David Byrne returns with a new album and world tour

David Byrne is back with a new album: “Who is the Sky?” will be published on Matador Records on September 5 – his first new work since the 2018 album “American Utopia”. The twelve songs comprehensive record was produced by the multiple Grammy winner Kid Harpoon and arranged by the New York Ghost Train Orchestra.

On “Who is the Sky?” In addition to new musical companions, old friends can also be heard. St. Vincent, Hayley Williams from Paramore, the Smile drummer Tom Skinner and Mauro Refosco, who had already contributed to Byrnes’s last album “Percussion”. The single “Everybody Laughs” including music video, which was staged by multimedia artists Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, appears as a harbinger of the album.

Byrne announces a new album on Instagram

David Byrne also explained the importance of the new single “Everybody Laughs”: “An acquaintance said: David, you use the word everbody quite often. I guess I do this to take an anthropological look at New York. Everybody lives, this, laughs, sags, stares at the ceiling. And everybody is wearing shoes. People.

The Talking Heads co-founder continues how he tries in the songs to compensate for negative topics through groove and melody: “Music can: two opposites. I noticed that above all when I sang with Robyn at the beginning of the year. Her songs are often sad, but the music are rather happy.”

Producer Kid Harpoon emphasizes Byrne’s special view: “It was great to walk through New York with the demo of ‘Everybody Laughs’ on my ears, because I felt that we are all one – we all laugh, cry and sing. This is the thing that many of David appreciate.

From “American Utopia” to the new album

After the “American Utopia” phase with album, tour, Broadway show and Spike-Lee film slowly ended in 2023, Byrne began with the first ideas for new music: “I found that it is easier to start if you already have a little bit-and that was soon. Beat sang. “

While the world took its course, Byrne asked itself a few basic questions: “Do I actually like what I do? Why do I write songs, am I doing this job? Is something important about it?” His new album “Who is the Sky?” Put on the optimism of the predecessor and continue to reflect on human relationships and the potential of social unity in the midst of global challenges.

World tour with stops in Germany

After the publication of “Who is the Sky?” In September 2025, David Byrne started a worldwide tour. Two concerts are planned in Germany:

• February 12, 2026 in Berlin (Tempodrom)
• February 24, 2026 in Frankfurt (Century Hall)

Tracklist of “Who is the Sky?”

1. Everybody loudhs
2. When we are singing
3. My Apartment is My Friend
4. A Door Called No
5. What is the Reason for IT?
6. I met the Buddha at a downtown party
7. Don’t be like that
8. The Avant Garde
9. Moisturizing Thing
10. I’m on outsider
11. She explains things to me
12. The Truth