Who Is The Sky? (Lemon Yellow Vinyl)

David Byrne proudly announces Who Is the Sky?, his first new album since 2018’s acclaimed and award-winning American Utopia. Slated for release on September 5th by Matador Records, this album finds Byrne collaborating with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and featuring arrangements by New York’s celebrated chamber ensemble, Ghost Train Orchestra.

Who Is the Sky? showcases 12 songs that explore life’s dualities — joy and sadness, isolation and connection — all woven together in Byrne’s inimitable style. The album features musical guests including St. Vincent, Hayley Williams (Paramore), Tom Skinner (The Smile), and longtime percussionist Mauro Refosco.

Inspired by Ghost Train Orchestra’s 2023 tribute to Moondog and their dynamic instrumental lineup, Byrne imagined his new songs reimagined with a rich orchestral palette: strings, winds, brass, and percussion. The result is an emotionally charged collection that brings intimacy and accessibility to the forefront, with Kid Harpoon ensuring every layer of storytelling is beautifully revealed.

Mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent and mastered by Emily Lazar, Who Is the Sky? captures Byrne’s vision of music as both a place to hide and a space to transcend — a chance to step into another reality. The album package, designed by Shira Inbar with costumes by Belgian artist Tom Van Der Borght, radiates psychedelic energy, echoing the album’s themes of transformation and reinvention.

Byrne sums it up best: “Every new set of songs is a new adventure. I’ve learned to embrace the unknown, and that’s where the magic happens.”

Tracklisting:

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