David Byrne previews The Avant Garde from Who Is The Sky

David Byrne has released another preview from his forthcoming solo album, Who Is The Sky?, with The Avant Garde, a track that blends Led Zeppelin-style riffing with the chamber-pop sensibilities of an avant-garde project. Set for release on September 5 via Matador Records and produced by Kid Harpoon, the album marks Byrne’s first new solo music since 2018’s American Utopia. The Avant Garde arrives alongside news that Byrne will launch a worldwide tour, spanning North America, Europe, the UK, and beyond, beginning in September and continuing into early 2026.

The Avant Garde is the third edgy, untraditional single from Who Is The Sky?, which Byrne has described as exploring the worth of art for arts sake while remaining deeply attentive to the emotional and intellectual risks of pursuing something radically new. Byrne emphasizes that avant-garde work can be inspiring precisely because it challenges expectations, even if every experiment doesn’t hit its mark. “There are times when it doesn’t mean shit,” he has said, “but often there are times when something wholly original comes into being and it’s all worth it.” He has also praised the collaboration with Ghost Train Orchestra and...