I just spent an extraordinary week up at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land, Australia.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Australian culture, Arnhem Land is home to the Yolngu people, an Aboriginal tribe who are the traditional owners of the land. Since 1931 Arnhem Land has been a traditional Aboriginal reserve, which to visit one needs a permit. It is incredibly rich with Aboriginal heritage and history, and contains many sacred sites.
The Garma Festival was put together by the Yunipingu family (members of the band Yothu Yindi) and is one of Australia's most significant Indigenous festivals. About 20 Indigenous clan groups gather at the festival as well as non-Indigenous participants who are interested in learning about traditional Aboriginal culture.
Ione and I spent 5 days camping in the remote bush site, meeting many Aboriginal people, listening to discussions about the challenges facing Aboriginal communities today, and learning ancient craft and healing techniques.
There were so many amazing moments, it's all a bit of a blur in my mind right now, but a few stand out.
I jammed with many young Indigenous musicians. There are some fantastic bands up there, who are really creating their own brand of music, mixing traditional elements with rock and reggae structures. Hearing a group of primary school kids singing a traditional song about "dancing in the rain" is a moment I don't think I'll ever forget. There were little "jam rooms" set up in sheds around the site and kids were learning instruments, songwriting and jamming constantly. Here is a photo of me and Rylson Lalra, a young musician teaching me a song about his homeland.
We watched a canoe being carved out of a tree trunk by an old Aboriginal man, while old women chanted and cried through the ritual. Apparently the last time this canoe ritual had been performed was a generation ago. As the elders pass on, many of the ancient techniques and knowledge is being lost. The women were mourning.
Each night there was a concert. I performed back up for a young band and then played "We're All in this Together" to about a thousand people, most of which were Aboriginal. It's hard to explain how profound this was for me. Growing up in Australia, I had maybe once been in a room with 8 Aboriginal people at one time, and here I was with 800 Aboriginal people at once! As I looked out at the sea of beautiful Indigenous faces, the fact that Australia truly was their country long before mine, hit me at an emotional level. Of course, I had grown up knowing this at an intellectual level, but really feeling that truth was a whole other thing...
I met an Indigenous woman who had been involved in a land rights battle with the government for 30 years. The case appears to be close to settlement. She spoke of her ability to find the sacred sites on the land without a map. This information was in her heart.
Jimmy Little, the legendary Aboriginal singer, performed at one of the events. He was so graceful and relaxed. He shook my hand and told me how much it meant to his people that they could share their spirituality with other cultures. His handshake was warm and nurturing. Here is a photo of us together.
The patience and warmth displayed by all the Aboriginal people I met was almost shocking, considering the right they have to be resentful of their treatment by white Australia. I thought about how many resentments I hold against people for trivial things, nothing to the extent of having my land taken away, or having my children removed from my home. It's amazing what a little perspective can do...
There were many other great moments, but above all, I came away with a very strong understanding and conviction that Indigenous culture in all forms must be protected and encouraged to thrive. It isn't enough to offer minorities "Affirmative Action"-type advancement plans, although these are important. It isn't just about integrating Aboriginal people into our modern life. We need to learn from them. We are all at risk of losing our connection to land, spirit and nature in the fast paced modern world. The few groups in the world that still hold this connection firmly, should be admired, studied and encouraged. We could all use the wisdom that they have.
Here are a few articles about Garma that you may find interesting:
I would encourage people, wherever you are, to investigate the history of the Indigenous culture of your area. Life moves fast, and is only moving faster, and it is comforting to know that there is a simplicity and ancient wisdom that has never left this planet, and will always be there to return to, as long as we protect it.
Sitting in the mastering studio with Greg Calbi as we speak putting the finishing touches on my new album. The last few days has been full of seemingly endless tweaking of mixes and reshuffling song sequences. And in a matter of hours it will all be final!
Just wanted to alert you guys to a few cool things to check out.
Last week was a big one for people affected by global warming, politics and the ecnonomy (i.e. EVERYONE) as Al Gore made an important speech about setting firm goals for making the shift to renewable energy resources. I urge you all to check out his speech at www.wecansolveit.org.
Another cool thing to check out is www.youtube.com/user/masternanlu. Some of you will recognize the name Master Nan Lu from the liner notes to "Awake...". He is the Qigong master I studied with for several years, and who introduced me to Narayani Amma. There are some great videos of him that feature his philosophies on healing, growth and change on his Youtube channel.
Finally, here is a photo I found of me making out with Alex from Phantom Planet live on stage in Pomona, CA a few years ago. Incidentally, this was the same day I wrote "Catch My Disease". I will allow you to make your own smutty jokes and double entendres linking the two events.... :)
Not sure how to put it in words...but I am certain it's in this video.
I have watched it hundreds of times. Each time I play it for a musician friend, they say "Can we watch it again?"
Stevie Nicks had gone through so much at this point of her career, yet here she is, taking such pure joy in a new song she's written, with barely an audience.
Of course, she's beautiful, but its more than that. Watch the way she's singing. She's playful. Her cheeky eye-contact with her make-up artist and back-up singer. She's a child, in the best possible way.
Why can some people hold on to that feeling and others lose it?
It's the secret of art, love and life. Finding that enthusiasm we all had as a kid, and bringing into our adult lives.
She looks natural. Nothing forced at that moment. Nothing to lose. It feels magical to me.
Moments like these are few and far between. They remind me what music can be. Not just a recording, but an event.
Wow. Bittersweet feelings abound. Creativity is so intense. It seeks expression and then the moment passes. Forces us to keep growing, changing, moving, and letting go.
The joy and sorrow of completion. This record feels overwhelming to me. In a good way. Full of ideas, images, feelings and sounds that come from deep inside.
Some more song titles for you:
Boy With A Barbie
Families Cheating At Boardgames
Surrender
Song for the Divine Mother of the Universe
Bad Poetry
I'm a Woman Too
Had a great "group vocal party" the other night, with friends old and new belting out the crowd singalong bits of a few songs. I will post some footage soon.
Good evening. I'm sitting in the departure lounge at the San Jose airport waiting for a delayed flight back to LA after playing a free outdoor show here this afternoon with Augustana.
Lots to catch you all up on in album world.
My good buddy Missy Higgins came by the studio to hang out and added a sweet vocal hook to "I Love Pop Music". She sounds great on the track. Its the most political song I've ever written. The chorus is:
"I love pop music
this is how we do it
its politics you can romance to
I love pop music
sprinkle sugar through it
philosophy that you dance to"
We also recorded a song called "Yoko Ono" that I'm really psyched about. It's a formal request for guidance for our civilization, as well as an official cultural apology.
The other day we recorded a Stones-y track called "Blue Denim" that I actually wrote around the time of "Hey You. Yes You". It's a meditation on emerging teenage sexuality and blue jeans. Courtney Taylor-Taylor from the Dandy Warhols is hopefully gonna harmonize with me on the chorus. He will kill it.
Another one we've tracked is called "Wake Up to America" that sounds like New-Order-meets-Nic's-living-room and explores my long, complicated and passionate relationship with the country I now live in. As a proud Australian living in the US for the last decade, I've thought alot about America and what it means to me, whats right with it and whats wrong with it. We listened to lots of Abbie Hoffman speeches for inspiration. You know he named his son "america" (with a deliberate lower case "a"). He was a genius.
We are shooting the album cover next week. Its going to be pretty eccentric and great. All I can tell you right now is angel wings, boomboxes and Nic and Lara in capes. Excited yet?
This is a pretty eclectic album. There are so many musical and lyrical moods that I feel have been building in me for a long time. "Ripe" was definitely an exploration in my more conservative inclinations, a fantasy of a pop radio record I would have heard as a kid. I adore that record, but this is definitely a different beast. This one is beautifully chaotic, opinionated, confused, passionate and real. I think you guys will dig it.
Last week was our first official week of recording the new album and it went great. So far we have tackled two new songs "I Love Pop Music" and "What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)?". Both have a great, up tempo, and even dancey (!) vibe. Its great to be in the studio with Brad Wood, Lara Meyerratken and Nic Johns. We haven't ever worked together in this combination before and its really exciting.
Had a wonderful trip to India to see Narayani Amma that left me very charged-up and ready to get into this creative process. It's funny, having known Amma for quite a few years now, and working with people that I have known for a long time, some similar themes are emerging. Its often scarier to go deep with people you know and are committed to. It can be easy to reveal yourself to strangers. Intimacy raises the stakes. This relates to marriage too. I guess I'm feeling ready to raise the stakes a little higher. Get deeper in a familiar world. Commit. Get challenged by those who know me best. It's exciting.
If you have a moment, check out the article "Coming Home" at this link. I am friends with Stacey, the author of the article, and Simon, the subject of the article. I introduced them and am really excited they got together to help Simon share his amazing story.
Also check out www.pantiesforpeace.info This is a brilliant, creative campaign from a Burmese peace activist group working worldwide now.
Here are some short videos to include you in the daily nonsense going down in Valley Village at the moment:
Back home after doing two weeks on tour with Foldsy. Wonderful tour with lots of great college audiences, lots of "Ninja Warrior" and "Unbeatable Banzuke" on G4, and lots of songwriting.
In fact, I've had a surge of creativity over the last month and decided to head into the studio June 1 while it's all fresh and make an album! Even though Ripe is still bubbling along, and people are getting into the "American Television" video (watch), I've learned from the past that I really shouldn't put my creativity on hold for anything. Its important to start in the flow of nature, and stay loyal to the mysterious muse.
Ione and I are headed to India on a couple of weeks to see Narayani Amma and hopefully set a date for the wedding. When we get back I go straight into the studio to start the next album.
The twist is, and I know this will excite many of you out there, the team making this album with me will be Brad Wood, Lara Meyerratken and Nic Johns. This should be a fun one.
As for the songs, they are a little different this time. Observations about the world, politics, feminism, yearning and optimism.
Had a great rehearsal today with an awesome band we put together for our performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tomorrow night. The band features myself and Nic, accompanied by the awesome band Everybody Else, and Jon Siebels (Monsters Are Waiting, Eve 6) on guitar. We are playing American Television so I wanted to go all out with the triple guitar attack! It simply had to be done. Make sure to tune in!
I wanted to share some thoughts with you about my "Earth Hour" experience last weekend.
There were about 8 of us who spent the hour with no electricity, together. We began the evening with some chanting of "Om Namo Narayani" - meaning "I surrender myself back to Mother Nature", a very powerful Hindu chant. We then read a discourse by Narayani Amma called "Today is the Day!". The general message of the discourse was that the events of today are a result of yesterdays actions, so the events of tomorrow will be the results of todays actions. Following this train of thought, there is no point in worrying about the future. If you want to change it, take good action and do good deeds.
This discourse felt very relevant as we all discussed our feelings about the environmental challenges we face today. Personally, and for most people I speak to, there is a sense of panic and worry that arises any time we get faced with the reality of the destruction of the natural environment that is occurring now. We all want to contribute to a better tomorrow, but it is very difficult to make practical changes in your life, when you are overwhelmed by anxiety and dread.
That is why, to me, the environmental crisis appears to be also a spiritual crisis. It is about our ability to accept our current situation without fighting it, and to do everything we can, with a clear mind and constant dedication, to improving tomorrow. It seems comparable to someone getting diagnosed with cancer - if they stay calm and look at the illness as a chance to change their approach to life, it can improve the patient's chances of beating the cancer. We live in a world that is undoubtedly out of balance; this is a kind of sickness. We are all being asked to collectively heal this planet. What approach will we take?
Some people think "Surrender" (a word bandied about in spiritual contexts very often) is an instruction in passivity. To me, it is the opposite. It describes a state of mind that aids us in taking the perfect action, free of stress or ulterior motives. Our ability to remake and re-think our relationship to the planet will be intimately connected to our ability to stay calm, and take small well-intentioned steps in the face of many challenging situations.
We finished the evening with a prayer and meditation. We asked to be guided through the challenges ahead with a calm heart and a clear mind, and to be able to come up with solutions to lead us to a healthy, nurturing, nourishing, future.
Happy day after Persian New Year everyone! Hope you're all well.
Just got back from Australia and battling a little jetlagg as well the notorious PTD (post-tour depression...ask someone in a band about it), but aside from that, thrilled with how the tour went.
We started in Perth with 2 shows in Kings Park with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra. These shows were totally life-changing for me. Its hard to describe the creative opening that I experienced, but I was really blown away by the dynamic and layers of arrangements that you get with a 64 piece orchestra in a live environment. I'm not sure the way this will effect my music, but I know that it will. Its not often you get the opportunity to throw yourself into an environment that is totally new, but when you do, it really helps you grow as an artist. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to play these shows. I think there is some youtube footage up from one of the performances. Check it out, it's pretty cool.
The rest of the tour was a mixture of headlines and festival shows around Australia. All were fantastic and diverse. Went from staring at more stars than I've ever seen in the sky in Nannup, WA, while my tour manager had an existential breakdown, to taking a water taxi to the Playground Weekender in Wiseman's Ferry, NSW. I love where music can take you.
For most of the shows I had Mandy Moore supporting, and I also got up with her at a couple of shows where she was supporting Kelly Clarkson. It always make us giggle to see the shock on both our fans' faces to see us singing together! Some people can't do the math. Regardless, she has been a wonderful person to get to know and work with, and we have learned alot from each other. We started writing a cool song together in Perth and I'm looking forward to doing some more writing together soon, we seem to have a good creative energy between us.
I saw a cut of "The Square" in Sydney, the film that I did the music for. Its an intense movie, a great romantic thriller. You just have no idea what is going to happen next. And I can honestly tell you, it took years off my life in terms of anxiety. I mean that as the highest compliment.
One of the other really fun things I did in Sydney was perform and speak to a primary school (years K-6) about being a musician. It was hilarious. There was a question and answer time at the end and I will share some of my favourite questions with you now:
"How do you make a band?" "What are your friends' names?" "Have you ever been on the London Eye?" "Can you play we're all in this together?" "How did you become a superstar?"
The last one was my favourite! My response to that last one was "How did you go from 1st to 2nd grade? It was just the right time...
As we approach Earth Hour (www.earthhour.org), Ione and I wanted to do something extra at home to make a shift towards sustainable living. We put a compost heap in our garden. It was really cheap and easy, and felt great to do something small. I encourage everyone to take whatever small steps they can towards changing our relationship to our planet.
On that note, here is a cool project that a friend told me about...
A group called "Teen Spirit" in Canada are creating a web-based initiative to help young people overcome depression. The program is built around stories, and focusses on the idea of spiritual wellness. They are running a story contest for people between 15 and 25. Young people are encouraged to write about an event that transformed them in some way. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2008 and is open to people from any country. There are cash prizes of $100 to the top three stories. For more info please visit www.teenspirit.ca
I've had a very bizarre week. Had three wisdom teeth pulled out last Thursday and I don't think I was prepared for what a strange, overwhelming experience that would be. Only now do I understand the knowing glances that people who have had their wisdom teeth removed give each other. A step into the unknown, and one I am relieved I will not have to endure again in this life. On the other hand, I had Ione making me soups and smoothies, a bunch of painkillers, and the season 1 dvd of "Lost" to keep me company. I try to focus on the positive.
Before the procedure I had wrapped up the recording of the soundtrack to "The Square", the debut feature film by my friend, the Aussie director, Nash Edgerton. Went really well. Some song titles for you...."This Life is Sweet", "Sand", "Unloved Letters", "How Loves Pray". All sung by the lovely Jessica Chapnik. Im really happy with these recordings. Apparently they showed a sneak preview of the trailer that features a song of mine at Tropfest last week, and people liked it. The trailer should be up on line in a week or so, and I will be sure to get the link up asap. Here is a photo of us in the studio on "Tie Day".
I found this quote from John Cage on the internet: “If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If its still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.” I've been marinating with that lately.
Finally, for those of you that didn't see the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, giving the national address on "Sorry Day", I urge you to check this out.
It feels like the dawn of a new era in Australia. I don't mean this in a political sense, but to do with the consciousness and identity of the country. Australia is attempting to consciously move into the future, while taking far more responsibility than ever for the mistakes of the past. This is an exciting thing.
Back in LA after a quick jaunt home to play the huge Australia Day concert outside Parliament House in Canberra. I'm a natural ham so a crowd of 35,000 people will always lift my spirits. Even though I only played two songs, it was a great day. I even met the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Had a mild anxiety attack after the show thinking I had accidently called him "Paul Rudd" on stage, but my bandmates assured me I made no such error.
As you can see in the photo, I am wearing an "Earth Hour 2008" tshirt. This is an initiative I am proud to support. It began by asking the question: How can people be inspired to take action on climate change? In 2007, Sydney-siders were asked to switch off their lights for one hour, and 2100 Sydney businesses did so, reducing Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour. This year, on 29 March 2008, at 8pm, the event is going global, so please check out www.earthhour.org to see how you can get involved. Obviously, the actual event is just a method of bringing the discussion into our daily lives, and reducing energy consumption is something we should be doing on a day to day level. Just by switching off lights in rooms of our homes that we are not in, and by sharing car rides to work or school, we become part of the solution rather than the problem. There are lots of little things we can do, and big change is usually the cumulative result of lots of small efforts.
I head in to the studio this weekend to begin recording the soundtrack to Nash Edgerton's film "The Square". The movie is looking great and I'm really excited about contributing. My dear friend Jessica Chapnik, who some of you may know as an actor on Home and Away, others might remember as the keyboard player in Sarah Blasko's band, will be performing all the vocals on the songs. She has a sweet voice and a big heart. Should be fun.
Anyway, I hope all is well and that you are not too overwhelmed by all the new applications you have added to your Facebook pages.
I've been out of contact over the holidays as I was in India with Sakthi Narayani Amma. Once again, it was a huge experience, full of blessings and lessons, and one that left me with some big news to share with you. I am getting married. Its very exciting. Funny how before this trip I didn't feel ready, but now I couldn't feel more ready. My gorgeous fiancee, Ione, and I have known each other for 11 years and have been dating for just over a year, and I am psyched about making this commitment with such a wonderful partner.
For those of you who are regular readers of this blog, you will understand the intensity of my relationship to Narayani Amma, and can imagine how vital His blessing was to me making this decision. He is more than a spiritual teacher to me, but a reflection of my inner self, a guiding light that has continually led me to deeper self-revelation and peace. In my eyes, it is my devotion to Amma that has brought me the many blessings and my ability to have gratitude for them. The night I asked Amma's guidance about my relationship was in some ways one of the biggest nights of my life. I knew the answer I hoped to hear, but was prepared for anything. After all, the path of surrender isn't guaranteed to be easy. They say you get what you need, but that isn't always what you want. After blabbering through my question, stating my fears of neglecting my career and spiritual path, running through the pros and cons, Amma told me: "The purpose of marriage in human life is to build a family. Partnership is not just for enjoyment, as it is for animals. Once you understand this, it will not take you off your path. Marriage will be good for Ben. In the past, Ben has wavered on his path as he didn't have support. Ione understands his job and profession and can support him. She is spiritually connected to the Divine. There should not be any problem with Ben and Ione. Every marriage has adjustments. You cannot plan for everything in life. But it can be smooth. Ben can ask Ione. Amma will bless everything."
I wandered back to my room that night walking on air. So happy. Knowing that my gut feeling was right, and I was ready to make this commitment. The following night as Amma was dispensing teertum (holy water), I asked Him "can Ben and Ione get married here with Amma?" Amma smiled and responded gently "Yes." So that is why I got home last night, proposed, got the all important answer from my love, and am lying here in bed in LA, jetlagged, sick with flu, but thrilled beyond belief. Life is full of suprises and the unexpected. But sometimes you get what you need AND what you want.
Last week, on a day off between Columbus and NY, I flew to Cleveland to meet and interview Against Me! for the cover of Magnet magazine. Most of you guys know about my fondness for this band, and their album New Wave (download my cover versions Here), so this was pretty exciting. I had spent the last couple of weeks digging deep into their back-catalogue and learning as much as I could about their history to prepare for the interview.
After watching them soundcheck "New Wave" and "Up the Cuts", we hit the back lounge of their tour bus and I busted out the tape recorder to start the interview. What followed was a quite extraordinary hour where we got into some awesome conversation. The most fascinating stuff to me, was about the real meaning of punk rock, and what it means to walk your own path in the music industry. As I mention in HARP magazine this month, I have a D. Boon sticker on my guitar that says "Punk is whatever we made it be". It means that punk is an attitude, not a style or fashion. Its about having the courage to do something that flies in the face of what is expected of you, regardless of how scary it is. I believe punk rock is in my DNA. Even though I play an acoustic guitar, and sing love songs, I have continually had to define myself outside of people's expectations, and in the face of wagging fingers. To me, that's punk.
Early in my record-making days, there was a certain career path that was laid out for me. I was an indie rock prince, I just had to keep making semi-lo-fi albums about girls and guitars and not become any better a singer or guitar player, and it felt like a sure thing. Certain magazine were vouching for me, certain alterna-titans were in my corner. It was a no-brainer.
But music has never been about that for me. I always want to learn more, to become more. I always want to find out what I'm capable of.
That's where Against Me! and I connect. The road more travelled is completely unappealing. Artists get hungry for their own little slice of truth, and once you get a taste of it, no one is gonna hold you back.
I like artists that THINK BIG. I want big ambition, big clumsy mistakes, and big victories. Like Coppola said in an interview I read recently: "It requires zero imagination to live within your means". Something like that. In our lives, we are all in our little self-made prisons of identity, and half the fun of life is hatching an escape plan.
I hope everyone is digging away at their cell block with a spoon. I'll see you under the floodlights.
Deep into the US tour now and loving it.
Me and Nic are doing the sets kind of differently. We take a list of about 70 songs up on stage and then play whatever we feel like, in whatever order we feel like.
It makes each night completely different. Songs dating back as far as the first NoiseAddict ep, all the way up to some Against Me! covers and songs off Ripe.
Very spontaneous and alive.
The crowd seems to be enjoying it. Here's proof...
Here is one of us at soundcheck. Note the warrior's stance...
Also, for this tour I raided my storage space and brought out the most extensive merch stand I've ever had. All my albums on CD and vinyl, 7"s, 10"s, tshirts, hoodies, beanies, dvds, the whole shebang. So please, as Max from Say Anything says, "be gracious with the merch money you spend". Get your xmas shopping done early!
I learned how to play "Joy to the World" this morning on the bus cos I was bored. What a great song. My favourite xmas carol. I've also enjoyed changing all the male pronouns to female and making this an ode to the Goddess. Sometimes getting bored on the bus can be quite productive.
On the tail end of the Aust tour. Presenting at the ARIA awards tomorrow then headed back to the States for the US tour.
Lots has been going on in my world.
The shows were wonderful and I met a lot of fantastic people out on the road around the country. The kids from CanTeen I met in Brisbane were incredibly inspiring - they are a support group for teenagers with cancer and their families. It's a great thing that they have going on. On the rock n roll side, in Sydney, the stage was invaded by Old Man River, Wons Phreely and Dann Hume from Evermore, doing surprise gang backing vocals on Sex Without Love. Quite a moment.
The creative juices are flowing at the moment.
Im currently working on 3 albums! One is the album "A Mixtape from Ben Lee" which will finally be completed in Dec of this year. Im hoping it will be out early 08. Its about 15 new songs I've written, each sung by a different singer. Some wonderful people involved like Neil Finn, Kylie Minogue, Ben Folds, the eels, Gomez, Ash, Nina Persson, Zooey Deschanel, Sean Lennon, Maria Taylor, New Buffalo, Sleepy Jackson and lots more. This album has been my personal "Apocalypse Now!" taking me about 5 years to finish. Its gonna feel good to finally get it out.
Im also working on the soundtrack to my friend Nash Edgerton's feature film debut, "The Square". Hard to say exactly what this will end up sounding like, but Im really excited to be involved with this project. Actually, I wanted to visit the set the other day and found out they were shooting 2 floors below where I was staying at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Sydney! I watched some of the rushes and I think Nash is putting something quite extraordinary together. I have a lot of faith in that guy. Its an honour to be working with him on his first movie.
Finally, Im also working on a project for kids. That's all I'll say about that for now.
Other thoughts: my friend Chris Walker teaches a meditation class in Bondi that I sat in on last week. He said a great thing when someone complained about their back hurting - "There are no comfortable positions - only comfortable states of mind." That's one you can take with you...
Lisa Mitchell and Wons Phreely were great tour partners. Both fantastic young artists who I think have huge careers ahead of them. Keep your eyes and ears peeled.
The US tour is shaping up to be equally exciting. Cary Brothers is the main support on the tour and is brilliant. The opening song on his new album is called "Jealousy" and it sounds good if you turn it up really loud. What greater compliment is there than that? The opening slot will be divided between the Kahn Brothers (Nov 1 - 16) and Kate Voegele ( Nov 17 - Dec 13). The Kahn boys used to be Gelbison who were a great Sydney band. Their new incarnation is a bit mellower and more poppy, but really great. I think you'll dig em. Kate is a wonderful young solo artist who has been doing a load of touring lately. You might have heard some of her great pop tunes in the background on various MTV shows cos her music has been getting out there quite abit. Great artists each and every one of them. Can't wait to get the show on the road!
My friend Denver Dally (Desaparecidos, Maria Taylor) has put out a cool album under the name Intramural called "This is a Landslide". You should check it out.
Finally I bumped into the boys from Rise Against at the JJJ studios in Sydney. Great guys who were fans of the Against Me! covers that I did. Here is a photo of us together.
That's about it from me. I hope you are well and that the adventure that is life is gently challenging you to expand into the impossible.
On the eve of this coming Australian tour just wanted to write a quick note to all the fans who have bought the new album "Ripe" already, and are coming to these shows.
As you know, these shows were quickly pulled together after the unfortunate cancelling of the Up Festival, but I couldn't let 2007 pass without at least one solid trek back home.
It wasn't possible to make many of these shows all-ages at such late notice, but rest assured, there will be some all-ages shows in the not too distant future for all the fans under 18. Also, apologies to WA and SA for not making it this time - don't worry, you get something VERY special in early 08!
As with every tour I do, this one has a unique group of musicians accompanying me. I like to mix it up each tour - it keeps me on my toes. I wanted to do the first tour off this album in a little more of a stripped back manner to really let the songs stand on their own, and to introduce you all to them in a cool way. Ill be touring as a 3 piece with my long time collaborator Nic Johns on keyboard and George Byrne, fresh from his gig supporting Tori Amos around the country, on guitar. Should be a hoot!
I'm also hugely excited about having Lisa Mitchell and Wons Phreely out on the road for these shows. Its great to have inspiring artists keeping you company.
Okey doke. I hope alls well and see you very soon my friends.
I know its been about a year since I did a podcast - but sometimes that's just how long it takes.
Here's a new one for your listening pleasure.
See you on the road!
xoxo
Ben
To subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, justclick here. If you're using a different podcast manager, insert the following address:
http://www.ben-lee.com/podcasts/blpodcast.xml
Whenever I am in India and its someone's birthday I've loved that the local custom is to give AWAY gifts on your birthday. Generally, you give candies or chocolates to your friends and family. Its a beautiful tradition and one that stands in stark contrast to the way we generally celebrate in the West.
So today I celebrated by heading to a food shelter in downtown LA to feed the homeless.
It was a beautiful way to party.
One week until my new album "Ripe" comes out! Hard to believe. There is alot of cool touring about to be announced and I can't wait to get up on a stage. With the current chaos within the music industry, its still true that nothing can come between an audience and performer in a live setting. That experience will NEVER be available for download. The magic is in the moment. Psyched to get back on the road to play for you all.
Food for thought: while I hope you will all rush out and buy/download from iTunes my album on its week of release - for those of you who insist on procurring it illegally (no judgements here) - why not take the $10 you would have spent on the album and donate it to your local charity? Your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter is a great place to start. But there are infinite other options - plant a tree, sponsor a child, help rebuild a local playground...get active within your local community!
Okey doke. Have a great week and see you out on the road very soon!
WHY I COVERED THE ENTIRE "AGAINST ME!" ALBUM "NEW WAVE"
A couple of weeks ago I downloaded the new "Against Me!" album "New Wave". I didnt really know too much about this band but had been reading lots of good things about it, and my friend Tegan sings on it. I like to keep myself up to date with whats going on musically in the world, so I checked it out. I fell in love with the album. Really. Like, couldn't stop listening to it. As heavy and gnarly as it sounds at times, it is unmistakably a pop masterpiece. Listening to it on the way to Australia, I wondered to myself how these songs would sound acoustically.
A couple of days later I was on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne and had the thought "I'd love to cover this album." The whole thing. Beginning to end. So I did.
Anyway, here are the results. If you already know the original album, I hope these recordings shed a different light on it. If you don't know "Against Me!" and like what you hear, go check them out.
Nic Johns is the unspoken hero of this tale. He recorded, produced and mixed it and basically made my dream a reality. Hats off to him.
Had an awesome week back home in LA before coming out here. Hadn't been back for months, and was wondering if I would feel at all "at home". After all, I was totally nomadic for about 3 years, so this whole having a home base thing is kinda new to me. But it felt great. Made me realize that I need to have a place to come back to, even its not too often.
As many of you already know, I had to re-shoot the video for "Love Me like the World is Ending" due to my bust for indecent exposure in NY (see last blog entry for details). The new version was really fun. Its a huge water balloon fight, kind of based on what they are doing over at www.flashmob.com. Assembling large groups of people for the purposes of general absurdity. Anyway it was a great and very wet day and I'm looking forward to seeing the final edited version.
If you check the calendar you will see the tour dates for Australia in September as part of the Up Festival. Its a great new festival that Michael Franti (Spearhead) is putting together. Its reminiscent to me of the early incarnations of Lollapalooza. Fringe culture, positive thinking, and trying facilitating real change for young people. Its a carbon neutral event, and its the first festival where people will actual be encouraged to record audio/video and post these on the web! Very forward-thinking. All shows are all-ages so I think its gonna be a great vibe to be a part of. Come on out if you can.
I went and hung out with Franti in the studio in LA where he is recording the new Spearhead album and actually ended up laying down some backing vocals on one of his songs. Fingers crossed it makes the album! Here are some photos taken by Roxanne Haynes.
Its funny, because I first met Michael Franti 15 years ago when he was playing with Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. They were actually on the bill of the now infamous first ever NoiseAddict show with Sonic Youth. Somewhere I've got a photo of me at 14 with Michael. I should dig it up before the tour. Funny how things come full circle!
I've got some juicy tidbits to recommend to you.
Firstly Patience from the Grates has a podcast called "Patience's Telling Show" and it is awesome. Total genius. Subscribe now. Makes me think its time for me to do another podcast. Mental note.
I saw the Australian film "Clubland" on the plane and loved it.
The Silverchair single "Straight Lines" is fantastic. What a melody.
Came to NY to shoot the video for "Love Me Like The World Is Ending" and arrived in midtown amidst cries of "terrorist attack!". I started running with the masses, towards downtown, with no idea what the hell was going on. I ran for about half an hour before we realized it was a steam main that had exploded. There was no terrorist attack, just a raw nerve from a traumatic past exposed in the city, and lots and lots of steam.
What an apocalyptic scene!
Things got even weirder the next day at the video shoot. The concept was basically a one-shot video based around people doing what they would do on the last day of earth. This was a finally tuned piece of choreography that involved hours of rehearsal to get the sequence of characters to interact at the right time. People were making out, dancing, crying, a business man and a homeless guy were sharing a sandwich, a rabbi and a muslim were sharing a prayer, there was a unicorn (why not?), and there were some teenagers skateboarding nude through Soho. Now, in reference to these particular skateboarders, the idea was that they would wear nude-coloured underwear, and be blurred out to give the effect of them being naked. Well... something must have gotten lost in the translation, a direction must have been misheard, because as we went for our first take of the day, the skateboarders evidently dropped their shorts and skated down Crosby St fully exposed! This would not have been a problem except that some of New York City's Finest saw the display, and pretty quickly stepped in to stop filming. Our shooting permit was then revoked, leaving us with an unusable half a take of a very expensive video shoot!
Anyway, we are rallying and are going to shoot another proper video next week, with an entirely different concept. There will be no nudity (accidental or otherwise).
However, this being the age of Youtube, someone has already posted footage! Click here to view this comedy of errors.
This is the first take, so a lot of things were going wrong including a dog who refused to drop a ball for me to throw, but you'll get the idea of what we were going for. It ends when the police stop us filming. A little piece of history - the day Ben Lee got busted for indecent exposure!
The "official" video coming soon!
In other news, I'll be announcing my Australian tour in September very shortly. A very exciting tour to be sure.
Oh and I met Colin Hay from Men at Work yesterday on the Lower East Side! He came up and introduced himself to me. That ruled.
Sitting in a house, looking out at the beach, on the east coast of the USA.
I just spent 10 days with my spiritual teacher Narayani Amma, and many worlds were colliding and integrating in fascinating ways. I mixed prayer and meditation ceremonies with stepping outside to discuss video concepts and album artwork on my Blackberry. I looked at tour schedules for the rest of 07 after performing devotional songs for Amma. At one point, I was in a convoy of cars driving him to the airport, and was on the phone live with Australian radio stations launching my new single. I guess this is what Bono calls "riding a wild boar" - believing that all experiences are possible and need not exclude each other. Finding balance and pushing the boundaries.
Last night outside the Mercer Hotel in NY, I bumped into Courtney Love who was rehearsing her new songs with her guitar player on the sidewalk. She talked a mile a minute about her new record, the secret billionaires that she wants to marry, how she assembled her new band, what makes a great drummer, why she's not allowed in the Hamptons anymore, and lots and lots of other things. She dissed her last record quite heavily and was a bit shocked that I could quote back to her all the lyrics to "But Julian, I'm a little bit older than you". I'm fascinated by Courtney and always have been. I'm intrigued to hear this new album. She always gives pop culture a shake up. I'm glad she's still doing it.
OK, here's some gossip for you...there have been some VERY PRELIMINARY talks between the fine gentlemen known collectively as The Bens about getting together sometime before the years end to record some new tunes. That's all I can say for now. Fingers crossed that the stars align themselves in order for it all to happen.
The new single "Love Me Like the World is Ending" should be up on myspace any minute now, so check it out when you've got a minute. Some of you will love it, some will hate it, and some may try to wear it as a sock (this is unadvisable...mp3s do not work very well as footwear). Anyway, have a listen and see what you feel (footnote: always avoid "thinking" about music if possible, it never helps).
Holed up in a hotel room with Dann Hume of Evermore for 48 hours and churned out six songs! What a cracking songwriter he is - a total natural. Speaking of Evermore, you guys should youtube the video that my friend Nash did for their song "Never Let You Go" - it's a work of art! I cried when I first saw it. It hits something very primal and real. Great stuff.
The Dalai Lama gig was something people in Sydney seemed very psyched about. Aside from the Sydney Morning Herald choosing to print a very unattractive photo of me with their story on the gig, it was all smiles.
It poured all day leading up to the event. Apparently someone asked the Dalai Lama that morning if the gig should be cancelled. His reply? "I'm going!" Quite simple really isnt it?
Meeting His Holiness was quite an extraordinary experience. What struck me was how deeply in the moment he was. His eye contact, his attention to detail - it was all very...real. Shaking his hand, sharing a moment, these are fleeting instances but somehow manage to communicate an immense amount of information. I got up on stage feeling very free.
Here are some photos that Tony Mott took of the event. I played two new songs, "Numb" and "Love Me Like the World is Ending". I had Old Man River on guitar and Megen Washington on keys. I felt honoured to be there.
Back in the US and readying myself for the release of my album. The weather is warm and my imagination is running wild with ideas of gentle blasphemy. Ready to shake things up again.
Picnics in Central Park, listening to more music, meditating, having an opinion on Rosie and the View, seeing Spring Awakening with my friend Carin, doing things you do in the in-between.
Reading "The New Primal Scream", which is fascinating. All about the suppression of pain and feeling. How we do not want to feel some of the inherent pain of existence so we block it out, and with it goes our ability to feel anything. That's when we start playing out our unconscious dramas in the outside world. Projecting our dream-stuff onto people and situations that we bump into. So this book is about how important it is to open to our own pain, to feel it in its fullest sense, before we can be free of it. Powerful stuff.
I have a new guitar that John Alagia gave me. A baby Martin thats easy to travel with and schlep into hotel rooms all over the world. I put a sticker on it that Mike Watt gave me. It has a picture of D. Boon on it and it says "Punk is whatever we made it to be". That is inspiring.
Eating instant Quinoa in the mornings.
Been corresponding with Dann Hume from Evermore about collaborating in some capacity. I like this idea. Plus, he gives good e-mail. That's always a plus.
Found this photo recently, It's me at 13. A year before I started NoiseAddict. Grunge? Moi?
That trip always expands my horizons. What a crazy ride this human stuff is.
Always trying to balance the inside and the outside. The material and the spiritual. Body and soul. In part and in whole (that was a Morrissey reference for the trainspotters).
Thinking about how much commitment it takes to walk the line, to dance on the razor's edge of possibility, especially when the edge keeps moving.
I listened to my new album alot on the ipod over there. It agreed with me that these were the questions I wanna be asking right now.
I am set to master the album next week. Thats like really putting it to bed - the final touches - song order, gaps between tracks, all those exquisite details. Im able to focus on details much better than I could when I was younger. I used to live eternally in the big picture and desperately needed other people to sort out the bus schedule. Not sure when that changed. Nowadays I can almost tolerate a discussion of kick drum sounds. This must be what growing up feels like.
The song "La Familia" by Mirah came up on my ipod on the plane ride home:
"So choose a path and follow it
Take a pill and swallow it
Let's none of us forget about who we are
Its not forever we can fool around
In the dark"
Rushing to jump on a plane but I wanted to try to convey to you the satisfaction felt over sushi dinner on the west side last night, marvelling at the completion of this recording.
And what better way to spend my last day in the studio than with Rachael Yamagata and a horn section!
I'm about to jump on a plane. The next 6 weeks will be time for adventures large and small. New York City. India. Sydney. Places I've called home.
Time to put these new recordings on my iPod and let them come to life in different environments. Let them become the soundtrack to my movement.
People have been asking me why I blogged through this recording, and gave so many glimpses "behind the scenes". Albums used to be mysterious things, the say, and they would just magically appear. I guess I believe that the concept of recorded music is rapidly changing, and some of that "untouchable pop star" business is no longer relevant. But the truth is that I don't think that diminishes the experience of listening to the music AT ALL. I still find it mysterious. I still find myself full of wonder about where music actually comes from. I don't miss the 4th wall. What do you think?
Anyway, to everyone that's been following along with this recording through the blog: thanks for being there in spirit. I hope you've had fun!
In the last week or two of recording and its all very exciting.
There is that strange mix of excitement, fear and anticipation at sharing a piece of new work with the world. That feeling is subtly stirring in my day to day. Im learning to like it. A wiser man once called it "butterflies in your stomach". Yes, thats it.
Mandy Moore came in to sing on the 50's style duet "Birds and Bees". Its kinda loosely based on "Summer Lovin" from Grease. Mandy was very sweet and did her best Olivia Newton-John for me. I'm really psyched about this recording.
You can watch a very short, badly filmed film of her laying down her vocals here....
In other news, my mum has been in town visiting so thats been fun. Here is an awesome video of us jamming on a little piece we like to call "Heart and Soul". Not super original, I know, but mother-son bonding is a good excuse methinks.
Ok, gotta get to work. Nic Nic is in the studio laying down some nasty synth today.
The magical world of backing vocals: probably something the casual listener spends little time considering - but really really important. There is actually a fantastic theory from Brian Eno that the backing vocals are the part of the song that the listener truly relates to. This originates in the Greek chorus. They represented common man, the people of general society at the times, who commented on the protagonist's journey throughout a Greek Tragedy.
We've been adding some great backing vocals this week. Benji Madden from Good Charlotte came in,
followed by the boys from Rooney.
All did a great job. Backing vocals and harmonies really bring a song to life.
One of the other exciting musical guests on the record has been Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek. She added fiddle and harmonies to a bunch of songs. Sorry there's no footage of that yet - I don't wanna give too much away! But here's a photo anyway!
We are taking a short Easter break, recharging our batteries, before heading in to finish the album for the next couple of weeks. Watched Vanilla Sky again last night. Always makes me cry. Weird huh?
Be well everyone and enjoy the Spring that has sprung.
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF MODERATELY TALL PEOPLE
I can't believe how quickly this record is coming together!
Only 15 days in and its really getting there. I find myself constantly saying things like "Sounds like an album!" to myself in disbelief. John Alagia and I have been equally startled at the way everything has clicked together. Each new layer of sound seems to be appearing without much struggle. We give each other knowing looks, both aware that these kind of situations do not come every time you record, and therefore you savor them when they do.
Yesterday Benmont Tench came in to play keys. He is the organ player for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Amazing guy. Here is a little video of him jamming away.
Benmont and I actually first met 10 years ago on the session for "Burn to Shine" that T-Bone Burnett produced. I reconnected with him as he now plays with the Watkins Family alot and I've been sitting in with them @ their Largo residency when I can.
One song I'm really excited about is called "Birds and Bees". I think its going to be a duet. If it all works out, someone pretty special will be singing opposite me. Any of you care to guess who that is?
Went to the Smashing Pumpkins album-wrap party and heard their awesome newie. Seriously, the heaviest and most intense thing they have ever done. Really exceptional. Sounds like the world needs a record like that right now.
Ive been obsessed with "Sleepwalk" by Santo and Johnny. Possibly the single most beautiful piece of music that exists.
I also love that Mika album. You might have heard "Grace Kelly" on the radio, but the whole thing is really great.
I have been invited to take part in an event with the His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in Sydney on June 15th.
The Dalai Lama will be giving a free 90 minute talk directed towards young people in the Domain. Anyone who has had the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak will tell you what an incredible experience it is. His ability to transcend cultures and communicate his simple message of peace to people all over the world is unparalleled.
Im honoured to have been asked to perform an acoustic set as part of the program for the day.
If any of you get the opportunity to be there for this special event, I think it will be an extraordinary and memorable experience.
Matt Chamberlain on drums, Sean Hurley on bass, and me on the Geetar and Vox.
We are laying the down the basic track for my song "Blush".
I love playing with these guys. Top notch musicians and lovely people.
Witnessed a very sentimental moment yesterday as Jimmy Chamberlain from the Pumpkins and Matt Chamberlain met, fawned over each other, and compared drum notes. Apparently people have been confusing them for years.
What else?
Charlotte Martin is coming in tomorrow to play on a song we wrote together, and Nic Nic will be laying down some keys tomorrow too.
Jerry's Deli makes a killer Chicken noodle soup.
"Unscripted" was a ridiculously good tv show that George Clooney (the Cloon-dog) directed and lasted only one season.
Im trying to sleep on my right side sometimes. The left has done nothing to deserve all that responsibility.
My hair is getting long. The musical "Hair" is very good.
I can't believe I'm addicted to the Real World Denver.
Here you see me and John Alagia in full song-deconstruction mode in my living room, working on "Sex Without Love".
All good pop songs need to appeal to a 5 year old. For this reason I always include a random child in my pre-production sessions - you will notice 5 year old Kate seated on the couch next to me. While she may look bored, she is in fact utilizing some very encoded and discreet child code body language for "This song is a hit!"
I am now on my second day of pre-production and couldn't be more excited about the album I am making.
I am working with the fantastic producer John Alagia (Liz Phair, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Evermore) and am feeling very inspired. We are in the process of working through the top 25 of the 80 songs I've written, in order to choose the 18 that we will record. From there we will need to pick the 11 or 12 that will make the album. I've never had this big a pool of material to choose from. Yesterday we both got very psyched about a song called "Love Me Like the World is Ending". I actually wrote the riff for this song about 2 years ago in India, but only finished writing the chorus last week!
The atmosphere at this studio is great. So much creativity. The Smashing Pumpkins are downstairs, Alanis Morrissette is down the hall and the Scorpions are next door! Everyone striving for the own particular brand of greatness - the air is electric. Its the first time I've recorded an album in a big, classic studio like this - I usually work in home studios, so this is a whole different side of the recording world that I am learning about.
I'm going to be giving you guys regular updates hopefully with video and pictures too. To start things off, here is a video of absolutely no importance - me drinking my morning tea.
Just stopping in with a quick but juicy piece of news for you all.
I start the recording of my new album in the next couple of weeks.
Can't share too many details with you right now, but its very exciting.
After a couple of months off, I feel ready to get back to work.
I have stockpiled about 80 songs since "Awake is the New Sleep" was made, so I have a big pool of songs from which I will attempt to retrieve only the most golden sonic nuggets for your listening pleasure.
I'm going to try to post videos and notes from recording to keep you all updated on how its going. Can't wait.
I also wanted to thank everybody who wrote in to help with this documentary about me. It should be pretty great. Amiel has been shooting it for about 7 years and is also interviewing everyone from Thurston Moore to Liz Phair to Chris Carraba to my Nana.
I'm psyched to see what he comes up with when its done.
What a wild year. Had a dream the other night that an angel said to me:
"See what great adventures we created in 2006. Just wait till next year!"
I woke up smiling.
Even though I'm in California - I'm wearing a winter coat most days.
Looking for a sofa for my new place. The right sofa is a a vital part of the puzzle.
Somewhere to be cosy, to drink tea or good scotch, to watch "How I Met Your Mother" in the afternoon while still in pyjamas, to strum a guitar.
I got up on stage with Butch Walker the other night at the Hotel Cafe. We did "Gamble Everything for Love" and "The Book of Love" by Magnetic Fields, with Butch on piano. There was a nice connection between us. I'm gonna try to bottle it.
Oatmeal for breakfast.
Long afternoon walks.
The simple things in life are not small.
Batteries get recharged and music starts flowing.
Playing lots of piano. Learning new chords.
Learning new chords. That feels better than I could have ever imagined.
I hope you're all finding new, juicy combinations that strike your fancy.
I'm sitting on the plane on the way to Orlando, and I just woke up from a strange dream. I was playing a festival and we were waiting for a thunderstorm to pass before we could go on stage. I bumped into Fiona Apple and her new husband, rapper The Game, and he talked to me about Dharma. We planned to have good Japanese food at 3am in the morning. I heard the intro music starting so I leapt down the stairs from the dressing room and landed on stage for the opening beat of "Begin". As the crowd cheered, I felt home again.
Reflecting quietly on the last month. There are some periods of time where EVERYTHING seems to change at once - when you're left marveling at the ability of universe to shower so many blessings in one moment.
Having spent so much time on tour over the last couple of years, it was amazing to take a month off, to crack the doors and windows and let out and let in everything that needed to circulate. Its wild what some fresh air can do. Creativity starts buzzing again. Colours get brighter once you get some sleep. Everything sounds like rock n roll.
Made some big leaps - I found a house to rent that I love. I have been totally nomadic for about 3 years, so to have a home base is gonna be quite a new/old feeling. I need to buy furniture. Get TiVo. Get my clothes out of storage. These are good things.
I also hired a new manager which feels like the right move for me at the moment. Changes like that can be quite traumatic in this strange world of showbiz, but this all seemed to happen quite effortlessly.
Had some great times just being social the last month too. Went to a very emotional and inspiring launch of the memoirs of the activist Marla Ruzicka, who died in an attack by a suicide bomber in Bagdad last year, while campaigning for the rights of innocent victims of wartime. She started a group called CIVIC that you can learn about here if you'd like. It was amazing hearing her friends and families talk about this young woman. They all seemed to emphasize how much fun she was as a person. She was constantly dancing. Throwing parties. Showing people that to change the world, to live a life of service, to be spiritually present, didnt have to look a certain way - it could be fun! What a wonderful lesson.
Lastly, I got thrown a mighty curve-ball in the form of an ancient experience that many poets have likened to the feeling of falling...but those details are all mine for now!
I hope everyone is well and that I'll see some of you out on the road over the next month.
Be well, and may curveballs and thunderstorms keep our paths interesting.
For your listening pleasure I present the fourth installment of The Ben Lee Podcast.
You can subscribe via iTunes here, or download the mp3 directly here.
In other news, I'm digging that new Teddybears featuring Iggy Pop song "I'm a Punk Rocker".
Getting ready for the Oct/Nov tour with Rooney. I jumped up on stage with them last week at the Indie 103.1 Summer Strummer. Someone made a fuzzy youtube clip you can watch here:
posted by Ben Lee at 3:09 PM 
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