Ben Folds going a capella with next album
Well that didn’t take too long. Hot off the release of Way to Normal, Ben Folds is already looking ahead to next year and another new album is apparently at front and center of the agenda. But unlike his recently released third solo album, the forthcoming release will see the North Carolina native collaborate with a new group of musicians - and no it has nothing to do with Ben Folds Five.
Attention A Cappella Groups:
I’m making an album of a cappella versions of my music to be performed by the best university groups we can find. This idea was motivated by a number of amazing university a
cappella versions of my songs I came across on youtube.
Some of these brought to light unique nuances and perspective that is necessarily absent from the original recordings as the songwriter and singer happen to be the same guy.
I was moved and inspired. Some of these versions were an improvement in my humble opinion and it would be a great opportunity to capture some of this.
Folds will be picking groups YouTube style (or “old fashioned talent scout style”) for what he ultimately hopes will be a 12-15 track album to be released in Spring of 2009. Registration is now ongoing.
Sound like something perfect for you and your neighborhood a capella group, but not entirely sure what Folds is looking for? Well, as pointed out in his above words, there are a number of stunning a capella renditions of familiar Folds favorites floating around the web. Take the one below for example…
In other words, take a song, find a few friends who are semi-talented at singing, and go wild.
P.S. It might help to get some early practice at any of Folds’ upcoming tour dates. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Ben Folds 2008 Tour Dates:
10/16 - St. Louis, MO @ Pagent
10/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ Myth
10/18 - Kirksville, MO @ Pershing Arena
10/22 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
10/23 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
10/24 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/25 - Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
11/11 - Tempe, AZ @ Gammage Auditorium
11/13 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
11/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theater
11/30 - London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire
12/01 - Ipswich, UK @ Regent Theatre
12/02 - Newcastle, UK @ Arena *
12/04 - Nottingham, UK @ Notts Arena *
12/05 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena *
12/07 - Manchester, UK @ Arena *
12/08 - Cardiff, UK @ Arena *
12/10 - Bournemouth @ BIC *
12/11 - Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre *
12/13 - Birmingham, UK @ NEC *
12/14 - Sheffiled, UK @ Arena *
Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com.
Mar 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] in October, Ben Folds headed back to college with the hope of finding a few a capella groups to help him create an album consisting entirely a [...]
Oct 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
[...] Folds is going a capella, Green Day hits the studio, and Britney got her sexy [...]