David Byrne has recently appeared on the late-night television show, CBS Sunday Morning. In an interview with Serena Altschul, the former Talking Heads singer talked about how he turned his 2018 American Utopia album into an elaborate Broadway stage production; as well as his decision to finally become a U.S. citizen after six decades of living in North America. 

“We’re gonna take you on a whole journey that’s not just a bunch of songs, and you’re gonna have a party,” he explained. “But you’re gonna be at a different place emotionally and intellectually or whatever by the end.”

He also revealed the advice he’d give to his younger self during the early days of the band: “Don’t worry David Byrne, it’s gonna be okay. You don’t have to panic.”

Talking Heads | “Once in a Lifetime”

Byrne also touched on immigrating to the U.S. from Scotland when he was eight years old, saying he felt like “an outsider” but music helped him become more comfortable in his own skin: “Even though I was painfully shy, I could put myself on stage and perform and do really sometimes wacky things. I had no fear on stage. And then coming off the stage, I was frozen as far as social interaction.” 

And why did he decide to finally become an American citizen in 2012? “‘Cause I was busted,” he laughed. “I firmly believed that green card holders could vote in elections as long as they didn’t vote for president. And I did it! I did it for many years. See? They were right. There’s a lot of voter fraud!”

American Utopia is based on Byrne’s 2018 album of the same name and continues its Broadway run until February 16, 2020. 

Listen to American Utopia on Spotify:

Listen to American Utopia on Apple Music: