David Byrne Shares New Single ‘The Avant Garde'

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2 days ago

New album Who Is The Sky? Out 5 September via Matador Records
releases ' The Avant Garde ', the latest offering from his forthcoming album Who Is The Sky?, out 5th September through Matador Records. 'The Avant Garde' wrestles with the merits of art for art's sake, 'it's ahead of the curve / it's deceptively weighty, profound, absurd / it's whatever fits'
Byrne says, 'Some people will hear this and say, 'David is calling bullshit on his friends' but it's more nuanced than that. Anyone who knows me knows that I go to plenty of shows that might be classified as avant-garde or experimental. Edgy and untraditional work is hugely inspiring to me, as it often changes the way I think and influences what I do (without me simply appropriating the ideas, I hope). That said, trying something unproven and radically new is risky. Sometimes, as with anything risky, it doesn't quite hit the bullseye. There's no guarantee that it will achieve what it aims to do, but when it does, the emotional and intellectual rewards are worth it. That is the risk one takes while making something new and unconventional. So yes, there are times when it doesn't mean shit, but often there are times when something wholly original comes into being and it's all worth it. I love that the Ghost Train folks and Kid Harpoon took what could have been a fairly conventional song I'd written (musically at least), and steered it into something that to me sounds like Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.'
Who Is the Sky? is Byrne's first album since releasing the acclaimed 2018 American Utopia, which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and HBO film. It was produced by the Grammy-winning Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), while its 12 songs were arranged by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra. Guests include Paramore's Hayley Williams, St. Vincent and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner.
In September, David Byrne will kick off a massive world tour. The European and UK leg kicks off February 12th in Berlin, and includes four shows at London's Eventim Apoll in March. David Byrne will perform in Auckland, New Zealand at Spark Arena as part of his Who Is The Sky? tour February 14, 2026. A full rundown and tickets are available at davidbyrne.com.
The new album was introduced by the infectious first single ' Everybody Laughs ', which sets the tone for Who Is the Sky? with its universal themes of human connection and the potential for societal unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world. Click here to watch the video, directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo. Last month, David revealed the second single from the album, ' She Explains Things to Me ', which taps into some of the deeper themes of Who Is the Sky? and was partially inspired by Rebecca Solnit's book Men Explain Things to Me.
'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 about the spirit behind Who Is the Sky? '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.'
David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
1. Everybody Laughs
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 an Outsider
11. She Explains Things to Me
12. The Truth
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