Ben Folds and Nick Hornby To Collaborate On New Album

BY Brock ThiessenPublished Sep 17, 2008

As if reuniting Ben Folds Five and releasing his third solo album, Way to Normal, yesterday (September 16) weren’t already enough, Ben Folds has revealed plans to record an album with British author Nick Hornby. And strangely enough, the idea for the collaboration stems from Fold’s recent fake album leak, the songwriter told News.com.au.

In July’s prank, Folds recorded a handful of songs during a day off in Dublin, Ireland, and then "leaked” them onto one of his fan sites. It only took him a brief eight hours to record the fake’s six songs, and it’s this speedy turnover that now has him wanting to pair up with the High Fidelity scribe.

"Nick Hornby and I are talking about doing a record where he writes all the lyrics and I write the music," Folds said. "[We will] write and record it in about three days, just like we did in Dublin with the fake record. It's fun — I'm excited about it. It wouldn't have been possible without the fake album."

While talking to the Australian website, he also gushed about Hornby’s way with the pen: "His lyrics are great. These are really good words. But I'm not going to let them intimidate me, I'm just going to go in and whip out the music. Some of [the lyrics] he felt hit close to the bone about certain things, certain named people, and we've been juggling how to keep from making a record that's going to get sued."

This wouldn’t be the first time the duo have worked together. Folds and Hornby previously co-wrote "That’s Me Trying” for William Shatner back in 2004. Yes, the William Shatner.

William Shatner "That's Me Trying”

Latest Coverage