Confessions from musicians don’t often include stories about family escapes to one of the world’s most secretive countries. But leave it to Damon Albarn to break the mould. On the Adam Buxton Podcast, between laughs and musings with his friend and collaborator Jamie Hewlett, Albarn revealed a family travel story that few could match. Asked about his approach to bringing up his daughter, he didn’t hesitate to mention:
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"Family holidays in North Korea, that kind of thing."
It’s the kind of line that instantly grabs your attention — and yes, he went on to confirm:
"With my daughter, yeah. I did, really."
Not Your Average Family Trip: Why North Korea?
Damon Albarn has never been afraid of curious adventures—musically or personally. But holidaying in North Korea with his daughter takes the cake for unconventional parenting. Speaking openly, he admitted to being tough on the cultural and educational front:
"I probably am a bit guilty of that in some ways, but I’ve also been very hard on my daughter in far as kind of culture and education."
His intention? To ensure she understands a world that’s not always shining with privilege. Instead of luxurious getaways, they sought places that pushed boundaries, exposed realities and demanded awareness.
Political Awareness and Cultural Encounters: A Different Upbringing
Jamie Hewlett, not one to let his mate get off the hook, joked that Albarn "might be a bit guilty [of making it] too easy." Albarn swiftly turned the tables, describing his daughter’s uniquely open eyes on the world:
"Maybe my daughter is a bit more politically aware of a lot of people of her generation, I know that for a fact because she’s always telling me how she frustrated she is that nobody seems to care what’s happening."
That edge shows the impact of their extraordinary travels.
It wasn’t Albarn’s first time discussing North Korea. Back in 2015, he told GQ:
"It is a fascinating place." and "Honestly, although you’re acutely aware you’re only being given one image when you’re out there and there are multiple stories in every street that you’re not allowed to see, I felt that the people that I interacted with were really nice genuine human beings. Apart from the bullshit."
The North Korean experience stuck with him beyond family stories. Not only did Albarn once catch Blur’s "Song 2" playing on a local karaoke machine in Pyongyang, but the city inspired the track "Pyongyang" that features on Blur’s 2015 album, The Magic Whip. Personal, musical, and political — these journeys clearly seeped into every facet of his art.
Music, Memories, and Unfiltered Impressions
Albarn’s approach to raising his daughter, fused with his globe-trotting curiosity, stands apart. There’s a sense that he wants her to see the world behind its glossy postcards, to ask uncomfortable questions and crave real connection. Hearing "Song 2" echo through a Pyongyang karaoke, or walking city streets where not every story can be seen, these are memories most musicians — or fathers — would never collect. Albarn, though, wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Damon Albarn once went on a family holiday to North Korea
