David Byrne has introduced a brand new album and a world tour.
Who Is The Sky?, the Speaking Heads singer’s first new album since 2018’s award-winning American Utopia, was produced by the Grammy-winning Child Harpoon (Harry Kinds, Miley Cyrus) and 12 songs had been organized by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Prepare Orchestra.
Musical mates, outdated and new, together with St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco, make appearances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 All people Laughs.
Watch the official video, directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, beneath:
All people Laughs
“Somebody I do know mentioned, ‘David, you employ the phrase “everyone” lots.’ I suppose I try this to provide an anthropological view of life in New York as we all know it,” says Byrne. “All people lives, dies, laughs, cries, sleeps and stares on the ceiling. All people’s carrying everyone else’s sneakers, which not everyone does, however I’ve accomplished.
“I attempted to sing about this stuff that could possibly be seen as detrimental in a approach balanced by an uplifting feeling from the groove and the melody, particularly on the finish, when St. Vincent and I are doing a whole lot of hollering and singing collectively. Music can try this – maintain opposites concurrently. I realised that when singing with Robyn earlier this yr. Her songs are sometimes unhappy, however the music is joyous.”
“It took me a second to understand, oh yeah, these songs are private, however with David’s distinctive perspective on life normally,” provides Child Harpoon (aka Tom Hull). “Strolling round New York listening to the demo of All people Laughs was so joyous, as a result of it made me really feel like we’re all the identical – all of us snigger, cry and sing.
“The factor about David that resonates with lots of people is that he’s in on the joke. He will get the absurdity of all of it, and all of those private observations are his perspective on it.”
American Utopia
In 2023, as his triumphant American Utopia period got here to an in depth after morphing from an album and tour into an acclaimed Broadway present after which a Spike Lee-directed HBO movie, Byrne started jotting down the occasional groove, chord or melody.
In the course of the tumultuous three prior years, “I did a LOT of cooking (Mexican and Indian largely) and a LOT of drawing,” says Byrne, who additionally began compiling lyric concepts and phrases for doable songs. “I’ve discovered that when the time comes, it’s simpler to begin if there’s a little bit stockpile – and earlier than too lengthy there was. Very rudimentary songs started to emerge, with simply 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 a lot of humanity, took the chance to ask, “Do I like what I’m doing? Why am I writing songs, or working this job, or no matter? Does any of it matter?”
Byrne’s makes an attempt to reply these weighty questions will be discovered on Who Is The Sky?, which builds upon the optimistic themes laid out by American Utopia. With this providing, Byrne continues his lifelong exploration of human connection and the potential for societal unity towards the chaotic backdrop of the world.
Who Is The Sky?
Who Is The Sky? is cinematic, humorous and joyful, however typically with a lesson baked in – that love is unexplainable, that enlightenment means very various things to totally different individuals and that it’s at all times a good suggestion to moisturise, whether or not you get up the subsequent morning with pores and skin like a child or not. Most significantly, the songs evince Byrne’s reward for driving the razor’s fringe of avant-garde and accessible pop.
“At my age, a minimum of for me, there’s a ‘don’t give a shit about what individuals assume’ perspective that kicks in,” Byrne says. “I can step outdoors my consolation zone with the information that I form of know who I’m by now and kind of know what I’m doing. That mentioned, each new set of songs, each tune even, is a brand new journey. There’s at all times a little bit of, ‘how do I work this?’ I’ve discovered that not each collaboration works, however typically after they do, it’s as a result of I’m capable of clearly impart what it’s I’m making an attempt to do. They hopefully get that, and because of this, we’re now joined collectively heading to the identical unknown place.”
Who Is The Sky? will likely be launched on 5 September by Matador Information. To pre-order the album, together with a restricted Cantaloupe Orange / Strawberry Pink cut up vinyl that includes a lenticular cowl, click on right here
UK & Eire 2026 Tour Dates
Byrne may even return to the street with a model new dwell present in help of Who Is The Sky?. The touring band will comprise 13 musicians, singers and dancers, together with members of the American Utopia band, all of whom will likely be cell all through the set. The North American tour begins in September, with Australia and New Zealand dates kicking off in January 2026. European and UK dates begin the next month.
03/02/2026 – Utilita Area, Cardiff
03/03/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
03/04/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
03/06/2026 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
03/07/2026 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
03/09/2026 – o2 Apollo, Manchester
03/10/2026 – o2 Apollo, Manchester
03/13/2026 – 3Arena, Dublin, Eire
03/15/2026 – Eventim Apollo, London
Tickets go on common sale Friday 13 June at 10am (native) and will be bought right here and by way of LiveNation.co.uk. Followers can join the artist presale now by means of 12 June at 10pm native right here. The artist presale will start Tuesday 10 June 10am ET by means of Thursday 12 June at 10pm native.
Featured picture credit score: Shervin Lainez
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