David Byrne and Hayley Williams have enjoyed a close personal and working relationship for the past several years, and their chemistry was evident last night (Oct. 11) at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where the Paramore frontwoman made a surprise appearance for two songs.
The artists reprised their collaboration “What Is the Reason for It?” from Byrne’s latest album, Who Is the Sky?, and Williams returned later to lend a hand on Byrne’s cover of Paramore’s 2013 song “Hard Times,” which he’s played at every show so far on his in-progress North American tour.
What’s more, Byrne and Williams’ previously announced contribution to the Netflix animated film The Twits, “Open the Door,” is out now ahead of the movie’s Oct. 17 release date. Byrne wrote and produced three other original songs, “We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else,” “Lullaby” and “The Problem Is You,” for the project, which is based on characters by Roald Dahl and boasts voice acting by Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke.
“She has an extraordinary rapport with her audience,” Byrne told People of seeing Williams perform with Paramore at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 2023. “It’s very sincere and very close, which I made note of. I just thought, that’s really amazing.”
Byrne concludes his four-night Radio City run tonight and has dates booked in North American through Dec. 6 in Miami. Dates in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Europe begin Jan. 14 in Auckland.
