David Byrne Shares New Single, “The Avant Garde,” Ahead Of Album Release And World Tour

On Wednesday (August 13), David Byrne released his new song, “The Avant Garde,” the third single from his upcoming album, Who Is the Sky?, which is set for release on September 5 via Matador Records. The track is produced by Kid Harpoon and arranged with the chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra, and it explores the risks and rewards of creating experimental art, blending musical influences that Byrne describes as “Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.” “Some people will hear this and say, ‘David is calling bulls**t on his friends’ but it’s more nuanced than that,” Byrne said in a statement about the song. “Edgy and untraditional work is hugely inspiring to me, as it often changes the way I think and influences what I do.” Byrne will support the album – which includes previous singles “She Explains Things to Me” and “Everybody Laughs” – with a world tour that launches on September 14 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Consequence of Sound)