BF: They're kinda half baked most of 'em. I got to really sit down and shit 'em out now because ... it's all inspiration now; inspiration has happened and now I have to go in and kinda finish work
daze: What might be the particular inspiration for this album do you think?
BF: Ah, I don't really know, it's not really like that ... maybe photography. I love photography so I get inspired about life in general through that; maybe that rubs off, but there's nothing really ... I don't see it as being a theme album. Usually when I go into making an album, I don't see it that way, and when I come out, I'm informed that I've made a theme album. I think when you're doing something creative, you have to realize that half of it is not under your control. So I can say what it is I think that I'm going to do, and that will probably be an indication that I didn't know what I was doing, you know what I mean? If you really have too much of a plan, I don't know, it doesn't seem to work. So right now all I know is that I got these songs started; I got a really great place to record in and I got a group of friends who, if any particular one or two aren't busy on a given day, they're gonna come in; I'll show them the songs, and we'll record and see what we have.
daze: Nice, so will you continue as a solo artist or will you continue with a band?
BF: I'm just me now; I make records ... that's me. I'm going to get together with Ben Folds Five or something like that.
daze: Gotcha, do you find either the live or studio setting more fitting or comfortable for your music?
BF: Well, for some reason, I've never felt as comfortable with some of my recordings as I have with some of my shows. But recording's have their moments; there are times that I think are brilliant. But I just think that maybe there is a certain type of musician or performer who is not necessarily easy to capture on a recording, and I feel that maybe I could be one of those people. I don't want to be 'cause I love albums, and so I want to keep recording until I feel like I've nailed it. 'Cause I don't feel like I ever nail them.
daze: So it's more of a life pursuit than album by album or show by show?
BF: No, it's really more of a day by day thing. I play music basically 'cause I get paid for it. And I used to play music 'cause it was inspiring to me. I take pictures 'cause it's inspiring to me, but I'm much better at music and the music I make beats the f*cking shit of the photos I take. So I love playing shows; I don't love going to them. And I like certain parts of making an album, but I really don't like writing songs. So it takes me a long time to ... I think what I'm saying is that there are a lot of things you don't necessarily want to do. And even musicians, I think there are two types of musicians, you get these two kinds of people. Some musicians are like, 'It's paaain; my life is paain,' and that's cool, but shut-up, and then there's the other kind that are like [in southern drawl] 'I'm so happy to be here,' and I don't really understand that either. I think it's like life; some of it is good and some of it is bad. It's my calling and it's what I do. It's the one thing that I don't f*ck up ... all the time. Everything else about life is kinda hard to keep in the roads ... well you know, I f*ck piano too. Forget all that.
daze: Oh man, I guess if you could pick something, what do you like best about being Ben Folds?
BF: Uhhhh
daze: I think I would be hard pressed to answer that question myself.
BF: Damn, that's like a Barbara Walters type question. That's when you zoom close-up to th¿ÿþy until you get a tear. That's a good question; I don't know ... I'm lucky enough to do something that I'm relatively comfortable with myself at doing, and most people aren't comfortable with themselves doing something that they can share with other people. You might be comfortable, I don't know, reading the paper and taking a shit even; that's great too, I mean whatever makes you happy, but I'm really lucky that what I do gets the chance to be infectious and that's what I've always been attracted to abou music and performing. So that's what I like about my gig. 'Cause I used to be a hell of a table waiter; I used to wait tables, but no on ever clapped; it didn't seem to make anyone happy. Now, I actually do a job there is a nice mutual exchange for doing. It's a no loss situation as long as you take your ego out of it as much as you can. It's a really good gig.
daze: What couldn't one man and a piano achieve?
BF: Uhh, I don't know; It'd be hard to play a rave.
Throughout the night, Ben shifted effortlessy through his repertoire and played a little something for everyone. In the end, Sunday night proved that one man, a piano, and about 2,000 audience members can make some beautiful noise.