David Byrne is back – and he’s got big questions. The Talking Heads co-founder, solo innovator, and ever-curious musical polymath has announced Who Is the Sky?, his first album of new material since 2018’s genre-smashing American Utopia. Out September 5 via Matador Records, the album sees Byrne diving deeper into the strange, sublime, and frequently absurd nature of modern life — this time through the lens of lush orchestration, sharp observation, and a hefty dose of joy.

Lead single “Everybody Laughs,” out now, is a kaleidoscopic anthem that pulses with infectious energy and a wink of existential dread. It arrives with a surreal video directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo, continuing Byrne’s streak of mind-expanding visuals. “Everybody laughs, cries, stares at the ceiling,” Byrne muses in the track. “Everybody’s wearing everybody else’s shoes, which not everybody does, but I have done.”

The album marks a new sonic chapter for Byrne, who collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon (aka Tom Hull), known for his work with Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus. Behind the sweeping arrangements is the acclaimed New York chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra, whose kaleidoscopic instrumentation gives the album a cinematic warmth. The group first caught Byrne’s ear with their 2023 tribute to street composer Moondog — soon after, he joined them live in Brooklyn and knew they were the right fit.

Among the album’s 12 tracks are guest spots from an enviable list of collaborators, including Byrne’s longtime creative foil St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Smile and Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, and Brazilian percussion wizard Mauro Refosco, a fixture in Byrne’s orbit since the Rei Momo days.

“I realized that these songs were personal,” says Kid Harpoon, “but filtered through David’s perspective – where humor, sadness, philosophy, and dance grooves all hang out in the same room.”

That ethos pulses through the record. On “My Apartment Is My Friend,” Byrne sings about lockdown-era solitude with surprising tenderness. “I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party” finds enlightenment rubbing shoulders with dessert trays. “She Explains Things to Me” is a wry ode to mansplaining’s reversal. And “The Avant Garde” skewers (and celebrates) the art world with the kind of self-aware mischief only Byrne could pull off.

If American Utopia was a hopeful reckoning with what it means to be alive in a broken world, Who Is the Sky? doubles down on that optimism — but with more chaos, more absurdity, and, somehow, more heart. It's a spiritual sequel and a stylistic pivot: avant-pop in an orchestral suit, just slightly rumpled.

The album’s cover, designed by Shira Inbar with outfits by Belgian artist Tom Van Der Borght, finds Byrne barely visible beneath radiating psychedelic patterns — part oracle, part dada fashion prophet.

“At my age, there’s a ‘don’t give a shit’ quality that kicks in,” Byrne says with a laugh. “I can step outside my comfort zone with the knowledge that I sort of know what I’m doing. Sort of.”

That same fearless spirit fuels the newly announced Who Is the Sky? world tour, which kicks off September 14 in Providence, RI and hits major cities across North America, before heading to Australia, New Zealand, and Europe into 2026. Byrne promises a mobile, theatrical stage show featuring 13 musicians, singers, and dancers — many of whom played in the American Utopia Broadway ensemble. Expect movement, madness, and, as always, a few unexpected detours.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 13 at 10am local via LiveNation, with artist presales running earlier in the week. A limited edition orange-and-pink split vinyl with lenticular cover art is also available for pre-order now.

Who Is the Sky? Tracklist:

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
    
    

David Byrne might not have all the answers, but on Who Is the Sky?, he’s asking the right questions — and getting the band back together for the journey into the unknown.

WORLDWIDE TOUR DATES

North America:

09/14/2025 - Providence, RI - Veterans Memorial Auditorium

09/16/2025 - Pittsburgh, PA - Benedum Center PAC

09/17/2025 - Columbus, OH - Mershon Auditorium

09/19/2025 - Akron, OH - Akron Civic Theatre

09/21/2025 - Schenectady, NY - Proctors

09/23/2025 - Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theatre

09/25/2025 - Buffalo, NY - Shea’s Buffalo Theatre

09/27/2025 - Washington D.C. - The Anthem

09/28/2025 - Washington D.C. - The Anthem

09/30/2025 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

10/01/2025 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

10/03/2025 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Wang Theatre

10/04/2025 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Wang Theatre

10/07/2025 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre

10/08/2025 - Portland, ME - Merrill Auditorium at City Hall

10/10/2025 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

10/14/2025 - Richmond, VA - Altria Theater

10/16/2025 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

10/17/2025 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

10/21/2025 - Toronto, ON, Canada - Massey Hall

10/22/2025 - Toronto, ON, Canada - Massey Hall

10/25/2025 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre

10/28/2025 - Chicago, IL - The Auditorium

10/29/2025 - Chicago, IL - The Auditorium

10/31/2025 - Chicago, IL - The Auditorium

11/03/2025 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre

11/04/2025 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre

11/06/2025 - Denver, CO - Bellco Theatre

11/07/2025 - Denver, CO - Bellco Theatre

11/11/2025 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

11/12/2025 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

11/16/2025 - San Francisco, CA - The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

11/17/2025 - San Francisco, CA - The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

11/20/2025 - Los Angeles, CA - Dolby Theatre

11/21/2025 - Los Angeles, CA - Dolby Theatre

11/25/2025 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall

11/26/2025 - Austin, TX - Bass Concert Hall

11/28/2025 - Dallas, TX - Music Hall at Fair Park

11/29/2025 - Dallas, TX - Music Hall at Fair Park

12/02/2025 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre

12/03/2025 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre

12/05/2025 - Miami, FL - Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre

12/06/2025 - Miami, FL - Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre

Australia & New Zealand:

01/14/2026 - Auckland, New Zealand - Spark Arena

01/17/2026 - Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane Entertainment Center

01/21/2026 - Sydney, Australia - ICC Sydney Theatre

01/22/2026 - Melbourne, Australia - Sidney Myer Music Bowl

01/24/2026 - Adelaide, Australia - Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena

01/27/2026 - Perth, Australia - RAC Arena

Europe & United Kingdom:

02/12/2026 - Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom

02/15/2026 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live

02/16/2026 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live

02/18/2026 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National

02/21/2026 - Milan, Italy - Teatro degli Arcimboldi

02/22/2026 - Milan, Italy - Teatro degli Arcimboldi

02/24/2026 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle

02/27/2026 - Zurich, Switzerland - The Hall

03/02/2026 - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena

03/03/2026 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo

03/04/2026 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo

03/06/2026 - Glasgow, UK - SEC Armadillo

03/07/2026 - Glasgow, UK - SEC Armadillo

03/09/2026 - Manchester, UK - o2 Apollo

03/10/2026 - Manchester, UK - o2 Apollo

03/13/2026 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena

03/15/2026 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo

03/18/2026 - Paris, France - La Seine Musicale

03/19/2026 - Paris, France - La Seine Musicale

Tickets will be available starting with presales that will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 13 at 10am local time at LiveNation.com. 

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.