Who Is the Sky?

by David Byrne

Overview

David Byrne spent the better part of 50 years building his own wild and beautiful world of observational art pop. From his groundbreaking work with the Talking Heads into a decades-spanning solo discography, Byrne's songs have set intricate scenes from strange angles and used small, almost mundane starting points to explore larger feelings. Who Is the Sky? is another collection of Byrne's bright, narrative songwriting, elevated to new heights with smart orchestral arrangements from Ghost Train Orchestra. The album follows Byrne's 2018 LP American Utopia, which was expanded into a Broadway show, and much like American Utopia, the scenarios and characters laid out throughout Who Is the Sky? are inspections of the fears, frustrations, hopes, and expectations of American society circa the 2020s. In typical Byrne fashion, however, potentially heavy subjects are filtered through upbeat melodies and joyous instrumentation. The album kicks off with "Everybody Laughs," an anthem of universal commonalities driven by major-key acoustic guitar chords, hearty vocal harmonies, and eventually, a rich backing of strings, electro-acoustic percussion, and marching band instrumentation. It's a miniature carnival overflowing with life and positivity in the same way as some of Byrne's most memorable tunes from over the years. "My Apartment Is My Friend" is a lighthearted tribute to Byrne's home environment, with devotional lyrics humanizing the apartment supported by a stacked instrumental that moves through chamber pop, Morricone-esque soundtrack styles, and abstract electronic experimentation. Paramore's Hayley Williams adds some guest vocals to the fever-pitched, ballroom-ready "What Is the Reason for It?," and Tom Skinner, drummer of the Smile, and Byrne's longtime collaborator St. Vincent also make contributions to the album. The character of Who Is the Sky? is largely celebratory and playful. Byrne taps into his penchant for the absurd on the silly storytelling song "I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party," questions the present state of a weird art scene he himself helped create on "The Avant Garde," and marvels at the wonders of skin care with the somewhat ridiculous "Moisturizing Thing." It's an album of high-spirited grooves and vibrant arrangements, even when Byrne is mulling over the perils of a modern age blighted by political division and technology that can be threatening as often as it is helpful. Much like the vast majority of his work, however, these songs are so fun, so triumphant, so full of life that it's easy to feel reassured by them, even when they investigate difficult realities. ~ Fred Thomas

Product Details

Release Date:	09/05/2025
Label:	Matador Records
UPC:	0191401217828

Tracks

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

Album Credits

Performance Credits

David Byrne   Primary Artist,Guitar
Mauro Refosco   Percussion
Alex Waterman   Cello
Brandon Seabrook   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Andy Laster   Flute,Guitar,Sax (Alto)
Rob Garcia   Drums
Kid Harpoon   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Theremin,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guest Artist
Rebecca El-Saleh   Harp
Tom Skinner   Drums
Ginevra Petrucci   Flute
Emily Bookwalter   Viola
Alexandra Sopp   Flute
Dennis Lichtman   Clarinet
David Cossin   Marimba,Percussion,Vibraphone
Chris Lightcap   Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric)
Curtis Hasselbring   Trombone
Sara Schoenbeck   Bassoon
Ron Caswell   Tuba
Sara Caswell   Violin
Matt Bauder   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Hayley Williams   Vocals,Featured Artist
Katie Kresek   Violin
St. Vincent   Vocals,Featured Artist
Brian Carpenter   Trumpet,Orchestra Director

Technical Credits

Andy Laster   Orchestral Arrangements
Spike Stent   Mixing
Rob Garcia   Orchestral Arrangements
Dennis Lichtman   Orchestral Arrangements
Michael Hickey   Assistant Engineer
Matthew Soares   Assistant Engineer
Ben Miller   Assistant Engineer
Brian Rajaratnam   Engineer
Ahmed Klink   Photography
Emi Trevena   Engineer
Caroline Whitaker   Assistant Engineer
Akarsh Vaidyanathan   Engineer
Salwa Benloubane   Coordination
Shira Inbar   Design
Tom Van Der Borght   Design
Kid Harpoon   Producer
Max Wolf   Engineer
Bob DeMaa   Assistant
Maxim Moston   Orchestral Arrangements
Chris Lightcap   Orchestral Arrangements
Curtis Hasselbring   Orchestral Arrangements
Alex Vaz   Engineer
David Byrne   Design,Composer
Matt Bauder   Orchestral Arrangements
Emily Lazar   Mastering
Katie Kresek   Orchestral Arrangements
Brian Carpenter   Orchestral Arrangements