Epic Records is excited to announce the release of Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! on April 28, 2009. Amazed to discover the large amount of colleges that have very active a cappella groups on campus across the country (1,200 in the US alone), and, on top of this, how many of them love to cover his songs, Ben Folds decided to A&R and produce a record gathering the best of these performances.

Ben Folds Presents:University a Cappella! on amazon.com

Ben Folds on amazon.co.uk

When word got out, the response was tremendous and resulted in 250 videos on YouTube. Folds would come off stage every night and spend hours pouring over these entries, ultimately choosing 15 groups to record.

Watch “Army” (Ben Folds) Acappella video by University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers:

Ben, his wife Fleur, and his engineer Joe Costa packed up their equipment, and hopped on planes, trains and automobiles to record these groups. Over 2 months, they set up camp in dorm lounges, lecture halls and campus television studios. They even recorded in a Synagogue.

Also wanting to involve students from other areas of campus life in these sessions, at each one Folds invited a student photographer and videographer to document the recording. After reviewing the footage captured, Ben then invited one of the student videographers – Jason Harper from Princeton University – to compile each school’s footage into one documentary of the entire project.

No matter where the recording was to take place, the makeshift studio was simple: six area mics. It was a bold aesthetic choice for the project. In recent years, tools like Auto-Tune and overdub have become as prevalent in collegiate a cappella recording as on major label albums. But Folds wanted to capture what these groups actually sounded like in performance. The team allotted four hours for each session. Most groups nailed the recording in two.

Not to be outdone by the undergraduates, Folds recorded two of his own a cappella tracks: instrument-free versions of “Effington” (from his 2008 album ‘Way to Normal’) and “Boxing,” which originally appeared on the 1995 self-titled Ben Folds Five album. About recording his own two a cappella songs, Folds says, “It took f***ing longer than four hours. I can tell you that much. I have a greater appreciation now for the university groups.”

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! comes at an interesting time. After all, a cappella jokes have featured prominently on NBC’s “The Office” and in big-budget movies like “The Break-Up,” to name a few. Also, in May of 2008 Gotham Books published Pitch Perfect, a book written by GQ senior editor Mickey Rapkin that is a behind-the-scenes look at the bizarre, inspiring and hilarious world of competitive collegiate a cappella.

Summarizing the coast-to-coast endeavor, Folds stresses, “This is not a novelty. I consider this my new record. I’m incredibly proud of this. If this were Ben World, this would be my greatest hits album. I’d rather this be my greatest hits record than someone collecting my masters and slapping on a photo of me leaning against a piano. This is a better way. I’m a songwriter, and these are my songs.”

Look for many of the a cappella groups to open up for Folds on many of his upcoming tour dates. A complete list of tour dates is posted at www.benfolds.com or www.myspace.com/benfolds.

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! tracklisting:

1. NOT THE SAME – The Spartones from Greensboro, NC.
Arranged by Chris Juengel / Recorded in Swain Hall (UNC – Chapel Hill)

2. JESUSLAND – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Loreleis
Arranged by Emily Riehl and Marianne Cheng / Recorded in Swain Hall (UNC – Chapel Hill)

3. BRICK -The Ohio University Leading Tones
Arranged by Brian Powers / Ohio University School of Music’s Recital Hall

4. YOU DON’T KNOW ME – The University of Georgia’s With Someone Else’s Money
Arranged by Jonathan Sparks / Recorded in Ben’s studio

5. STILL FIGHTING IT – Washington University in St. Louis’s Mosaic Whispers
Arranged by: Mark Partridge / Recorded in the 560 Music Building – Recital Hall (Washington University)

6. BOXING – Ben Folds
Arranged by Ben Folds / Recorded in Ben’s studio

7. SELFLESS, COLD, AND COMPOSED – The Sacramento State Jazz Singers
Arranged by Kerry Marsh / Recorded in Capistrano Hall, Jazz Rehearsal Room (Sacramento State)

8. MAGIC – The University of Chicago’s Voices In Your Head
Arranged by Chris Rishel / Recorded in Chris Rishel’s living room

9. LANDED – The University of Colorado Buffoons
Arranged by Misha Levental / Recorded at Coupe Studios

10. TIME – The Princeton Nassoons
Arranged by Jonathan Schwartz / Recorded in Mathey College Common Room (Princeton University)

11. EFFINGTON – Ben Folds
Arranged by Ben Folds / Recorded in Ben’s studio

12. EVAPORATED – The Newtones from Newton, MA
Arranged by Joel Esher / Recorded in Wellesley Chapel (Wellesley College)

13. FRED JONES PART 2 – The West Chester University of Pennsylvania Gracenotes
Arranged by Courtney Park / Recorded in Mathey College Common Room (Princeton University)

14. ARMY – The University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers
Arranged by Brad Hartman & Dan Gross / Recorded in Havens Lounge, Wilson Commons (University of Rochester)

15. FAIR – University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire’s Fifth Element
Arranged by Joe Holtan / Recorded in Masters Recording Institute’s Studio A

16. THE LUCKIEST – The Washington University in St. Louis Amateurs
Arranged by: Joe Argus / Recorded in the 560 Building ballroom (Washington University)

Ben Folds Official Website

Ben Folds MySpace

Urban music’s most anticipated and intriguing new artist, Novel, is offering a glimpse into his storied debut ‘The Audiobiography’, due out on March 24th, 2009. Last Tuesday, November 25th, he digitally released his EP I Am…(Future Black President). With I Am… – 5 full-length songs available digitally everywhere including iTunes, Amazon.com, etc. – Novel introduces his unique rapped/sung poetics to the world.

Watch I Am video:

Novel on amazon.com

Novel amazon.co.uk

The titular buzz single featuring Talib Kweli, Ben Folds, and Spree Wilson is rife with Novel’s heartfelt lyrics: “I’m the sun, I’m light/I’m much more than the bling or the shine off your ice/ I’m as free as a spirit, I’m as fly as a bird/ I’m whatever I wanna be as long as I am heard” and “I’m a product of the ghetto, my father’s boy/ a brother to my sister, my mother’s pride and joy.” Look for the accompanying video to “I Am” on YouTube and splayed elsewhere on the internet.

Also on the EP is “Wild West,” which displays Novel’s standout singing and rapping side-by-side. Though uncannily gifted, Novel is no duplicitous double-talker. His inspiring lyrics are no good-news gimmick.

In fact, he’s started the website FutureBlackPresident.com to echo the uplift. The site is a portal for himself and visitors to offer words of encouragement for this generation and beyond.

While Novel may be new to listeners, his words and work aren’t. He’s long been penning and producing for other artists, including Alicia Keys, Kelis, India.Arie, and Joss Stone. The I Am… EP, however, is the world’s first taste of his own voice. Amazingly, Novel’s efforts don’t stop with words on a page: Novel writes, produces and arranges. The aforementioned Audiobiography is entirely his, save a few collaborations with Dallas Austin, producer No I.D., and Krucial Keys. And speaking of the Keys team, Novel is fresh off a domestic tour with Alicia. He’s now performing at college campuses nationwide, in preparation for his New York showcase come January of 2009.

Novel is a fresh new page, the next chapter in music’s ongoing epic.

Novel MySpace
Novel Official Website

“Unstoppable” – Alicia Keys
“An amazing talent” – Leona Lewis
“The potential to be greater than what we have in the business” – Talib Kweli
“Lyrical genius” – Joell Ortiz
“The most unbelievably talented artist, writer and producer of our time” – Dallas Austin

Like the glowing blurbs slathered on the cover of a New York Times best-seller, advance praise for Rowdy/Capitol debut artist NOVEL is rolling in from collaborators and peers.

To ride the groundswell, rapper/singer/songwriter/producer Novel is hitting the road months ahead of the February 2009 release of his first album, THE AUDIOBIOGRAPHY… His intent? To prove what the insiders already know – that he is destined to be one of the major names of this or any year.

Watch Novel video – he talks about the upcoming album:

THE AUDIOBIOGRAPHY… was written, performed and produced entirely by Novel. Collaborations come from Dallas Austin, hit producer No I.D., Robin Thicke, DJ Toomp and Tony Reyes.

Novel’s first digital single “I Am,” featuring Ben Folds, Talib Kweli and Spree Wilson, releases on October 7, 2008; an album sampler follows soon thereafter. Also expect video footage from the tour on Novel’s web pages.

NOVEL, born Alonzo Stevenson, boasts a bloodline that can only be termed stellar: he is grandson of the immortal soul singer/Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Solomon Burke, and son of the Motown songwriter, producer and A&R executive Mickey Stevenson. But these legends become mere back story figures in the tale of a self-made man and talent. Born in Los Angeles, Novel and his mother crisscrossed the country. He cites his time in Philadelphia as a turning point; there, the music of Donny Hathaway and Nina Simone among others spurred his songwriting.

During one sojourn across the States, a call to an industry ally – now Novel’s manager – led to a chance meeting with impresario Dallas Austin, who mentored Novel as an all-around talent. Under Dallas’ tutelage, the singer/rapper would add lofty production and songwriting credits to his resume: India.Arie, Alicia Keys, Kelis, Joss Stone.

Skip to the present and Novel’s sung/rapped lyrics, at once deeply personal and satisfyingly literate, now sit atop his own arrangements and production. Novel is on the cusp of a major breakthrough, having engrossed today’s musical luminaries and innovators. Fans likewise won’t be able to put down THE AUDIOBIOGRAPHY…

Alicia Keys / Novel September 2008 Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

9/12 – Foxwoods Casino – Mashantucket, CT
9/13 – Horseshoe Casino – Hammond, IN
9/14 – Proctor & Gamble Hall – Cincinnati, OH
9/17 – Wells Fargo Theatre – Denver, CO
9/18 – Abravenel Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
9/20 – WAMU Theater – Seattle, WA
9/21 & 22 – Orpheaum – Vancouver, BC, CAN
9/26 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
9/27 – Dodge Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
9/28 – Anselmo Valencia Ampitheater – Tuscon, AZ

Get the first read on Novel here:

Novel Official Website
MySpace

Counting Crows were the first band in the O2 Wireless Festival’s 4-year history to perform in front of a sell-out crowd in London’s Hyde Park. Following this achievement, Live Nation is proud to present the band during their much awaited autumn tour of the UK.

Featuring special guests Ben Folds and Melee as support, this is a show not to be missed!

Under the banner “Counting Crows – Live from Hyde Park“, ticket buyers will be offered a link to download five free live tracks of Counting Crows’ spectacular live performance from their recent headlining appearance at their sell-out date at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London.

Live tracks include: “Have You Seen Me Lately,” “Colorblind” and “Anna Begins,” plus “Le Ballet d’Or” and “Hanging Tree,” from their latest studio album ‘Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings’.

Counting Crows 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Counting Crows Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

December 2 – Newcastle Arena
December 4 – Nottingham Arena
December 5 – London Wembly Arena
December 7 – Manchester Men Arena
December 8 – Cardiff International Arena
December 10 – Bournemouth BIC
December 11 – Brighton Centre
December 13 – Birmingham NEC Arena
December 14 – Sheffield Arena
December 18 – Glasgow SECC*

* Ben Folds will not appear as support for this date

Tickets will be on general sale at 9:00am Friday July 25, 2008.

Purchase by calling 0844 576 5483 or buy online at www.livenation.co.uk

All tickets subject to booking fee £33.50 Regional / £35 London

A Live Nation presentation by arrangement with ITB.

Counting Crows are a global phenomenon with a host of multiple platinum albums and Top 10 chart placings worldwide. Counting Crows have been a huge presence in the music world; from initial hit single “Mr. Jones” to 2005’s “Accidentally In Love” from the Shrek 2 soundtrack which saw the Californian band perform at the Academy Awards.

New album ‘Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings’ released in the UK on March 24th, saw the band split their musical personality with the rock Saturday Nights produced by Gil Norton (of Pixies and Foo Fighters fame) whilst the more acoustic Sunday Mornings portion sees Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) at the board.

For more information, go to:

Counting Crows Official Website
LiveCountingCrows.com