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US songwriting maestro, Ben Folds, is returning from his recording hiatus with his first album in almost a decade.
The new project, entitled ‘What Matters Most’, is set to be released on June 2.
Recorded in Nashville, with the production duties helmed by Ben and Joe Pisapia, Folds’ new album will include appearances from Tall Heights, dodie and Ruby Amanfu.
Although What Matters Most will be Folds’ first musical project in eight years, the North Carolina native has spent that time flexing his creative muscles via other pursuits.
In 2019, Folds published his memoir, A Dream About Lightning Bugs, which went on to become a New York Times best-seller.
Two years later, he started a podcast inspired by the book, Lightning Bugs, which has featured The Office US star, Rainn Wilson, along with the late great comedian and actor, Bob Saget.
Ben Folds’ fan-base will be excited to see that What Matters Most will again explore deeply philosophical and existential themes.
Nonetheless, it is still an unashamedly joyful album, acknowledging the troubles that we are encountering in the 21st Century, yet defiantly rejecting the temptation to crumble under their weight.
In a statement, Folds emphasised how special the new project is to him, “There’s a lifetime of craft and experience all focused into this one record.
Sonically, lyrically, emotionally, I don’t think it’s an album I could have made at any other point in my career”.
As part of the album announcement, Folds has made the euphoric, uplifting track, ‘Winslow Gardens’, available immediately.
Folds is currently gearing up to head out on tour across the US, with his first date lined up for March 24 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Throughout the year, Folds will also perform in states such as Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, New York, Kentucky and more.
Folds will then make the trip across The Pond in November for a slew of dates in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
