David Byrne releases new single featuring Hayley Williams ahead of upcoming album

David Byrne, former frontman of Talking Heads, has released a new single titled ‘What Is The Reason For It?’, featuring Paramore’s Hayley Williams. This track is part of Byrne’s upcoming solo album, ‘Who Is The Sky?’, set to be released on September 5, 2025, via Matador Records. The album is Byrne’s first solo effort since 2018’s ‘American Utopia’ and includes collaborations with notable artists such as St. Vincent and Tom Skinner from The Smile. ‘What Is The Reason For It?’ presents a dynamic vocal interplay between Byrne and Williams, combined with swirling strings, playful brass, and a catchy rhythm that exemplifies Byrne’s signature sound. The song explores themes of love and human connection, as Byrne explained the track questions the nature and reasons behind love. The music video features animated line drawings by artist Dustin Yellin. The entire LP includes arrangements by the New York-based Ghost Train Orchestra, inspired by their tribute to the street poet and composer Moondog. Byrne plans to support the new album with a world tour beginning in the US in September 2025, continuing to the UK in March 2026. This release follows Byrne’s statement that there will be no Talking Heads reunion, emphasizing his focus on current solo projects. Additionally, Byrne and Williams previously collaborated on a track for the animated film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’.