David Byrne Still Believes in the Album Cover
David Byrne’s ninth solo album, “Who Is the Sky?”, will be released on September 5th. The album cover, designed by Shira Inbar, is a bold, singular statement, reflecting Byrne’s belief in the album as a complete artwork.
For his ninth solo album Who Is the Sky?, David Byrne tapped New York designer Shira Inbar to create a kaleidoscopic visual world inspired by ceremonial costumes and masks. It’s a bold, singular look, not four deluxe versions, not a dozen outtake covers. One album, one statement.
Byrne is recommitting to the album as a complete artwork. In an era when streaming reduces music to singles and shuffled playlists, Byrne is treating cover art as more than packaging, it’s part of the cultural object. It signals permanence, authorship, and vision. For an artist, that’s not nostalgia. That’s brand discipline.
Would you rather have one unforgettable album cover, or four variations with filler tracks?
The Management
