In December 2020, virtual band Gorillaz—created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, whose Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez project released in October featured collaborations from Beck to Schoolboy Q—delivered the first of three online shows, Song Machine Live From Kong, streamed from Kong Studios with 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel performing the entire album live for a global audience. The 30-minute set, captured in high quality with animation and live band, embodied 2020's climax, where throbbing beats merged with guest vocals to evoke a festival feel amid lockdown. As the opening of a three-part series, this performance highlighted Gorillaz's role as performers transforming virtual space into a portal of collective trance.