Discover new gems in the wide world of folk and Americana, packed with singer-songwriters and bluesmen, blue collar troubadours and full-out rockers united by a sense of tradition and an affinity for great storytelling. (Cover: Laura Veirs // Photo: press)
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When Ben Lee was in second grade, he stood among a throng of trembling classmates waiting to audition for their school’s production of Uncle Moishy and The Mitzvah Men. When the teacher called his name, Lee stepped forward and launched into a rendition of that old chestnut, “Happy Birthday,” the required audition song.
He had never really thought of his singing voice before, but as the notes poured out of him — on key! — he felt good. He watched as the teacher wrote something next to his name on the list of auditionees and, all of a sudden, he knew that he could sing.
“In that moment, the connection between what felt good, what music did to me and to my body and my organism — and getting validation — were intimately connected,” Lee tells TIDAL. “I ended up playing Uncle Moishy, with the hit song, ‘Ain’t Gonna Work on Saturday.’”
Decades later, the acclaimed singer-songwriter is primed to enter the world of musical theater once more, this time as one set of brains behind a musical adaptation of author Tom Robbins’ 2009 satirical children’s book for adults, B is for Beer (out October 12). It’s a definite evolution for the lifelong musician, one that’s in perfect concert with his new role as composer for HBO’s upcoming show Camping (October 14). Lee is no longer the tortured front man; he’s now a master collaborator.
A quick primer on Ben Lee: he’s an Australian musician who first broke out at age 14 in the band Noise Addict, a group that had some major fans in the form of Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and the Beastie Boys, the latter of whom released Noise Addict’s work on their label, Grand Royal Records. His solo career kicked off when he was 16, and, ever since, he has been churning out ever-more ambitious work — ……READ MORE
Radnor & Lee (musician Ben Lee and actor Josh Radnor) are out with their debut, self-titled album on November 10. To celebrate their partnership, the duo put together a playlist of uplifting tracks to get you through the gloomy months.
Ben Lee
Jonathan Richman, “My Love is a Flower”
For me, Jonathan Richman was the beginning of understanding that being happy and positive was sometimes the most punk rock choice you could make. I would say he might be my single biggest influence. His whole attitude was just glorious, childlike and positive. I love the vulnerability of seeing our ability to love as a flower just beginning to bloom.
Donovan, “Happiness Runs”
This song was written by my father-in-law and is almost like a meditation on the way that positive mindset changes the world, one thought at a time. ‘Happiness runs in a circular motion…everybody is a part of everything, anyway.’ These are important mantras to lift us up when we are down. It always makes me smile.
Daniel Johnston, “Speeding Motorcycle”
This song, and especially the version Daniel recorded with Yo La Tengo live on radio, affected me profoundly as a teenager, and it still does. The sense of freedom, possibility and the unknown is so palpable in this recording. Of course, being a Daniel Johnston song, there is a feeling of being slightly unhinged not too far from the surface. But above all, this song makes me feel like a puppy putting my head out the window of a car and enjoying the wind in my face, smiling ear to ear.
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