David Byrne Releases First Solo Album In 14 Years

By Armando

Nonesuch – Todo Mundo

Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is set to release a new album on March 9, titled ‘American Utopia’ due out through Todomundo / Nonesuch Records.

Featuring songs co-written with English musician Brian Eno and previously released collaborations with composer Oneohtrix Point Never (0PN) and British singer, songwriter and record producer Sampham, as well as songs with Jam City, the full album is available for streaming ahead of the release date via NPR Music’s First Listen series. Head over to npr.og website to listen to the album.

Recorded at various locations such as in Byrne’s own home studio, XL Studios, Oscilloscope, and London’s Livingston Studio 1, ‘American Utopia’ is Byrne’s first solo album in 14 years since 2004’s Grown Backwards. Byrne’s last album was “Love This Giant,” a collaborative effort with St. Vincent (Anne Erin “Annie” Clark) in 2012.

Byrne will head out on a world tour featuring Perfume Genius in support of the album. Perfume Genius’ gorgeous songs are filled with unexpected sounds and deeply personal — and his costumes would have made David Bowie jealous. I am looking forward to sharing the stage with Mike during some #AmericanUtopia dates this Spring!,” Byrne posted on his Twitter account.

Regarding the album title, Byrne stated: “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. The description, the discontent and the desire — I have a feeling that is what these songs touch on.”

Byrne was the founding member of acclaimed ’80s band Talking Heads, which was one of the major acts that helped define the new wave music genre. He won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy Awards for scoring Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987) with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su.

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