hollywood Palladium on February 22 and 23, 2026, giving fans a chance to hear new material—and possibly deeper cuts—in a storied Hollywood setting.
Looking ahead, the rollout for The Mountain is clearly in its final stretch, with these two songs deepening the album’s narrative around loss and resilience. As tour dates approach, expect more details on setlists and any additional collaborators who might join Gorillaz onstage. In the meantime, “The Hardest Thing” and “Orange County” offer a compelling preview of how Damon Albarn’s ever-evolving project continues to bridge continents, generations, and genres.
Sources: Consequence, Stereogum, NME
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