“Every new set of songs, every song even, is a new adventure” - David Byrne
David Byrne has announced a new album and a world tour.
Who Is The Sky?, the Talking Heads singer’s first new album since 2018’s award-winning American Utopia, was produced by the Grammy-winning Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and 12 songs were arranged by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra.
Musical friends, old and new, including St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco, make appearances on Who Is The Sky?, which is led by the infectious single Everybody Laughs.
Watch the official video, directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, below:
Everybody Laughs
“Someone I know said, ‘David, you use the word “everybody” a lot.’ I suppose I do that to give an anthropological view of life in New York as we know it,” says Byrne. “Everybody lives, dies, laughs, cries, sleeps and stares at the ceiling. Everybody’s wearing everybody else’s shoes, which not everybody does, but I have done.
“I tried to sing about these things that could be seen as negative in a way balanced by an uplifting feeling from the groove and the melody, especially at the end, when St. Vincent and I are doing a lot of hollering and singing together. Music can do that – hold opposites simultaneously. I realised that when singing with Robyn earlier this year. Her songs are often sad, but the music is joyous.”
“It took me a second to realise, oh yeah, these songs are personal, but with David’s unique perspective on life in general,” adds Kid Harpoon (aka Tom Hull). “Walking around New York listening to the demo of Everybody Laughs was so joyous, because it made me feel like we’re all the same – we all laugh, cry and sing.
“The thing about David that resonates with a lot of people is that he’s in on the joke. He gets the absurdity of it all, and all of these personal observations are his perspective on it.”
American Utopia
In 2023, as his triumphant American Utopia era came to a close after morphing from an album and tour into an acclaimed Broadway show and then a Spike Lee-directed HBO film, Byrne began jotting down the occasional groove, chord or melody.
During the tumultuous three prior years, “I did a LOT of cooking (Mexican and Indian mostly) and a LOT of drawing,” says Byrne, who also started compiling lyric ideas and phrases for possible songs. “I’ve found that when the time comes, it’s easier to start if there’s a little stockpile – and before too long there was. Very rudimentary songs began to emerge, with just me on acoustic guitar singing over a programmed loop or beat.”
And with the world, and the in-progress American Utopia Broadway run, on pause, he, like much of humanity, took the opportunity to ask, “Do I like what I’m doing? Why am I writing songs, or working this job, or whatever? Does any of it matter?”
Byrne’s attempts to answer those weighty questions can be found on Who Is The Sky?, which builds upon the optimistic themes laid out by American Utopia. With this offering, Byrne continues his lifelong exploration of human connection and the potential for societal unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world.
Who Is The Sky?
Who Is The Sky? is cinematic, humorous and joyful, but often with a lesson baked in – that love is unexplainable, that enlightenment means very different things to different people and that it’s always a good idea to moisturise, whether you wake up the next morning with skin like a baby or not. Most importantly, the songs evince Byrne’s gift for riding the razor’s edge of avant-garde and accessible pop.
“At my age, at least for me, there’s a ‘don’t give a shit about what people think’ attitude that kicks in,” Byrne says. “I can step outside my comfort zone with the knowledge that I kind of know who I am by now and sort of know what I’m doing. That said, every new set of songs, every song even, is a new adventure. There’s always a bit of, ‘how do I work this?’ I’ve found that not every collaboration works, but often when they do, it’s because I’m able to clearly impart what it is I’m trying to do. They hopefully get that, and as a result, we’re now joined together heading to the same unknown place.”
Who Is The Sky? will be released on 5 September by Matador Records. To pre-order the album, including a limited Cantaloupe Orange / Strawberry Pink split vinyl featuring a lenticular cover, click here
UK & Ireland 2026 Tour Dates
Byrne will also return to the road with a brand new live show in support of Who Is The Sky?. The touring band will comprise 13 musicians, singers and dancers, including members of the American Utopia band, all of whom will be mobile throughout the set. The North American tour begins in September, with Australia and New Zealand dates kicking off in January 2026. European and UK dates start the following month.
02/03/2026 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
03/03/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
04/03/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
06/03/2026 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
07/03/2026 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
09/03/2026 – o2 Apollo, Manchester
10/03/2026 – o2 Apollo, Manchester
13/03/2026 – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
15/03/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
Tickets go on general sale Friday 13 June at 10am (local) and can be purchased here and via LiveNation.co.uk. Fans can sign up for the artist presale now through 12 June at 10pm local here. The artist presale will begin Tuesday 10 June 10am ET through Thursday 12 June at 10pm local.
Featured image credit: Shervin Lainez
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