“With pop music, the format dictates the form to a big degree. Just think of the pop single. It has endured as a form even in the download age because bands conform to a strict format, and work, often very productively, within the parameters.”

American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker

David Byrne is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was born in Scotland and became widely known as a founding member of Talking Heads, where he served as the band’s principal songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist. His work spans several creative fields, but he is best known for shaping the sound and image of Talking Heads. Across music, writing, visual art, and film, Byrne has built a career that moves between performance and authorship, with songwriting at its center.