Ben Lee Biography
Produced by John Alagia (who has worked with John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five), Ripe represents a new pinnacle for Ben, who has spent half of his 28 years crafting some of the catchiest pop songs to ever hit the airwaves.
I think this record will connect with anyone who has a genuine love of pop music, Ben muses. This isnt about using pop as a means to a fast buck, or in a condescending way its about how things used to be, when quality pop records won out, and the best selling records were, simply, the best records.
Ripe also benefits from a guest appearance by pop princess Mandy Moore, who duets with Ben on the infectious Birds And Bees, based loosely on the Grease classic Summer Loving. That fell together pretty easily, Ben says of the Moore connection. Id been thinking a lot about how innate the search for love is for people, and after I wrote it I went to a Mandy Moore show. Backstage she told me she was a fan, and it just came to me that shed be the perfect voice on the track. I really had no Plan B Mandy was just so perfect!
Besides, he adds slyly, anytime you can hand Mandy Moore a lyric sheet and hear her sing to you, Come over here babe and give me a kiss thats a good day at work!
Also joining Ben in the recording studio were pop band Rooney and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte both bands that have been good mates with Ben for a long time.
"Thats one of the joys of being in the music game for a long time, Ben enthuses. You meet the occasional young band who are still learning how to change their guitar strings, and the next thing you know bang! Theyve sold a gazillion records."
Even for an industry that sometimes cherishes youth above all else, Bens career is something of a surprise: the singer/songwriter headed the well-regarded teen-pop act Noise Addict when he was 14, drawing the attention of such well-respected names as Sonic Youths Thurston Moore and the Beastie Boys Mike D., who released Lees first two solo albums on the Grand Royal label.
Bens first Inertia Recordings release, 2005s Awake is the New Sleep, was the one to put him over the top, winning four ARIAs and featuring smash hit Catch My Disease, as heard on everything from Greys Anatomy to Deuce Bigalo: European Gigolo. It is also featured in the US as Dell Computers current theme song.
It was, Ben concludes, a classic instance of the right song at the right time.
Such an event has become a theme for Ben, not only on Ripe but also for his life in general. Its all about timing, he says. The longer I make music, the longer I exist, I see that everything is timing. Ive ripened as a human being, and now I have a sense of readiness, that I can contribute something I dont see anyone else doing.
Ben is also readying himself for the completion of Ben Lee: Catch My Disease, a seven-years-in-the-making documentary by his friend Amiel Courtin-Wilson, whos interviewed everyone Ive ever known, played with, and slept with! Its quite jarring to let someone in like that, but the results should be pretty interesting.
As for the new album, Ben is ready for the public to embrace his new direction.
I hope this album opens peoples hearts, he says. I dont push a particular thing to believe in or political point of view; Im interested in helping people discover their own feelings. I hope that Ripe touches people and gives them hope and courage."
