Ben Folds

Ben Folds is an American singer-songwriter and pianist who rose to prominence in the 1990s as the frontman of Ben Folds Five, a trio without a guitarist that built its sound around Folds' aggressive, percussive piano playing alongside bass and drums. The band's blend of witty, confessional lyrics and punk energy filtered through pop songcraft made them a distinctive presence in an alt-rock era dominated by guitars, and songs like their breakout single showcased Folds' knack for melody and sharp storytelling.

After the group disbanded in 2000, Folds launched a successful solo career beginning with «Rockin' the Suburbs» in 2001, which cemented his reputation as a piano-pop craftsman with a sardonic, literate voice. His solo catalogue spans further studio albums, EPs, and a notable 2010 collaborative album with novelist Nick Hornby, «Lonely Avenue», pairing Hornby's lyrics with Folds' music in an unusual and well-received experiment.

Ben Folds Five reunited for the 2012 album «The Sound of the Life of the Mind» before going on hiatus again, after which Folds returned to solo work, including the 2015 chamber-pop record «So There», made with the yMusic ensemble. Across his career he has become known for candid, often bittersweet songwriting, an unmistakable piano-driven sound, and a willingness to cross into orchestral and literary collaborations rare among pop artists of his generation.