Ben Folds announced his first studio album since 2015, What Matters Most, due out on June 2 via New West Records. The pianist and singer-songwriter also shared the lead single, “Winslow Gardens” along with a busy 2023 touring schedule.
What Matters Most follows Folds’ 2015 collaboration, So There, with the string ensemble yMusic. Ben teamed with Joe Pisapia (K.D. Lang, Guster) to co-produce the new record. The 10-song set captured in East Nashville features guest contributions from dodie, Tall Heights and Ruby Amanfu.
“There’s a lifetime of craft and experience all focused into this one record,” Folds said of What Matters Most. “Sonically, lyrically, emotionally, I don’t think it’s an album I could have made at any other point in my career.”
Ben further detailed the new album:
“I come from the vinyl era, and this perhaps more than any record I’ve made is a true album. There’s a very specific sequence and arc to each side, all building up to this almost surreal positive finale, and that structure was really important to me. More than anything, I wanted to make an album that was generous, that was useful. I want you to finish this record with something you didn’t have when you started.”
Preview What Matters Most with “Winslow Gardens” below:
Ben Folds also has an extensive touring itinerary in store for 2023 including orchestra collaborations on select dates. The pianist kicks off the tour in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on March 24. The rest of March will see Folds in the Midwest with stops in Viroqua, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Iowa; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Urbana, Illinois.
Ben resumes his tour on April 21 with a trio of orchestra dates in Tallahassee, Atlanta and Cincinnati. Folds also has an orchestral concert in Greensboro, North Carolina before closing out April in Charleston, South Carolina. A one-off orchestral date on May 30 in Chicago follows.
Folds’ summer tour gets underway in earnest on June 13 in New London, Connecticut. Additional June stops in New York City, Indianapolis, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis follow. Folds also has orchestra shows in Columbus, Ohio (July 22); Bonner, Montana (August 2); and Park City Utah (August 4) on the books.
Additional August dates include stops in Milwaukee, Kansas City, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle among others. Orchestral runs in Minneapolis and Dallas arrive in October before Folds heads over to Europe and the UK to round out 2023.
Tickets for Ben Folds spring dates are on sale now. Tickets for summer dates go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m. local venue time. Purchase Ben Folds tickets via Ticketmaster. Find full routing and more ticketing options below:
What Matters Most Tracklist:
- But Wait, There’s More
- Clouds With Ellipses (feat. dodie)
- Exhausting Lover
- Fragile
- Kristine From The 7th Grade
- Back To Anonymous
- Winslow Gardens
- Paddleboat
- What Matters Most
- Moments (feat. Tall Heights)
