In anticipation of Ben Folds Five’s first studio album in over thirteen years, Hypable talked at length with Ben Folds about his unique approach to the album release, getting back in the studio with the band, touring, The Sing Off, and more! Here is part two of that exclusive interview.

Taking a unique approach to the upcoming album release, Ben Folds Five is forgoing a studio release by producing the album through fan donation and funding, called “crowd-funding,” in exchange for unique access to the production and eventual release of this much-anticipated album.Find out more, right here!, Be sure to enjoy part one of our exclusive interview with Ben here, and take a look at part two below, along with a brief audio clip for your enjoyment.

Jeremy Baril, Hypable: So you just released a unmixed version of “Do It Anyway” –

Ben Folds: Oh, it’s pretty well mixed.

JB: Or – unmastered, is I think what you said.

BF: Yeah, we didn’t master it. It’s not loud –

JB: But it sounds good!

BF: Thank you.

JB: I was sort of amazed by how distinctly it sounds like old Ben Folds Five. Going into the studio after all these years, was it something that the three of you had to work on, to find that sounds again?

BF: Oh no, that’s what it sounded like. We just started playing and we were like, “Damn, dude! This sh-t sounds like Ben Folds Five!” It was fun, that’s what we sound like.

JB: I definitely noticed the – how it sounded, it sounded new compared with your previous solo stuff. I guess comparing again between your solo records and Ben Folds Five – I guess with all of it – I always found that you mixed up the style form song-to-song quite a lot. Is that you something that you’re actively trying to do with this new album, or is that something that naturally –

BF: It’s something that naturally happens, and it’s a very diverse album. Yeah, definitely. It’s an album that – each song has a different vibe. Like what we released – the only thing about releasing one song like that, the way we did, was nothing really is indicative of the rest of the record. That was as close to the middle as we could find. It was enough energy, it was enough seriousness in the lyrics, but playful enough. It kind of did all the things, but we don’t have that kind of song on the record that’s like all this.

But, you know, we came out – we were like this piano band that played loud, fast, happy shows, then we released Brick, as a single, and people were like, “Oh, that’s what they do.” Then they got the record, and were like, “Oh, that’s not what they do. What the fu-k do these guys do?”

JB: Right. So this album release – obviously you have a really interesting approach, with the crowd-funded style. Are you planning on doing anything similarly unique around a tour, or are you just sort-of going with what you’re used to?

BF: Well, we’re not really so much trying to trail-blaze here, so much as we’re trying to do what feels right. I suppose we’ll – touring was always really important to us. It was important because we always considered ourselves, you know, a live band of musicians, and I can’t imagine just, like, really setting up a tour in any other way than they’re normally set up.

So we’re just going to play, basically. It’s a long way of saying, we’re just going to go play gigs, like we did.

JB: Last year, actually, I saw you in Chicago for the Dave Matthews Caravan, and the Warfield in San Francisco. Those are two completely different shows in terms of crowd, and really style…Is that something you try to – do you really have a preference between smaller, intimate venues, and larger concerts. I know you’re playing Bonaroo…Is that something you try to have? A diverse style of venues when you go on tour.

BF: No, I think we just play where we can. We play where our booking agent thinks is a good idea, basically. We sign off on it. I mean, obviously we have some say…We don’t really want to play gymnasiums any more. We don’t really like that venue…But it’s pretty much someone does that and we say okay…

JB: Okay, a few questions sort-of unrelated. Something I thought was pretty interesting, is seeing over the past few days, the internet response to The Sing-Off, and there has sort-of been a campaign to save it. How does that feel when you have this fan support for something you do and are passionate about?

BF: Oh, it’s really awesome. The support goes both ways, I was on that show because I really believe in the power of people singing together, and it makes me happy to hear it. I love the kind of people, for the most part, who sing in these groups. I admire their musicianship. And I think it really gave them a hub, and it gave a broader audience a chance to see how amazing it was. It was a real unique TV experience, I think, not everyone is going to like it, and that’s fine. It’s not going to compete with Two and a Half Men and Dancing with the Stars. Anyone would have known that, that’s fine, I didn’t expect that.

But I am really heartened and moved to see so many people so into the show that they want to start petitions and stuff. Shawn (Stockman), and me, Sara (Bareilles), and Nick (Lachy), all sort of agreed we’d be happy to retweet a couple of those people’s things, and we were going to stay out of the fray and out of the comments, and let people take it on if it’s something that they’re really into. So I provided a couple retweets and I followed one of the petitions, and more power to them, I think it’s absolutely amazing.

JB: That’s about all I have, but thanks for the responses and answering the questions.

BF: Absolutely! It was good to talk to you, take care of yourself.

Part one of our exclusive interview with Ben Folds can be read here, where Ben discusses the reunion with Ben Folds Five and their unique approach to the album’s release.

Also, be sure to support the upcoming album by pledging towards the production of the album, with exciting returns ranging from copies of the CD to having your name placed in a song! Do so right here!