The first single from that new album, 'You Don't Know Me', features guest vocals from fellow CMU favourite Regina Spektor. Ben will also be in the UK supporting Counting Crows in November and December, and will play a headline show at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 30 Nov.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I always wanted to play music. We got a piano when I was nine. I had already begun learning percussion. I couldn't wait to try my next instrument and I spent all my time working at it.

Q2 What inspired your latest single?
I just always thought it was sad that when a relationship breaks down, the central truth often has to be avoided so the two people can be themselves much easier around everyone else, even strangers. But over time, they really don't know each other as well as other people in their lives do. I thought it would be nice to have a song where both sides agreed at this, at least for that bit of common ground.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It's different each time. My favorite is to just play and sing and do it quickly. But often you start with creating a landscape, a bed, a track and piece it together. There's no perfect way, no method.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
I can never be sure. It's always someone I don't suspect. The subconscious works in mysterious ways. Ben Folds Five's first record was inspired by Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Dr Dre, PJ Harvey and Liz Phair. Nobody would have thought so, but that's what I was listening to, and while I'm not sure if it manifested itself into a single note on our record, the inspiration was from these artists because they represented something new. During the latest recording I've been into Frank Lloyd Wright and Fidel Castro.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Obviously, I'd have to ask them if they've been living in a cave? How could you walk out in the street and not hear my music everywhere? You're obviously not with it! You should be ashamed! I know it's not that good... I know! But it's pounded relentlessly into your head and eventually you capitulate and even come to like it. You should really watch the video, that helps.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single/album, and for the future?
God... to survive? Ha ha. Really. I'd like to see those who put their time and money into it at least break even. I'd like to think that every record I make has a few songs which have to be on the 'best of' album that I'll probably never make. Aside from that, I always hope that I get another free pass to try and get the next record right. I always itch to get to the next one, because there's something about the one I just made that isn't right.