Awake Is The New Sleep.

Awake Is The New Sleep is Ben Lees definitive album to date and first for Inertia Recordings. It reunites him with producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins) and was recorded in Brads home studio in Los Angeles. Along with Ben, the primary players were long time partnerincrime Lara Meyerratken and guitar whiz McGowan Southworth. Special guests include Jason Schwartzman, Har Mar Superstar, Rilo Kileys Jenny Lewis and Jason Faulkner. Ben Lee was born 26 years ago in Sydney, Australia. His mum remembers him spending most of his childhood sitting on the floor with a turntable, playing Rumours (Fleetwood Mac), Avalon (Roxy Music) and the Jack And The Beanstalk soundtrack over and over and over. Bens musical coming out was at the age of 14 with a poppy, punk rock band called Noise Addict, circa 1993. Discovered by heavy hipsters Sonic Youth and The Beastie Boys, the groups profile rose quickly. As Ben describes it, It was the perfect teenage rock thing. But clearly more ambitious than his bandmates, it wasnt long before Ben began concentrating on a solo career. His first album, Grandpaw Would was produced by Brad Wood and released in 1994 on the Beasties Grand Royal label. Much touring ensued (and continues to this day) with an illustrious and varied number of staunch supporters Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Rufus Wainwright and Fugazi among many others. A second album, Something To Remember Me By (97), was a mostly acoustic affair that accentuated Bens salient writing ability. With 99s Breathing Tornados (on Modular Recordings), Ben was first heard in fullflower: potent songs with electronic riffs and catchy choruses (and a platinum album in Australia). The adventurous, beatsheavy hey you. yes you was produced by Dan The Automator and was released in 2003, also on Modular. Never one to sit still, Bens many tangents include duets with Kylie Minogue; writing key songs for Evan Dandos 2003 album, Baby Im Bored; a collaboration with Ben Kweller and Ben Folds under the name The Bens which begat both live shows and a stunning 4song E.P.; establishing his own label imprint, Ten Fingers, for not only his own projects but work by others such as Montreals beloved pop combo Pony Up; and, in 2003, Ben made his feature film debut in the title role of Placid Lake in the Australian comedy, The Rage In Placid Lake, alongside Rose Byrne and Miranda Richardson.

Awake Is The New Sleep