David Byrne Turns Unused Space Into Interactive Art Project "Playing the Building"

"We're bringing democracy to lower Manhattan," joked David Byrne. He wasn't launching a revolutionary coup on Saturday morning; rather, he was introducing his latest multi-media project called "Playing the Building." With the help of Creative Time, Byrne turned the long-closed Battery Maritime Building on New York's southern tip and morphed it into a nine thousand square foot sound installation that features a gutted organ, a series of colorful tubes and a whole lot of ambient noise. Click above for Byne's explanation of his work and for a look at how the whole thing works.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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