Head on over to Exclaim!'s Conversations section and you'll see we have a brand new web-exclusive interview with alt-pop's most beloved piano man, Ben Folds. Click here to read contributor Ian Gormely's Q&A with Folds, who took some time to talk with Exclaim! about his new record, that other new record and what's in store for the future. And, no, Charles Spearin doesn't come up in the chat.
Here's just a taste of what Folds had to say:
You've worked with a few people whose music is a little bit off the beaten path; I'm thinking of both Shatner and "Weird" Al Yankovic. What is it that attracts you to these people and their music?
Ben Folds: Well, I identify with performers that no matter how big they get really have a cottage industry vibe to them. Not so much as the business goes even, just the way they independently approach what they do. They're not really cradled by a scene, they're not really cradled by anything, really. I mean, "Weird" Al is just really out there and so is Shatner. And I think that I identify with humour and what's inherently real and serious inside of it. I sort of reject the idea that for something to be credible, serious, heavy... anything, it has to be devoid of humour because I don't see life working that way. If you went to the wrong side of Colombia, South America you would see people with a heavier time than us making jokes too. So I've ended up sort of stubbornly associating with the more comic side, but we're all fairly serious people.
Here's just a taste of what Folds had to say:
You've worked with a few people whose music is a little bit off the beaten path; I'm thinking of both Shatner and "Weird" Al Yankovic. What is it that attracts you to these people and their music?
Ben Folds: Well, I identify with performers that no matter how big they get really have a cottage industry vibe to them. Not so much as the business goes even, just the way they independently approach what they do. They're not really cradled by a scene, they're not really cradled by anything, really. I mean, "Weird" Al is just really out there and so is Shatner. And I think that I identify with humour and what's inherently real and serious inside of it. I sort of reject the idea that for something to be credible, serious, heavy... anything, it has to be devoid of humour because I don't see life working that way. If you went to the wrong side of Colombia, South America you would see people with a heavier time than us making jokes too. So I've ended up sort of stubbornly associating with the more comic side, but we're all fairly serious people.