47 Quotes By David Byrne


Architecture theory is very interesting.
David Byrne on architecture

It seems almost backwards to me that my music seems the more emotional outlet, and the art stuff seems more about ideas.
David Byrne on art

Punk was defined by an attitude rather than a musical style.
David Byrne on attitude

It's a fundamental, social attitude that the 1% supports symphonies and operas and doesn't support Johnny learning to program hip-hop beats. When I put it like that, it sounds like, 'Well, yeah,' but you start to think, 'Why not, though?' What makes one more valuable than another?
David Byrne on attitude

Real beauty knocks you a little bit off kilter.
David Byrne on beauty

I like to combine the dramatic emotional warmth of strings with the grooves and body business of drums and bass.
David Byrne on business

I do seem to like to combine the dramatic emotional warmth of strings with the grooves and body business of drums and bass.
David Byrne on business

Artists are notoriously snooty and suspicious of anything coming from the business community.
David Byrne on business

I never listen to the radio unless I rent a car.
David Byrne on car

You can know or not know how a car runs and still enjoy riding in a car.
David Byrne on car

I don't listen to the radio very much, but that could be because I don't have a car.
David Byrne on car

There's a certain amount of freedom involved in cycling: you're self-propelled and decide exactly where to go. If you see something that catches your eye to the left, you can veer off there, which isn't so easy in a car, and you can't cover as much ground walking.
David Byrne on car

The true face of smoking is disease, death and horror - not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray.
David Byrne on death

I've noticed a lot of younger artists have less fear of doing different sorts of things, whether it's various types of music, or gallery artists moving between video and sculpture and drawing.
David Byrne on fear

My favorite time of day is to get up and eat leftovers from dinner, especially spicy food.
David Byrne on food

There's a certain amount of freedom involved in cycling: you're self-propelled and decide exactly where to go. If you see something that catches your eye to the left, you can veer off there, which isn't so easy in a car, and you can't cover as much ground walking.
David Byrne on freedom

Why not invest in the future of music, instead of building fortresses to preserve its past?
David Byrne on future

I try to devote my afternoons to making music in my home studio, but it's a lot more fun hanging out with musicians and friends, and trying subtly to influence a band than making your own stuff.
David Byrne on home

Yeah, anybody can go in with two turntables and a microphone or a home studio sampler and a little cassette deck or whatever and make records in their bedrooms.
David Byrne on home

If anything, a lot of electronic music is music that no one listens to at home, hardly. It's really only to be heard when everyone's out enjoying it.
David Byrne on home