"Meanwhile" is an extended play by English virtual band Gorillaz, released on August 26, 2021. The EP was launched to celebrate the Notting Hill Carnival in London, which was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 29, 2021, Damon Albarn announced in an interview with NME that Gorillaz was working on new music with a carnival theme, hinting that their upcoming record would revisit the band’s earlier style.
On August 10, 2021, Gorillaz premiered three new songs—“Meanwhile” (featuring British rapper Jelani Blackman), “Jimmy Jimmy” (featuring British rapper AJ Tracey), and “Déjà Vu” (featuring Jamaican singer Alicaì Harley)—at a free concert at The O2 Arena in London for National Health Service employees and their families. The band performed these tracks again the following day at a public concert, marking their first live audience shows of the Song Machine Tour.
