David Byrne Shares 40-Song Cycling Playlist Featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Phoebe Bridgers
David Byrne, former frontman of Talking Heads, has published a 40-song playlist on Spotify designed for bike rides. He's currently touring Asia behind his new album Who is the Sky?, having just wrapped the European leg. Byrne is known for carrying a folding bicycle with him to explore cities on tour, and the playlist doubles as the soundtrack for those off-day rides.
What's on the list
The playlist opens with Mitski's 2013 track "Square," but is otherwise weighted toward brand-new material. Songs from 2026 include:
- Olivia Rodrigo, "The Book of Love"
- Phoebe Bridgers, "Lost Boys"
- James Blake, "Trying Times"
- Dry Cleaning, "Cruise Ship Designer"
- Harry Styles, "Are You Listening Yet?"
- Paul McCartney, "Salesman Saint" and "Momma Gets By" (both from his new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane)
Other artists featured include Cameron Winter, Joan as a Police Woman, Audrey Hobert, and Aldous Harding. The full playlist is streaming now on Spotify.
Byrne's remaining Asia dates
The playlist announcement lands mid-tour. Byrne's remaining Asian stops are:
- August 7, 2026 (Fri) — Singapore
- August 10, 2026 (Mon) — Bangkok, Thailand
- Two Tokyo dates, including a performance at Summer Sonic Festival
- August 21, 2026 (Fri) — Seoul, South Korea
Ticket prices, on-sale times, and venue names for these dates have not been specified in the source announcement.
What comes after Asia
Once the Asia leg wraps, Byrne heads back to North America for another run of dates, including shows at the Greek Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, and Forest Hills Stadium in New York.
Why the bike
Byrne's connection between cycling and music traces back to his 2009 book Bicycle Diaries, which chronicled his observations riding through major cities rather than any rural retreat. This playlist continues that same thread.