David Burn Collaborates with Hamilton Leithauser from Halkmen on New Solo Album

David Burn’s New Solo Album

Hamilton Leithauser from Walkmen stated that David Burn is currently working on a completely new solo album that will feature him.

Musical Influences and New Projects

Talking about nine songs that were pivotal in his life, Leithauser mentioned “Heaven” by Talking Heads as a significant track. He shared that he frequently revisits the band’s third album, “Fear of Music,” while working on his upcoming solo album, “This Side of the Island.”

“I believe ‘Fear of Music’ is their best album. The lyrics of this song (‘Heaven’) are extraordinary. He has a great voice, and yet he isn’t afraid to be unconventional. And David Burn is incredibly funny,” Leithauser remarked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAA7J10D8QW

He also mentioned plans with Burn, expressing that he would contribute vocals to the forthcoming solo project of the music legend. “I’m going to sing on this; that’s why I need to know him a bit, and he’s really fantastic,” he added.

Leithauser continued, “He didn’t disappoint; the meeting was phenomenal. He is very polite and one of those artists whose work I’ve admired for over 30 years… When I first heard from him, I thought I was dreaming.”

Burn’s latest solo album was 2018’s “American Utopia.” In support of this album, he toured from March to November 2018, showcasing an elaborate performance that included an empty stage surrounded by metal chains and a band of twelve musicians.

During the performance, both he and the musicians wore gray suits and performed barefoot. The show integrated innovative technologies for wireless audio, MIDI, lighting, and real-time tracking, allowing Burn to move freely without cables while engaging in intricate choreography. Spike Lee also turned the show into an acclaimed cinematic piece.

“Having a completely empty stage conceptually changed everything. I realized that now we can go anywhere and do anything. This liberates performers, allowing drummers, for instance, typically in the background, to occupy the forefront. This alters the entire dynamic,” Burn stated in an interview with NME back in 2020.

In 2023, Talking Heads celebrated the 40th anniversary of their concert film with a re-release through A24. This was followed by a tribute album, released in May last year, featuring artists such as The National, Miley Cyrus, Paramore, and more performing covers of the group’s iconic tracks.

Upcoming Releases and Performances

Leithauser’s solo album, “This Side of the Island,” is set to release on March 7 via Glassnote – You can pre-order or pre-save your copy here.

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The LP was a collaborative effort produced by Leithauser and his wife Anna Stumpf, with contributions from Aaron Dessner of The National on seven out of nine tracks.

Regarding the album, Leithauser expressed: “I’m eager for you to hear it all. I’ve been working on this for eight years… Yes, 8. Barack Obama was president when I recorded the piano for the first song. I primarily wrote and recorded it in my home studio, and the entire record has been produced by me and my wife Anna, with seven songs also produced by my incredible friend, @aarondessner. Truly, after collaborating with Aaron, I remixed a couple of others, so his influence is all over this!”

Leithauser also confirmed he will continue his annual residency at Café Carlyle in New York for the seventh consecutive year in March – Tickets for this are now on sale.

Leithauser, whose previous solo album “The Loves of Your Life” was released in 2020, is set to perform in early 2025, including a show in London. Additional dates are confirmed for Los Angeles, Toronto, and Chicago. Tickets are already available. You can purchase yours here (London) and here (US).