David Byrne Shares First New Solo Album In 14 Years

Via Live For Live Music

Photo by Jody Rogac

Written by Kendall Deflin

In early January, David Byrne announced that he would release his first new solo album in fourteen years. American Utopia, officially due out March 9th via Todomundo/Nonesuch Records, marks the Talking Heads frontman’s first release since 2012’s St. Vincent collaboration, Love This Giant, and his first solo album since 2004’s Grown Backwards. Today, you can listen to American Utopia as a pre-release stream on NPR’s First Listen.

American Utopia was recorded at David Byrne’s home studio, as well as XL Studios, Oscilloscope, and London’s Livingston Studio 1, among other places, and was produced by Rodaidh McDonald (The xx, King Krule, Savages). The album’s guest contributors include Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never), Jam City, St. Vincent producer Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman), and Jack Peñate. Several of the songs, including the lead single “Everybody’s Coming To My House”, were co-written by Byrne’s longtime collaborator Brian Eno.

“The [album] title refers not to a specific utopia, but rather to our longing, frustration, aspirations, fears, and hopes regarding what could be possible, what else is possible,” Byrne said in a press statement. “The description, the discontent and the desire—I have a feeling that is what these songs touch on.”

Listen to American Utopia here.

In support of the new album, David Byrne will hit the road with a world tour. When the talk of the tour started last month, Byrne revealed that his plans for the tour will create “the most ambitious show I’ve done since the shows that were filmed for Stop Making Sense.” In addition to the previously-announced American music festivals like Coachella and Shaky Knees, David Byrne will hit several international fests including Lollapalooza Chile, Argentina, Brazil, as well as festivals in Prague, Bilbao, Barcelona, and more. See below for a full list of tour dates, and stay tuned for more. Head to David Byrne’s website for a full list of tour dates.

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