Global music legend David Byrne is set to reconnect with fans with a new album, seven years after his 2018 release. Titled Who Is the Sky?, the project will be released on September 5 via Matador Records. The former Talking Heads frontman, collaborating with Ghost Train Orchestra and Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon, surprised listeners by sharing the first single, “Everybody Laughs.” Byrne also announced plans for a world tour to support the album.
Byrne revealed that the songs for Who Is the Sky? were written following the conclusion of his American Utopia era, which peaked with his Broadway performances and an HBO special directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. In a statement, Byrne said, “I realized that when the time came, it was easier to start if I had a small stockpile.” He added, “And soon enough, that’s what happened. Very raw songs started to emerge, just singing over a programmed loop or rhythm with an acoustic guitar.”
