Introduction to David Byrne’s Latest Projects
Yesterday, David Byrne unveiled on Instagram stories that he will marry his fiance Mala Gaonkar in a few days. The wedding comes in the same week he drops his new album, Who is the sky?. With its kaleidoscopic cover and irresistible melodies, the recent publication of the King of Avantgarde Pop keeps the party going. Fans will be able to personally feel the sum when Byrne’s expected new tour starts in the Dolby Theater in November.
A Celebration of Life’s Strangeness
For Byrne, an apostle of euphoria, all of these dizziness seems to be suitable. Back in his Talking Heads-front days, the euphoria was the nervous way. In 2018, his American Utopia tour, which later had sustainable success on Broadway, became warmer and local. It is not a blind bliss that he sells, but as he explains to The Hollywood Reporter, a celebration of the strangeness of life. Byrne says of the new record: "I consider it a love song for humanity."
Inspiration Behind the New Album
Byrne started writing songs again after the Covid pandemic, and many of them came out as small stories. He would start with a title or the first few lines, and his fiancé would often remind him to keep it moist. One evening, he started to imagine: "What if it really works? What if I looked much younger? What would that be?" So he invented an entire scenario, and that became the song "Moisturizer Thing." He did this with a few different songs, where he would start with a premise and see where it would go.
Collaborations and New Sounds
Byrne collaborated with a new group called Ghost Train Orchestra on this album. It is a small orchestra of about 15 people based in New York, and he liked their sound, which is a mixture of guitar, bass, drums, and basic orchestral instruments. He also worked with a producer named Kid Harpoon, whom he met at a birthday party in Santa Monica. Byrne sent him all his demos and said: "These are the kind of songs I write. They are what they are. I would like to work with you."
The Catchy First Single and Music Video
The first single from the album is "Everybody Laughs," and its ingenious music video was made by Gabriel Barcia-Colombo. Byrne had seen a kind of feat that Barcia-Colombo had done on Times Square, where people on the pedestrians "looked" on the Times Square, and he loved the idea. The video features Byrne singing and dancing in a colorful outfit, and it’s a light song with some strong effects.
Writing Small Allegories
Byrne writes small allegories that are amusing but also have something serious to say. He believes that you can be humorous, but then there is an undercover message. His songs are not just about being funny, but also about conveying a message. He tries to appeal to the better side of humanity and push back against fear, anger, and hatred.
The Album Cover and Visual Art
Byrne is also a visual artist, and he loves the picture he developed for the album cover. He looks like a huge Koosh ball, and the outfit was created by a graphic designer named Shira Inbar and an artist named Tom van der Borght. The costume is made of household items, such as cable ties, bungee cords, and plastic tubes, and it weighs around 40-50 pounds.
Collaborations with New Talent
Byrne recently appeared on stage with Olivia Rodrigo, and he thinks it’s great that she appreciates great indie rock. He is open to working with new talent, and he likes Rodrigo’s sensitivity and songs. They did choreography and movement together, and the internet certainly measured it. Byrne believes that it’s great to work with new artists and to be able to do something different and fun.
