Meanwhile EP
{{Short description|2021 EP by Gorillaz}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Meanwhile EP
| type = EP
| artist = Gorillaz
| cover = Meanwhile EP.png
| alt =
| released = 26 August 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Reggae{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/08/gorillaz-meanwhile-ep/|title=Hear Gorillaz Tribute to West London on New Meanwhile EP|website=Spin|date=August 26, 2021|last=Whitaker|first=Marisa}}
| length = 9:53
| label = {{hlist|Parlophone|Warner}}
| producer =
- Gorillaz
- Remi Kabaka Jr.
| chronology = Gorillaz
| prev_title = Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = Cracker Island
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Damon Albarn
| type = EP
| prev_title = Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
| prev_year = 2020
| title = Meanwhile EP
| year = 2021
| next_title = The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
| next_year = 2021
}}
}}
Meanwhile EP is an extended play by English virtual band Gorillaz, released on 26 August 2021. The EP was released as a celebration of Notting Hill Carnival in London, England, an annual event that was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/gorillaz-meanwhile-ep-review-aj-tracey-jelani-blackman-alicai-harley-3029961-3029961|title=Gorillaz – 'Meanwhile' EP review: a joyous celebration of Notting Hill Carnival|website=NME|last=Williams|first=Kyann-Sian|date=26 August 2021}}
Background
{{Expand section|date=January 2022}}
On 29 June 2021, Damon Albarn revealed in an interview with NME that Gorillaz was working on new "carnival-themed music", saying that their upcoming record would return to the band's roots.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/damon-albarn-new-carnival-themed-gorillaz-music-blur-reunion-2981001|title=Damon Albarn on new "carnival-themed" Gorillaz music and talk of a Blur reunion|website=NME|date=29 June 2021|author=Andrew Trendell}}
On 10 August 2021, Gorillaz debuted three new songs, "Meanwhile" (featuring British rapper Jelani Blackman), "Jimmy Jimmy" (featuring British rapper AJ Tracey), and "Déjà Vu" (featuring Jamaican singer Alicaì Harley), during a free concert at The O2 Arena in London, England exclusively for National Health Service employees and their families. They then performed them again at the subsequent concert open to the public the next day (both of which served as the first live audience concerts of the Song Machine Tour).{{Cite web|last=Guttridge-Hewitt|first=Martin|date=11 August 2021|title=Gorillaz debut three new songs at free concert for NHS workers|url=https://djmag.com/news/gorillaz-debut-three-new-songs-free-concert-nhs-workers|access-date=25 August 2021|website=DJ Mag}}
Track listing
All tracks are written by Damon Albarn, Remi Kabaka Jr., and the tracks' respective guest(s).
{{Track listing
| headline = Meanwhile {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| title1 = Meanwhile
| note1 = featuring Jelani Blackman and Barrington Levy
| length1 = 3:09
| title2 = Jimmy Jimmy
| note2 = featuring AJ Tracey
| length2 = 3:03
| title3 = Déjà Vu
| note3 = featuring Alicaì Harley) (Live from NW10
| length3 = 3:41
| total_length = 9:53
}}
Personnel
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{{col-2}}
Gorillaz
- Damon Albarn – vocals, production {{small|(all tracks)}}, bass, keyboards {{small|(tracks 1–2)}}, steelpans {{small|(track 1)}}, guitar, melodica {{small|(track 2)}}
- Jamie Hewlett – artwork, design
- Stephen Sedgwick – mixing {{small|(tracks 1–2)}}
- Remi Kabaka Jr. – production, percussion {{small|(all tracks)}}, drum programming {{small|(tracks 1–2)}}
- John Davis – mastering
- Samuel Egglenton – engineering {{small|(tracks 1–2)}}
- Femi Koleoso – drums {{small|(tracks 1, 3)}}
- Mike Smith – keyboards {{small|(track 3)}}
- Jeff Wootton – guitar {{small|(track 3)}}
- Jesse Hackett – keyboards {{small|(track 3)}}
- Karl Vanden Bossche – percussion {{small|(track 3)}}
- Seye Adelekan – bass {{small|(track 3)}}
{{col-2}}
Additional musicians
- Jelani Blackman – vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
- Barrington Levy – vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
- Jorja Smith – additional vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
- Isabelle Dunn – cello {{small|(track 1)}}
- Nina Foster – violin {{small|(track 1)}}
- Oli Langford – violin {{small|(track 1)}}
- Sarah Tuke – violin {{small|(track 1)}}
- AJ Tracey – vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
- Alicaì Harley – vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Ade Omotayo – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Angel Silvera – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Matt Maijah – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Michelle Ndegwa – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Petra Luke – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
- Rebecca Freckleton – additional vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
Additional technical
- Alicaì Harley – programming {{small|(track 3)}}
- Dave Guerin – engineering {{small|(track 3)}}
- Matt Butcher – engineering, mixing {{small|(track 3)}}
{{col-end}}