Ben Kweller is a New York-based singer and songwriter who has captivated audiences and critics alike since his 2001 pop-rock release, "Sha Sha." Signed under Dave Matthews' ATO Records, his music blends infectious melodies with witty, insightful lyrics. His recent tour with Death Cab For Cutie brought him to Starr Hill April 2. I was fortunate enough to talk with him before the show.
Cavalier Daily: How do you feel your upcoming release, "On My Way," compares to your full-length debut, "Sha Sha"?
Ben Kweller: I love it so much, the new record. I started writing "Sha Sha" in Texas, and then I moved to New York. I finished writing it in New York, so a lot of the record is about change, leaving a small town for the big city. Now with the new album ... I've been in New York for about five years, so it's a little grittier, about the chaos of the big city. Moving to the city, I didn't know anybody. I realized how important friends and family are, keeping as close to them as possible. The way this album was recorded is completely different. It was recorded live and without headphones, so it's got a definite early '60s sound.
CD: What do you feel is the most personal track on the new album?
BK: The most personal track is called "Believer." I got married in September, and we've been together for five years. The song's about the relationship. ... It's one of those songs that evaluates the important things in life. Once you find love, you have to hold on to it. Lyrically, the title track is one of my favorite songs.
CD: How would you describe your current tour with Death Cab For Cutie?
BK: I think it's going to be a really great tour. We have about the same size audience, and the merging of our fans is going to be really cool. I'd never met Death Cab For Cutie before this, but Ben [lead singer of Death Cab For Cutie] is a really great guy. We have a lot of mutual friends, like Connor from Bright Eyes.
CD: In your experience, what sets apart college audiences from other audiences you've encountered?
BK: Well, a lot of my fans are in college, so it's hard to tell. I love playing for college kids because we're about the same age. When I opened for Dashboard Confessional, a lot of the fans were high school kids, and you have more obsessed fans in high school. But college kids love good music and love to have a good time. They're more inquisitive, finding out music that hits them. I dig that.
CD: What was it like recording with Ben Folds and Ben Lee for the recent "The Bens" EP?
BK: Awesome, it was so much fun. It was such a fun experience, and it happened very spontaneously. Ben Folds called me and said, "Dude, I'm in Nashville for two weeks. You should come down, and we'll write some songs." We recorded four songs in three days.
CD: One of the most striking aspects of the EP is that it feels like three good friends just sitting down together, jamming out. It sounds as if the three of you were having a genuinely good time.
BK: Awesome, that's exactly how it was. That's what we wanted.
CD: Are there any other artists with whom you'd like to collaborate?
BK: Well, you don't ever want to force it. It has to happen naturally. Tons of my friends are musicians, like Caleb from Kings of Leon, Connor from Bright Eyes, Julian from The Strokes, Adam Green. ... You just never know. As far as dream collaborations, there are people like Neil Young and Bob Dylan. But if I ever had the chance to play with them, I would be so intimidated.
CD: What is your opinion of today's music scene, and how do you view your role in the industry?
BK: My favorite bands right now are Kings of Leon, The Strokes, Adam Green, Bright Eyes, Cat Power, The White Stripes. ... I don't know The White Stripes, but I think they're definitely getting big because a few years ago, their music was very left of center. The radio was playing stuff like Limp Bizkit. Acts like them help bands that are a little different find their place. As far as my role, I'm pretty much the only solo guy in the New York scene. There aren't many solo rockers. It's not like back when you had Van Morrison or Bruce Springsteen or David Bowie or Iggy Pop. I guess I just have punk rock in my soul.
CD: What was the last album you bought?
BK: Well, if you count iTunes ... I think it was Dexy and the Midnight Runners. You know ... "Come On Eileen" [begins to sing]. Unfortunately, that's about the only good track on the album.
CD: Speaking of iTunes and file-sharing in general, what is your opinion, as a recording artist, of the downloading controversy of the past several years?
BK: I'm a big fan of iTunes. I definitely feel, as a music fan, that it's important. When Napster was out, I was always downloading songs, but that's not good enough for me. I like album art and liner notes. There's no substitution for the hard copy. I'm sort of old-school minded in that sense. I think Apple is onto something, but one thing that bums me out is the recording industry issue where they want to put a stamp on an album saying "do not copy." It's so lame, and it's going to make people hate the record companies. It's like telling a kid not to drink. For me, my songs and albums aren't that precious to me. I want it out there, and it doesn't affect me that much. It's more of a problem for the guys sitting behind the desks. That's why I just write and record songs, not market them. It's ridiculous, all this stuff about suing 16-year-old kids.
CD: A lot of people are hearing you live for the first time with this tour. What are three words that you feel sum up the experience of a Ben Kweller show?
BK: I would definitely say fun. I feel like I'm on everyone else's page -- I'm not up there trying to be a rock star. But in three words ... I would say ... incredible ... fantastic ... and miraculous.
"On My Way," Ben Kweller's 11-track sophomore album, hits stores on April 6.
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