David Byrne – What Is The Reason For It?

David Byrne teams up with Paramore’s Hayley Williams on “What Is The Reason For It?”, the latest single from his new album “Who Is The Sky?” which dropped yesterday, September 5 2025. The collaboration happened spontaneously when Byrne and producer Kid Harpoon were working on what they realised might be a love song. Byrne texted Williams, who was in town, and asked if she wanted to sing on it.

The track features intricate vocal interplay between Byrne and Williams over swirling strings, playful brass, and a sashaying rhythm that captures Byrne’s classic sound. It questions love beyond logic, asking why we do it when nobody really understands it. The song showcases Williams killing it alongside Byrne’s distinctive approach.

“Who Is The Sky?” marks Byrne’s first album since 2018’s “American Utopia”. Produced by Grammy winner Kid Harpoon with arrangements by New York chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra, it features additional guests including St. Vincent and The Smile’s Tom Skinner. The accompanying video uses AI animation to bring over 20 of Byrne’s original line drawings to life.