A sharp and self-reflective track, ‘She Explains Things to Me’ digs into the deeper themes of the upcoming album. Partly inspired by Rebecca Solnit’s Men Explain Things to Me, the song explores the gendered dynamics of communication through a quietly revealing inner monologue.
“Many times I’ve marvelled at how a friend (usually a female friend) picks up on what’s happening in a film long before I do,” Byrne shares. “Though inspired by Solnit’s book, this is a different situation—mansplaining is usually uninvited. In this case, I’m the one asking.”
Who Is the Sky? arrives 5 September via Matador Records, produced by Grammy-winner Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), and arranged by New York’s Ghost Train Orchestra. Special guests include Hayley Williams (Paramore), St. Vincent, and Tom Skinner (The Smile).
The album follows Byrne’s celebrated 2018 release American Utopia, later adapted into a Broadway hit and HBO concert film. Its lead single, ‘Everybody Laughs’, introduced the album’s themes of connection and collective resilience. Watch the Gabriel Barcia-Colombo–directed video
“At this point in my life, there’s a kind of freedom that comes from not caring what people think,” Byrne says of the album’s spirit. “Every song is a new adventure. Some collaborations don’t click—but when they do, it’s because we’re all headed somewhere unknown, together.”
