David Byrne Reflects on Working with Hayley Williams — and Why Her Performance on His Album Stands Out
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The track Who Is the Sky?, a collaboration with the New York–based Ghost Train Orchestra, drops Sept. 5 on streaming platforms.
For David Byrne, the spark behind part of his new album came from Hayley Williams.
The legendary musician, 73, is preparing to release his latest project Who Is the Sky? on Friday, Sept. 5, and he credits the Paramore frontwoman with inspiring one of its standout moments. Williams, 36, lends her voice to the lively track “What Is the Reason for It?”
Byrne first connected with Williams during A24’s 2023–2024 re-release of Stop Making Sense, the 1984 Talking Heads concert film. As part of the project, the studio invited various artists to reimagine songs from the film—including Paramore, who recorded a cover of “Burning Down the House.”
After that exchange, Byrne returned the favor by taking on Paramore’s “Hard Times.” “It was a lot of fun, and they liked what I did with it,” he recalls over Zoom from his New York music room.
The collaboration sparked an ongoing friendship. Byrne later caught Paramore’s Madison Square Garden show and was struck by Williams’ connection with her audience. “It’s very genuine and very close,” he says. “I thought that was really amazing.”
So when he and producer Kid Harpoon were putting the finishing touches on Who Is the Sky?, Byrne knew exactly who to call. The song in question was exploring the mysteries of love, and he thought Williams would be the perfect fit. “I just texted her and asked if she wanted to sing on it—and she said yes,” he recalls. “And she killed it.”
Byrne’s songwriting often begins with small sparks of everyday life. He describes jotting down stray lines that sometimes grow into full songs. One unfinished idea was based on a call from a blocked number—an ordinary moment he imagined transforming into a story about mystery, suspicion, and possibility.
With Who Is the Sky?, Byrne wanted to capture a mix of yearning and optimism. Unlike his 2018 record American Utopia, this new project leans into playfulness while still reflecting on frustration, fear, and hope. “There’s a longing for possibility—I think that’s what these songs touch on,” he explains.
So far, the response has been uplifting. “People have told me, ‘Oh, we need this right now,’” Byrne says. “It’s joyful, and I think that joy becomes a kind of resistance against the divisiveness we’re all living through. In some ways, this record is a counterforce to that.”