BEN LEE PAYS TRIBUTE TO FEMININITY WITH THE REBIRTH OF VENUS
NEW ALBUM IN STORES FEBRUARY 10, 2009
PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM ALBUMS SOLD TO BE DONATED TO FINCA’S VILLAGE BANKING PROGRAM
SUPPORTING THE WORLD’S LOWEST-INCOME WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS Ben Lee |
Ben Lee dedicates his seventh studio recording to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. A bold move for a man, but Ben recognizes that the strongest feminine qualities “such as compassion, nurturing, creativity, spontaneity, intuition, playfulness, tenderness and warmth… are qualities that we all, men and women, need to cultivate.”
The Rebirth of Venus (February 10, 2009) was produced by
Brad Wood, who also produced Ben’s breakout
Awake Is The New Sleep (as well as his critically acclaimed debut
Grandpaw Would and sophomore album
Something To Remember Me By). A portion of proceeds from albums sold will be donated to FINCA’s Village Banking program. FINCA offers financial services, not charity, to the world’s lowest-income women entrepreneurs. This creates jobs, builds assets and generally improves the standard of living in these destitute communities.
The album’s cover re-creates Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, but with a rock and roll twist. Ben is featured in the clamshell with fiancé Ione Skye and bandmates as angels above him. Other musicians who appear on the album include Missy Higgins, Cary Brothers, Patience Hodgson of The Grates, John Alagia (producer of Ripe) and longtime collaborators and musicians Lara Meyerratken and Nic Johns.
The Rebirth of Venus‘ first single, “What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good),” showcases Ben’s trademark pop craftsmanship and sense of humor. Complete with catchy hooks and sing-along chorus, the song features Ben’s future stepdaughter on pots and pans as well as backing vocals.
Ben Lee has been living as a working musician for over half of his lifetime. Beginning at the age of 14, he has stayed grounded and spiritually focused. Aside from the honor of winning four ARIA Awards (Australia’s equivalent to the Grammy), Ben has started to make regular appearances with various symphony orchestras throughout Australia. Following the first set of sold out symphony performances with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Ben will play with the Queensland Orchestra in Brisbane featuring hits such as “Catch My Disease,” “Cigarettes Will Kill You,” “We’re All In This Together,” and more. He also wrote and produced the original soundtrack to the film “The Square,” which is nominated for Best Soundtrack at the 2008 AFI Awards (Australian Equivalent to the Academy Awards).
The Rebirth of Venus Track Listing:
1. What’s So Bad (About Feeling Good)
2. Surrender
3. Sing
4. I Love Pop Music
5. Rise Up
6. Yoko Ono
7. Boy With A Barbie
8. Bad Poetry
9. Blue Denim
10. Wake Up To America
11. I’m A Woman Too
12. Families Cheating At Board Games
13. Song For The Divine Mother of the Universe
