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BEN LEE
returns brand new single
“BORN FOR THIS BULLSHIT”

+ Announces forthcoming album
‘I’M FUN!’
– out 17th June 2022

+ Signs his catalogue to
WARNER MUSIC

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY BYRON SPENCER OUT TODAY

STREAM/DOWNLOAD HERE

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE ALBUM HERE

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Artwork credit: Bryon Spencer

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Beloved Australian indie-pop singer, songwriter, composer, producer and self-confessed “reformed arsehole” Ben Lee today returns with his brand-new anthem “Born For This Bullshit”. The new single heralds the release of his forthcoming 20th album ‘I’M FUN!’, out 17th June 2022, a compilation of songs about growing up, celebrating being a weirdo and embracing positivity.

“Like all the best songs I’ve written, I had no idea how relevant it would be when I first wrote it. “We’re All in this Together” was the same way. I wrote “Born for this Bullshit” in 2019 but I finally understand it in 2021. Its about positivity, swagger, keeping your chin up, even though we’re in total global chaos, true crisis, but still kinda choosing to enjoy the ride,” says Ben on the new single. “I can be a bit of a cheeky bastard. Its about refusing to be bogged down in negativity.”

“Born For This Bullshit” also comes alongside an electric new music video, directed by in-vogue artist Byron Spencer (Isabella Manfredi, Genesis Owusu, Benee). Watch the video HERE.

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While his original plan to record with a live band became another victim of the pandemic, Ben instead made the album remotely, with producers including Jon Brion, Shamir, Sadie Dupuis and Darren Seltmann and guests Zooey Deschanel, Christian Lee Hutson, Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Megan Washington, Georgia Maq and Eric D Johnson.

‘I’M FUN!’ finds Ben in reflective mode, now aged 43, addressing conflicting opinions of him that have lingered since his career began at age 13, with the band Noise Addict. “Yeah I was a total troublemaker, by choice. That’s what the beginning of careers are for – to be as disruptive as you can! But when I turned 40 it was like “Game on!”; so many of my favorite singer/songwriters did their best work after 40 – Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, PJ Harvey, Willie Nelson – that’s when you’ve paid your dues and you start wearing your wounds and scars like medals from the battlefield!” Ben says.

“This album, this moment in my career, is all about balancing some hard-earned wisdom from a 30-year long career with the vigor and energy of youth. That’s why it was as important to me to collab with artists like Jon Brion and Money Mark who I’ve both known for over 2 decades, as much as people like Shamir and Georgia Maq who are young and lit up with creative adrenaline. I like being a generational bridge between freaky artists. They are my tribe!”

Now, after years as an indie artist, Ben has signed an international deal with Warner Music to release ‘I’M FUN!’ – exactly the way he made it.

On the signing Ben notes “It feels right. From day one, the Warner team have just been like “what do you want to do? How can we help?” which are the dream words every artist wants to hear. They know that with an artist like me, you don’t try and fit a square peg in a round hole, you let me do my thing without interference, as strange as some of my choice might be, and that’s how you get the best results. I’m really grateful for this opportunity.”

Dan Rosen, President of Warner Music Australasia adds “Ben Lee is an iconic Australian artist and we are proud to be Ben’s new home for his latest single and forthcoming albums. His creativity, wit and fearlessness continues to challenge and entertain music fans around the world.  We are privileged to now represent his back catalogue which has so many classic songs, that have even more strongly resonated with the Aussie public as we’ve navigated through these challenging COVID times. I can’t wait for Ben to write the next chapter of his career with Warner Music.”

In his 30-year music career, Ben Lee has been gloriously prolific and unpredictable. The 4x ARIA award winning artist boasts an enviable catalogue which is now represented by Warner Music Australia, including ‘Grandpa Would’ [1995], ‘Something To Remember Me By’ [1997], ‘Breathing Tornados’[1998], 2x ARIA Platinum album ‘Awake In New Sleep’[2005], ‘Ripe’ [2007], ‘The Rebirth of Venus’[2009], ‘Deeper Into Dream’ [2011] which have collectively spawned a multitude of chart hits, including “Cigarettes Will Kill You”, “Gamble Everything For Love”, “We’re All in This Together” and “Catch My Disease”.

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Artwork credit: Bryon Spencer

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Connect with BEN LEE

WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – TWITTER
INSTAGRAM – YOUTUBE
TIKTOK – SOUNDCLOUD

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AMNPLIFY – SW