David Byrne has announce Who Is the Sky?, his first new album since 2018’s acclaimed and award-winning American Utopia, which will be released September 5th by Matador Records / Remote Control. The album 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.
Musical friends old and new, including St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco, also make appearances on Who Is the Sky?, which is led by the infectious single ‘Everybody Laughs.’ Along with the song, Byrne has released its official video, directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo.
Byrne will also return to the road with a brand new live show in support of Who Is the Sky?. The touring band will comprise 13 musicians, singers and dancers, including members of the American Utopia band, all of whom will be mobile throughout the set.
The Australian dates kick off in January 2026 with the band visiting Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. General tickets are on sale now. Tour Dates below.
GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE NOW via frontiertouring.com/davidbyrne
In 2023, as his triumphant American Utopia era came to a close after morphing from an album and tour into an acclaimed Broadway show and then a Spike Lee-directed HBO film, Byrne began jotting down the occasional groove, chord or melody. It had been a minute. During the tumultuous three prior years, “I did a LOT of cooking (Mexican and Indian mostly) and a LOT of drawing,” says Byrne, who also started compiling lyric ideas and phrases for possible songs. “I’ve found that when the time comes, it’s easier to start if there’s a little stockpile – and before too long there was. Very rudimentary songs began to emerge, with just me on acoustic guitar singing over a programmed loop or beat.”
And with the world, and the in-progress American Utopia Broadway run, on pause, he, like much of humanity, took the opportunity to ask, “Do I like what I’m doing? Why am I writing songs, or working this job, or whatever? Does any of it matter?”
Byrne’s attempts to answer those weighty questions can be found on Who Is The Sky?, which builds upon the optimistic themes laid out by American Utopia and its supporting tour, and more specifically spelled out by the Grammy-winning Broadway show and subsequent movie.
Byrne was inspired to enlist Ghost Train Orchestra for the album after hearing their 2023 tribute album to the blind New York composer and street poet Moondog, and later that year jumped on stage with the group during a Brooklyn performance. Enticed by the 15-member Ghost Train’s varied instrumental lineup – which includes drums, percussion, guitar and bass along with strings, winds and brass – he thought to himself, “what if that’s what these new songs of mine sounded like?” Byrne asked if they’d want to serve as his band for the Who Is The Sky? sessions, and they quickly agreed.
There are “more story songs than usual” on Who Is the Sky?, according to Byrne. These “mini-narratives based on personal experience” include ‘She Explains Things to Me’ (sample lyric: “how come it’s all so obvious to her?”), ‘A Door Called No’ (which magically opens after Byrne receives a kiss), ‘My Apartment Is My Friend’ (“you’ve seen me at my very worst / but we always get along,” he sings) and ‘I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party’ (at which the onetime spiritual guru is more interested in the unhealthy deserts than deification).
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
WHO IS THE SKY? TOUR
SAT 17 JAN
BRISBANE, QLD • BRISBANE ENT. CENTRE
WED 21 JAN
SYDNEY, NSW • ICC SYDNEY THEATRE
THU 22 JAN
MELBOURNE, VIC SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL
SAT 24 JAN
ADELAIDE, SA • ADELAIDE ENT. CENTRE
TUE 27 JAN
PERTH, WA • RAC ARENA •
PRESALE FROM: WED 11 JUN
TICKETS ON SALE: FRI 13 JUN