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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 9 March 2018
David Byrne sees world gone wrong on 'American Utopia'

By MICHELLE R. SMITH site: ReasonsToBeCheerful. "People were genuinely en-
Associated Press world, where he curates gaged. They weren't trying
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — hopeful news about some to change the subject and
David Byrne has some ob- possible paths forward. ask about a Talking Heads
servations about American "American Utopia," out on reunion or something like
life these days, and it wor- Friday, is Byrne's first solo that," he said. Byrne has re-
ries him. The former Talking album in 14 years. It be- peatedly said there won't
Heads frontman and pro- tween those records his be one.
lific artist sees people divid- work included albums with The website and album
ed into camps, not talking St. Vincent, musicals about aren't directly connected,
to one another, with politi- Imelda Marcos and Joan but run parallel and "talk to
cians on both sides repre- of Arc, books about urban one another in some ways,"
senting moneyed interests, bicycling and how music Byrne said. He imagined
rather than the people. works, interactive art based people in a refugee camp
Something's gone wrong, on neuroscience and more when he wrote the song
he said. Byrne's new album, projects. "Gasoline and Dirty Sheets,"
"American Utopia," is about Producer Patrick Dillett, for example.
the longing people have who has collaborated with The album is "describing
amid fears and frustrations. Byrne for years and works things the way they are,
"They're all wondering, on "American Utopia" — In this Feb. 16, 2018 photo, musician David Byrne poses for a or the way I see them. De-
portrait in New York to promote his album, "American Utopia,"
'Could things be done in along with Eno and Scottish which will be released on Friday, March 9. scribing myself, and my
a slightly different way? Is producer Rodaidh McDon- Associated Press own confusions and issues,"
there a better way than the ald — said Byrne's collabor- he said, adding that artists
way we've ended up?'" he ative nature and openness confession. to gain his citizenship so "can offer not just a litany
said in a recent interview to try new things is among "I have been voting surrep- that he could fully partici- of complaints, but some
with The Associated Press. the qualities that sets him titiously. I was under possi- pate in civic society. kind of hope and answers
The album's lead single, apart. bly the mistaken impression "That felt good," he said. and another way of view-
"Everybody's Coming to "He does a lot of things well, that green card holders Byrne's new website, ing things."
My House," co-written with but he's not doing them to could vote for all local can- named for the Ian Dury and While there is excitement
Brian Eno, is No. 5 on Bill- be known for it. It's a way of didates," the 65-year-old the Blockheads song "Rea- surrounding the release of
board's adult alternative becoming a fuller person," said. "They just couldn't sons to Be Cheerful, Part 3," "American Utopia," some
songs chart, giving him his Dillett said. "He's as well- vote for president. That was includes successful projects criticized the album be-
first Top 10 hit in 25 years. formed and well-rounded a the impression I had. And from around the world in cause its two dozen col-
Last week he launched an person as I've ever known. If then at some point when I areas such as sustainable laborators are all men. By-
international, 90-some city I could be someone when I went into my local elemen- energy and culture that rne said in an online post
tour, which he calls his most grow up, I would be him." tary school to vote, and could be adopted by oth- this week that he regretted
ambitious since the shows Byrne, who was born in they said, 'You can't vote!' er communities, he said. it, calling the choice "neg-
filmed for the 1984 Jona- Scotland but moved to the I hope I'm not getting my- Byrne is fresh off a short ligent," and saying that it
than Demme film "Stop United States as a child and self in trouble. But I truly be- lecture tour talking about doesn't reflect what he has
Making Sense," considered held a green card for most lieved that I was allowed the ideas, and said he was done in the past or his cur-
among the best concert of his life, became a U.S. to do that, and no one pleased by the questions rent live show. I'm not your
films of all-time. citizen in 2012. Asked why, stopped me." he took at the end of each personal time machine," he
And, he has started a web- he laughed, then made a He said he finally decided appearance. said.q
Shaquille O'Neal to hold carnival-style EDM affair in Miami

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. the world, there are two O'Neal won't announce
ATLANTA (AP) — NBA leg- (things) that'll bring people who is performing at his
end Shaquille O'Neal will together: it's sports and mu- event because he wants
put his DJ skills on display at sic," he said in an interview to surprise the audience.
his own carnival-style event Wednesday. O'Neal add- Performers at the Ultra Mu-
after a popular electronic ed that there will be "flame sic Festival include David
dance music festival in Mi- throwers, people swinging Guetta, the Chainsmokers
ami. from ceilings, a lot of cos- and Afrojack.
O'Neal said that "Shaq's Fun tumes. We want this to be O'Neal, 46, has been per-
House" will debut March 24, very different than any oth- forming at small and big
immediately following day er festival." venues since the age of
one of the three-day Ultra "Shaq's Fun House" will run 14, even DJ'ing at parties
Music Festival. Both events from 2 a.m. to sunrise. during his college days at
are taking place during Mi- O'Neal will perform under Louisiana State University.
ami Music Week. his stage name DJ Diesel. He released multiple rap
He said the one-night, in- The four-time NBA cham- albums in the 1990s, and
vite-only affair will feature pion said he came up with in recent years he's per- In this Sept. 15, 2017 file photo, Shaquille O'Neal, performing as
EDM performers, a caba- the concept after he per- formed at music festivals DJ Diesel, appears at KAABOO 2017 in San Diego, Calif.
ret show and "over-the- formed at the EDM festival around the world. Associated Press
top" carnival attractions. TomorrowWorld, held near At "Shaq's Fun House,"
It will be held at an unan- Atlanta, in 2015. O'Neal said he'll play a mix- I want to hit them with that soul duo and Grammy-win-
nounced warehouse ven- "I want to do something ture of EDM, hip-hop and base, edgy trap. I like all ning dub-step DJ-produc-
ue. big and develop a brand classic songs. types of music. I'm mixture er.
"Despite all the prob- that represents this younger "I like to read the crowd of AoB and Skrillex," he said, "That's my alias, the black
lems that are going on in world," he said. and see what they like, but referring to the electronic AoB-Skrillex."q