Key Highlights
- David Byrne doesn’t read reviews of his work.
- Byrne’s new album “Who Is the Sky?” is more cheerful than his previous tour.
- The 12 songs on Who Is the Sky? are viewed as love songs by Byrne.
- Byrne founded Reasons to be Cheerful, an online magazine encapsulating his creative philosophy.
New Album “Who Is the Sky?” and Live Shows
The American musician David Byrne, known for his work with Talking Heads and other projects, is set to return to New Zealand in January 2025. He will perform at Auckland’s Spark Arena on 14 January 2025, accompanied by performers from his wildly successful “American Utopia” album tour of 2018.
This year, Byrne is working on a follow-up to American Utopia called “Who Is the Sky?” with a group including the New York ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra and British producer Kid Harpoon. The new album features 12 songs that Byrne considers love songs. He sings about a Benjamin Button-style age reversal in one track titled ‘Moisturizing Thing’, which references his recent marriage to American entrepreneur Mala Gaonkar.
Live Performance Philosophy and Audience Reception
Byrne doesn’t engage with critics but is seeing positive reactions from audiences. “I’m told by audience members that the shows I’m doing now make them cheerful,” he tells RNZ’s Music 101. The upcoming performances may even be more joyful than his last tour, which NME called possibly “the most ambitious and impressive live show of all time.”
For this year’s tour, Byrne is focusing on movement and choreography with a larger number of singing dancers. He notes that the set-up “democratises the band,” allowing drummers to come to the front more often. This change enhances audience engagement, as they cheer when performers move closer to them.
Philosophy Behind “Reasons to be Cheerful”
The 68-date world tour of “Who Is the Sky?” is part of Byrne’s broader philosophy encapsulated in his online magazine “Reasons to be Cheerful.” Founded in 2019, this platform reflects his belief that there are reasons for joy and positivity despite societal challenges. Byrne reflects on how society has not fully processed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “We never really said, ‘What happened? Are we different now?’ or ‘Do we have different values now?’ It’s just like, ‘Oh, got through that. Let’s move on and forget it.'”
Future Plans and Social Observations
During a recent tour stop in Philadelphia, Byrne attended the “wonderful” protest against Donald Trump’s policies. He observed that few young people were present but believes this is due to a feeling among some that change can’t be achieved through action. However, he anticipates these sentiments will shift in the future.
Byrne remains committed to his art and philosophy, stating, “I’ve realised, ‘Oh, no, just don’t.
Don’t bother with it. Just ignore all that stuff. Just do what you do.’ His new album and upcoming shows aim to bring joy and positivity to audiences worldwide.
