I’m not here Speaking in Tongues or trying to Burn Down the House, but I am here to share the fact that Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne has taken his music on the road… by bike. Mr. Byrne just dropped a new episode of his David Byrne Radio series called “Biking Playlist”.
It’s a pretty eclectic collection of songs he listens to while riding his bike between tour stops, while on his “Who Is the Sky? Tour.” Believe it or not, his whole band travels with folding bicycles. So, according to Byrne, when a free afternoon opens up, he heads out for a ride. “If I have an afternoon off, I’ll often go for a ride to clear my head,” he shares in the playlist notes.
As if you Needed Another Reason to love David Byrne.
As you can see, the playlist itself covers a wide range of artists, including Mitski, Olivia Rodrigo, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Harry Styles, James Blake, WILLOW, Paul McCartney, Dry Cleaning, and more.
Byrne used the release as an opportunity to share his thoughts on how he thinks about pop music. He is essentially arguing that the line between “mainstream” and “unconventional” is blurrier than people tend to assume, and that those definitions shift over time.
I totally agree. I am a sucker for a good pop song.
Cycling isn’t a New Hobby for Byrne
Cycling is an integral part of Mr. Byrne’s life. He’s been cycling around New York City as his main mode of transportation since the beginning of the 1980s. He also published a book called Bicycle Diaries back in 2009. It’s about rides through a bunch of cities worldwide. And, back in 2008 and 2012, he designed a series of bike racks that were installed all around NYC. That’s pretty cool.
For those who are interested, “Who Is the Sky? Tour” is almost over. It kicked off in September 2025 and wraps up on September 19th, 2026. The last show will be at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. However, the remaining dates span Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and several North American cities. Get your tickets HERE.
The full biking playlist is available now on Spotify and Apple Music.
