David Byrne Tour & New Album 2024
David Byrne announces New Album “Who Is the Sky?” and Tour
David Byrne, the iconic frontman of Talking Heads, is making a comeback with his first new album in seven years.”Who Is the Sky?” is slated for release on Sept. 5, and Byrne will support the new music with a tour.
The North American leg of the tour includes two November shows at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. International dates in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe will follow in 2026.
The 12-song album’s first single, “Everybody Laughs,” dropped Tuesday, accompanied by a music video directed by Gabriel Barcia-Colombo.
Byrne explained the inspiration behind the single. “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,” Byrne said.
He elaborated on the song’s themes, saying, “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 thes 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.”
The Ghost Train Orchestra, based in New York, arranged ”Who Is the Sky?”. The album also features collaborations with St. Vincent, Hayley Williams, and Tom Skinner, drummer for The Smile. Byrne’s previous album, “American Utopia” (2018), was adapted into a Broadway show and a Spike Lee-directed concert film.
Prior to the album declaration, Talking Heads sparked fan speculation with a teaser on June 2, featuring their hit song ”Psycho Killer.” Some fans noted that June 5, the date included in the clip, marked the anniversary of the band’s first gig in 1975, opening for the Ramones at CBGB.
However,instead of a Talking heads tour,fans were treated to a new music video for “Psycho Killer,” starring Saoirse Ronan.
One fan humorously commented, “They waited until Saoirse Ronan was born to make the video. Very professional.”
What’s next
Fans eagerly await the release of “Who Is the Sky?” and David Byrne’s upcoming tour,anticipating a blend of his signature sound with fresh,collaborative energy. The new album and tour promise a vibrant return for the acclaimed musician.