This Must Be the Playlist: David Byrne’s iPod Picks

March 24, 2018

By Derek JohnKatie Long

There is no shortage of 2011 year-end playlists, but few are as trustworthy as what’s currently on David Byrne’s iPod. The former Talking Heads front man sat down with Kurt Andersen this week to talk about the new Talking Heads: Chronology DVD, a collection of rare concert footage from the band’s early days (the entire interview airs in early January).

Byrne is a kind of uber-curator at this point in his career and a proven taste-maker through his Luaka Bop record label. Still considered by many to be the patron saint of indie rock he told Kurt he had an endless appetite for new music:

Kurt: Do you ever as you’re listening to music say, ‘Oh I see a little of my DNA in this young person’s work.’?
David: The embarrassing part is that I find that I don’t notice that right away, a friend will point it out, and it will be embarrassing because it will be like, ‘Well ok, that’s why I like that group so much!’

So what groups does Byrne like right now?

A quick peek at his iPod shows a taste for music that is as varied as his interests (which include urban planning, bicycling, multimedia theater, and installation art — to name just a few). Most songs are recent releases from relative unknowns (or were until today).

They range from the updated Muscle Shoals sound of the Alabama Shakes, to Lissie’s folksie lo-fi cover of a KiD CuDi rap track, to the avant-pop chamber funk of Fol Chen. And, perhaps not surprisingly, most of them contain at least a few strands of Talking Heads’ DNA, which we consider a compliment.

David Byrne’s exclusive iPod playlist

Alabama Shakes, “Hold On” from the album Alabama Shakes EP