From The Desk Of Ben Lee: Gabriella Cihomsky

“No guilt, all pleasure,” sings Ben Lee on his forthcoming album, The Rebirth Of Venus (due April 28 on New West). Lately, the 30-year-old Australian singer/songwriter has been on a mission to deliver radio-ready pop songs for the rest of us, mixing up hooks and politics and letting it all hang out. Shortly before he appeared on Jay Leno last week, Lee did a Q&A with MAGNET on the topics of Venus, his recent marriage to Ione Skye and the “mistake-pop” of his past and future.

As guest editor of magnetmagazine.com this week, the world’s most enlightened pop star shares thoughts about his latest revelations—from music to monkey gods.

Lee: I’ve been working with Gabriella Cihomsky, a 15-year-old Carlsbad native, on her debut album for the last few months. She’s a young pianist/songwriter in the vein of Carole King and can already write a song that will make you cry. I’ve been co-producing her album, and it’s just been so inspiring to watch her develop and to turn her on to records that are shaping her world. One day I played her Harry Nilsson’s (version of Randy Newman’s) “Short People,” Nico’s “These Days” and some Stereolab. I watched her eyes light up the way mine did as a kid hearing music that blew my mind. But the cool thing is, she already gets it. Music is second nature to her, and I really think her record is gonna turn a lot of people on. She has a ’60s Burt Bacharach/Laura Nyro vibe mixed with love of grooves and weird sounds. And her songs just kill. I’m constantly in awe of her talent.

“Your Dance Floor” from 2007’s Sweet EP:
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/YourDanceFloor.mp3

This concludes “Ben Lee Week” here at magnetmagazine.com. Thanks to Ben for writing about some really thought-provoking and fun stuff. Go to the store and buy all his records and The Rebirth Of Venus when it comes out April 28.