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David Byrne heads to the O2 universe. He’ll bring a new album and a unique orchestral sound
David Byrne, zakladatel Talking Heads, držitel Grammy, Oscara i Zlatého glóbu a jedna z nejoriginálnějších postav moderní hudby, představí v Praze své nové album Who Is The Sky? – první studiovou nahrávku od éry American Utopia. Do O2 universa dorazí 17. června 2026 s koncertem, který propojí jeho autorskou vizi s intimním orchestrálním zvukem newyorského ansámblu Ghost Train Orchestra.
The roots of Who Is The Sky? go back to 2023, as Byrne’s celebrated American Utopia era — spanning an album, a global tour, a Broadway production and a Spike Lee–directed film — came to a close. Amid a rare creative pause, he returned to drawing, cooking and collecting musical fragments that slowly evolved into new songs. Like many during that period, he found himself reflecting on purpose, creativity and the role art plays during uncertain times. These reflections shape the emotional core of the new album.
The project marks Byrne’s first collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and the 15-piece Ghost Train Orchestra, whose distinctive palette of strings, winds, brass and rhythm instruments brings fresh emotional depth to Byrne’s songwriting. Guest appearances include Paramore’s Hayley Williams, longtime collaborator St. Vincent and The Smile’s drummer Tom Skinner. The result is a set of songs that balance experimental freedom with melodic clarity, filled with narrative vignettes, humor, tenderness and Byrne’s trademark sense of curiosity.
Who Is The Sky? explores themes of connection, imagination, love and the strange poetry of everyday life. Byrne describes the album as an opportunity to step beyond the boundaries of the self and enter a new creative realm — a space where storytelling, rhythm and orchestration intertwine. In concert, this vision expands into an immersive presentation that highlights both the album’s intimacy and its vibrant, cinematic sweep.
The Who Is The Sky? tour showcases Byrne’s commitment to redefining the live music experience, echoing the innovation of his previous productions while carving a new artistic path. Audiences can expect selections from the new album as well as works from Byrne’s extensive catalogue, presented with renewed energy and a distinctive sound shaped by his collaborators.