Childish Gambino Gives Update on New Music, Shuts Down Potential Retirement
Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, has offered a rare update on his musical endeavors, suggesting that his highly anticipated return to music may be drawing near.
In an interview published by Complex on Monday (October 2), the multi-talented artist shared insights into his current creative pursuits, which include the creation of new music.
When asked about the possibility of new Childish Gambino material being released in the near future, Glover hinted, “I feel like it’ll be clear sooner rather than later. It’d be better for people to just tune in, I suppose. But I’m trying harder to not be cryptic. Tyler [The Creator] is always, like, ‘You’re so cryptic.’ But I’m like, ‘I’m really not.’ I just like suspense, I guess. I think it makes stuff better. But that’s just me.”
Reflecting on what excites him most in the studio currently, Glover emphasized the importance of functionality in his creative process. He expressed his preference for making things that serve a practical purpose, saying, “I think functionality is key. I think back in the day, it was a lot easier to be like, ‘I made this!’ And it was harder to make stuff so people would be like, ‘Oh, this chair, you can’t really sit in it. But otherwise, people wouldn’t have made this chair.'”
Glover continued, “It’s kind of like art where it became, like, ‘Yeah, this is a pointless piece, which is the point.’ And now I feel like, because it’s so much easier to make everything, when something is actually truly functional and it’s easy to get to, I love that. I love it when we make something and I’m like, ‘Oh, I know exactly what this is for. This is for Monday Night Football.’ [Laughs.] You know, that kind of thing. Like, ‘This is for this kind of Instagram post.’ I like all that shit.”
Childish Gambino’s last album, “3.15.20,” was released over three and a half years ago. For a period, it seemed like this might be his final project under that stage name. However, he later reversed his retirement plans and announced he was working on a new album described as “spiritual.”
In his Complex interview, Glover emphasized that he doesn’t envision quitting music anytime soon, as he genuinely enjoys it and considers himself proficient in the craft. He stated, “I don’t do this shit for money… I do this because I’m nice. I don’t think I’d ever stop because of, like… I always liked it because I liked it. I never did it because it was like, man, this is a good way to get put on or something. I like the feeling of it. I do this because I’m nice. In a certain way, I think that makes me old school.”
While the exact timeline for new Childish Gambino music remains uncertain, Glover is currently immersed in multiple creative projects. Alongside running Gilga, his creative company based on a farm in Ojai, California, he has a lineup of film and TV ventures in development. These include the Disney+ movie “Lando,” the Amazon Prime Video series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and a film adaptation of “Community.”
