Studio 13

Studio 13 is a recording studio located in London. It's known for being the primary studio of most Damon Albarn's projects, including Gorillaz, Blur and The Good, The Bad & The Queen.

Real Life
In 1998, co-creator Damon Albarn started work on the Gorillaz debut album, with the help of Dan the Automator, James Dring, Jason Cox and Curtis Lynch Jr.. Studio 13 was originally Damon's studio, where they recorded the bulk off the album, before moving to Jamaica in 2000 to finish off the album. The majority of tracks from the Tomorrow Comes Today EP, the self-titled album and G-Sides were recorded at Studio 13, as seen in the Bananaz documentary.

Fictional
In September 1997, bass player Murdoc Niccals acquired Kong Studios. An abandoned studio in Essex with a troubled past. After assembling the entire band, Gorillaz started work on the Gorillaz debut album and other B-side and un-released tracks. Similar to Damon, Gorillaz moved to Jamaica to finish the album.

Real Life
In 2004, for Demon Days and D-Sides, Damon started the early recordings in the original Studio 13. This is where they recorded songs such as Bill Murray and Snakes And Ladders, once again seen in there Bananaz documentary. Then later during the recording sessions, Damon and the Demon Days Band would move to Sarm West Studios in London. But despite moving, the Demon Days recording place its till given to Studio 13.

Fictional
In the fictional story, Noodle returned to Kong Studios in late 2003 to start work on the next Gorillaz album. The album was once again recorded in Kong Studios.

Real Life
In late 2008, for Plastic Beach, Studio 13 got a new plan job making it organ instead of the beige colour from before. 4 years after Demon Days recording Damon returned to Studio 13 where the next Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, was recorded - As seen in The Making of Plastic Beach Documentary. Damon would move to different parts of the world to get different sounds for the album.

Fictional
After Murdoc burnt Kong Studios, he moved to Plastic Beach where he recorded the album with singer 2-D. Similar to Damon, Murdoc was also move around the world to get different world sounds.

Real Life
In 2016, Damon returned to Studio 13 where he started recording Humanz along with producer The Twilite Tone. Similar to nearly all other Gorillaz projects Damon and The Twilite Tone would move around to different studios.

Fictional
After Murdoc was captured by EMI and taken to a hidden jail, he was commissioned to write another Gorillaz album. The band recorded the album at Studio 13 despite living in the Spirit House at that time.

Real Life
During the Humanz Tour, in 2017, Damon started working on The Now Now which was later continued to be produced in Studio 13. Since The Now Now was recorded in a short space of time, Damon and producer James Ford most likely stayed in Studio 13 for the entire album process.

Fictional
With Murdoc in jail, Gorillaz set on making a new album. Gorillaz made The Now Now purely in Studio 13 and got the album finished with a total of 11 songs.

Real Life
After having an extension done to the Studio, Damon started work on Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez in October 2019. When Lockdown started in March 2020, Damon Albarn moved to his makeshift studio in a barn in Devon. Then later in August 2021, Damon started working on the Meanwhile EP back in Studio 13.

Fictional
In 2020, it was announced that Studio 13 would be renamed to Kong Studios. The band now lives at the new West London Kong Studios.

Engineers and Producers who have worked in Studio 13

 * Dan the Automator
 * Jason Cox
 * Tom Girling
 * Curtis Lynch Jr.
 * Ed Case
 * Danger Mouse
 * James Dring
 * Stephen Sedgwick
 * The Twilite Tone
 * Remi Kabaka Jr.
 * Jamie Principle
 * James Ford
 * Mike Dean
 * P2J
 * Prince Paul
 * Joan As Police Woman