Rosie Lowe has unveiled her reverential reinterpretation of Talking Heads’ classic 1983 single “Burning Down the House,” an intriguing, electro-driven reimagination of the original composition. The song features on the just-released, BBE Music-commissioned compilation Naive Melodies, which BBE bills as “a bold and visionary tribute to the music of Talking Heads, reinterpreted through the lens of Black musical innovation.” “Burning Down the House” was originally released as the lead single from the group’s fifth studio album Speaking In Tongues (1983).
“With Naive Melodies, I wanted to spotlight the deep and often overlooked influence of Black music on the sound of Talking Heads, drawing from the rhythmic foundations of Afro-diasporic traditions, soul, gospel, Latin, and spiritual jazz,” the initiative’s curator Drew McFadden explains in an official statement. “This project is a chance to reimagine Talking Heads’ legacy through the lens of the very innovations that helped shape it, bringing those influences to the forefront through the voices of today’s most forward- thinking artists.”
Lowe is joined by an impressive crew of her fellow musical innovators on the 18-song project, including Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Bilal, Theo Croker, Kenny Dope & Róisín Murphy, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, among other featured artists. A special 20-track version of the collection that includes two exclusive bonus tracks is available to stream and for purchase via Bandcamp.
Listen to “Burning Down the House,” as well as the full album, below.
LISTEN: