Today, the world’s most personal music streaming service Deezer, is announcing the launch of its latest original content – Things I Like – a podcast collaboration with Russel Hobbs, drummer with the world’s most successful virtual band Gorillaz, with both episodes One and Two available simultaneously tonight.
In a first for Hobbs, the collaboration will see the Brooklyn native – Gorillaz’ resident scryer and the meat behind the beat – step up to the microphone, joined by stellar list of Gorillaz friends including Jehnny Beth, De La Soul’s Pos, Peven Everett, Little Simz and Cheick Tidiane Seck, for a series of conversations from the other side.
Acknowledged by friends and colleagues as the most eloquent drummer in hip hop, the podcast will see two worlds collide, with Hobbs meeting his guests in unexpected locations, from a suburban living room in Los Angeles to the interdimensional cosmos. Things I Like offers a compelling, velvet-toned exploration of the past, the future and everything in between – music, art, life and the afterlife – while not forgetting a subject very close to the heart of this man mountain… dinner plans.
Hobbs says: “Things I Like is a chance to hear the Humanz behind the voices, the shadows behind the thoughts on the record. I wanted to connect the dots, to shine a light into those shadows, but also to have dinner with my favorite people. Coz I love eating and people… in that order.”
Recorded around the world in LA, London, Paris and Vienna, Hobbs’ adventures include:
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Episode One: journeying back in time with De La Soul’s Posdnuos to give advice to his younger self.
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Episode Two: planning a perfect dinner in the afterlife with Savages frontwoman Jehnny Beth.
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Episode Three: delving into some weird and wonderful conspiracy theories with funk and soul sensation Peven Everett.
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Episode Four: exploring the surreal vs the real with British rapper Little Simz.
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Episode Five: recalling the birth of the Two-Tone music genre and the influence of Ska with Pauline Black.
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Episode Six: talking with Malian musician Cheick Tidiane Seck about meeting Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, while discussing the origins of the Rail Band and the power of African music.
- Episode Seven: crossing dimensions to talk drumming with his real-world counterpart, Gabriel Wallace.
Things I Like is a collaboration between Gorillaz, Deezer Originals and award winning audio producer David Waters. Episodes One and Two are available at midnight tonight on Deezer, with the remainder released weekly. It will be available across all podcast platforms and via the Gorillaz App.
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact the Deezer Press Office on Deezerpr@goodrelations.co.uk / 02079323600.
For Gorillaz enquiries, please contact Nasty Little Man: 212-343-0740 / steve@nastylittleman.com
About Deezer
Deezer connects 14 million monthly active users around the world to 53 million tracks. Available in over 180 countries worldwide, Deezer gives instant access to one of the largest and most diverse global music streaming catalogues on any device. Deezer is the only music streaming service with Flow, the unique mix of all your old favorites and new recommendations in one ever-changing stream. Based on an intuitive, proprietary algorithm and created by people who love music, it’s the only place to hear all your music back-to- back with fresh discoveries tailored to you. Deezer is available on your favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected car or smart TV.
Making music happen since 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in Paris with offices in London, Berlin, Miami and around the world. Deezer is available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web at deezer.com. For the latest news on Deezer go toDeezer.com/company/press
About Gorillaz
Gorillaz are 2D (vocals), Noodle (guitar), Russel Hobbs (drums) and Murdoc Niccals (bass). With four acclaimed albums to their name – Gorillaz (2001), Demon Dayz (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011). Humanz, the latest album from Gorillaz – “… an inspired party album for a world gone mad.” (The Guardian) – was released in April 2017 on Parlophone Records, reaching #1 and #2 in the U.S. and U.K. charts respectively, and topped the iTunes charts in over 60 countries around the world. And Gorillaz took home the award for Best British Group at this year’s BRIT Awards in London.