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:

• Episode One: journeying back in time with De La Soul’s Posdnuos to give advice to his younger self.

• Episode Two: planning a perfect dinner in the afterlife with Savages frontwoman Jehnny Beth.

• Episode Three: delving into some weird and wonderful conspiracy theories with funk and soul sensation Peven Everett.

• Episode Four: exploring the surreal vs the real with British rapper Little Simz.

• Episode Five: recalling the birth of the Two-Tone music genre and the influence of Ska with Pauline Black.

• 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.

www.gorillaz.com

Gorillaz x Reprezent

A weekend of collaboration with Reprezent 107.3FM

On-air, on the floor and live from the O2

Listen to a clip of Shaun Ryder x Reprezent HERE

To celebrate their live return to London, Gorillaz are collaborating with London’s best new music station, Brixton-based Reprezent 107.3FM, to create a weekend of unique radio shows – featuring members of the Gorillaz family from all corners of the musical spectrum – from 3:00pm on Saturday December 3rd to 11:00pm on Monday December 5th on 107.3FM / DAB / reprezent.org.uk

Gorillaz x Reprezent are inviting listeners around the world to join them for a series of shows exploring and celebrating the world of Gorillaz. Show content will include Damon Albarn and Humanz co-producerRemi Kabaka talking all things musical; Shaun Ryder reviewing this year’s Christmas tracks; ‘SundayRoast with Joe & Scully’ – a 4-part series of talk shows tackling themes that cut across four Gorillaz albums (*details below) – with contributors including ZSL, George Monbiot, Kieran Yates, Peter Robinson (Pop Justice), Dr Kate Devlin (Goldsmiths University) and Ciaran Thapar; plus interviews with Vince Staples and Bootie Brown among others.

In the ‘Gorillaz Mix Series’, you can expect to find Claptone, Nic Fanciulli, Little Dragon, Gorillaz drummer Russel Hobbs and martial arts expert and former guitar child-prodigy Noodle on the guest mix.

And Saturday night (December 2nd) it’s time to head to Pop Brixton for a Saturnz Barz party. Curated by Gorillaz, Cadenza and Reprezent, the party hits the South London community venue taking in sounds that stem from Gorillaz track ‘Saturnz Barz’, while putting Dancehall front and centre. Tune in and join Cadenza, Manara and Lil C pon the decks with Flowdan, Epic B, Prynce Mini and special guests passing through for what promises to be a dope night.

Saturnz Barz runs from 7pm – midnight at Pop Brixton – Free Entry all night! All broadcast live on Reprezent with a visual stream from Keep Hush

And on Monday December 4th, from 11am, Reprezent will be live and direct from the O2, as they count down towards the first of two sold-out Gorillaz shows. Gorillaz family members will be dropping in live on air through the day and expect to hear your favourite Reprezent presenters alongside collaborators – all playing the most upfront music that finds it genius in the spirit of collaboration. And throughout Gorillaz’ O2 performance, Reprezent will broadcast selections from the set list LIVE whilst reporting from the front and bringing the hype straight to your cars, homes and devices.

Gorillaz’ Humanz Tour dates are:

Nov 29 – Glasgow – Hydro
Dec 1 – Manchester – Manchester Arena
Dec 2 – Birmingham – Barclaycard Arena
Dec 4 – London – O2 Arena
Dec 5 –  London – O2 Arena

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 new album from Gorillaz – “… an inspired party album for a world gone mad.” (The Guardian) – was released on 28th 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 have been nominated for two Grammy Awards: Humanz (Best Alternative Album) and Andromeda feat DRAM (Best Dance Track).

About Reprezent 107.3FM / DAB :

“The station sounds unbelievably bright and focused, the presenters’ musical knowledge and expertise belying their youth. It’s a joy to listen.” -Miranda Sawyer

“Broadcasting 24 hours a day, the station has come to symbolise a sort of fame academy for DJ talent – like a cooler version of The BRIT School” – Noisey 2017

Located in shipping containers in Pop Brixton, Reprezent 107.3FM & DAB, talent is what Reprezent is about; a radio station and youth media platform that supports new UK music and supports the next wave of young talent on the come up.

The station is ‘Youth-Led’ meaning that all the music across the station and its creative output is made by young people between 16 and 25, (with a few over that age!). The station has a rich alumni of presenters who started at Reprezent (or Rep) and have gone on to have great careers. Stormzy, Novelist, Lady Leshurr, Jamz Supernova all cut their teeth at Reprezent and had their own regular shows .

Reprezent presenters also present for Beats 1 and the station has worked on collaborative projects in the past with The xx, Lovebox, Nike, Converse and Bestival.

Over 400 young people a year are trained at Reprezent and given full support to start a career in the media industry.

*Sunday Roast with Joe & Scully (4-part series)

Celebrity Takedown – A sideways look at the Cult of Celebrity and Celebrities impact on Society – with Peter Robinson (Pop Justice) and Kieran Yates (The Guardian)

Slowboat to Hades – The cracks are starting to show and society is on the way to hell! Join gal-dem as they talk about the crumbling of society – with gal-dem

Escape to Plastic Beach – In the ocean lies an island of plastic. How are we going to clean up after ourselves? – with Dr Heather Koldewey – (ZSL) and George Monbiot

We Are Still Humanz – Where is society and are we becoming better versions of ‘us’? Or is our love affair with Technology going to be our undoing? Hello Alexa. Hello Siri – with Ciaran Thapar – Writer & Youth Worker and Dr. Kate Devlin – Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths, University of London.