David Byrne Shares New Tune “She Explains Issues to Me”
Who Is the Sky? Due Out September 5 through Matador
Jul 16, 2025
Pictures by Shervin Lainez
David Byrne is releasing a brand new album, Who Is the Sky?, September 5 through Matador. Now the previous Speaking Heads frontman has shared its second single, “She Explains Issues to Me.” Hear under.
The brand new single was partially impressed by Rebecca Solnit’s e-book Males Clarify Issues to Me.
Byrne explains in a press launch: “Many instances I’ve marveled at how a good friend (normally a feminine good friend) appears to clock what’s going on in a movie between characters method earlier than I do. Typically I perceive poetry, however typically I need assistance. Although impressed by the Solnit e-book Males Clarify Issues to Me there’s a enormous distinction—mansplaining is normally unasked for, on this case I’m the one asking.”
Beforehand Byrne shared its first single, “All people Laughs,” through a music video. It was considered one of our Songs of the Week. Who Is the Sky? options St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and The Smile’s Tom Skinner.
Child Harpoon (Harry Kinds, Miley Cyrus) produced the album and members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Practice Orchestra organized the songs. Byrne’s final album was 2018’s American Utopia, which turned a Broadway present and a efficiency movie directed by Spike Lee.
Byrne noticed Ghost Practice Orchestra dwell and was impressed to get them concerned within the album. Ghost Practice Orchestra chief Brian Carpenter says: “David despatched me some demos and requested us to place collectively some orchestral concepts. Curtis Hasselbring and I rapidly wrote a pair tough draft preparations of his songs for Ghost Practice, together with ‘My Residence Is My Buddy,’ which was the primary tune we rehearsed at our tiny rehearsal area in Chinatown. To listen to him singing with us for the primary time on that tune was simply unimaginable.”
Byrne then met Child Harpoon (aka Tom Hull) at a celebration when launched by a mutual good friend. “Typically issues do occur at events,” says Byrne. “I knew this might all get sophisticated and I additionally wished to make sure the recordings sounded nearly as good as doable. An outdoor set of ears might be tremendous useful. A couple of artists I knew had labored with Child Harpoon, and I assumed these information sounded actually good.”
Child Harpoon provides: “It took me a second to comprehend, oh yeah, these songs are private, however with David’s distinctive perspective on life generally. Strolling round New York listening to the demo of ‘All people Laughs’ was so joyous, as a result of it made me really feel like we’re all the identical—all of us snicker, cry and sing. The factor about David that resonates with lots of people is that he’s in on the joke. He will get the absurdity of all of it, and all of those private observations are his perspective on it.”
Summing up Who Is the Sky?, Byrne says: “At my age, not less than for me, there’s a ‘don’t give a shit about what folks suppose’ perspective that kicks in. I can step exterior my consolation zone with the data that I form of know who I’m by now and kind of know what I’m doing. That stated, each new set of songs, each tune even, is a brand new journey. There’s at all times a little bit of, ‘how do I work this?’ I’ve discovered that not each collaboration works, however usually after they do, it’s as a result of I’m in a position to clearly impart what it’s I’m making an attempt to do. They hopefully get that, and in consequence, we’re now joined collectively heading to the identical unknown place.”
Speaking Heads not too long ago launched the primary ever music video for his or her 1977 hit “Psycho Killer,” starring actress Saoirse Ronan (Little Ladies, Girl Fowl, Brooklyn).
Byrne additionally not too long ago joined Olivia Rodrigo throughout her set at New York’s Governors Ball pageant the place they did a spited and playful cowl of Speaking Heads’ traditional “Burning Down the Home.”
Learn our 2020 interview with David Byrne.
