Macklemore Releases Latest Album ‘Ben’

Multi-diamond certified, GRAMMY®-winning artist Macklemore has released his latest studio album BEN, along with his latest single “No Bad Days” and accompanying music video, directed by his 7-year-old daughter Sloane.

“My dream director. Also, my co-star.” Macklemore explained. “Sloane has had a creative pulse for as long as I can remember. Her style, her eye, her freestyles, her tunes. Aside from her mother, I probably trust her creative input more than anyone else. And she’s never been shy about her opinions. I” I’m so proud of who she is that it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it. Being able to brainstorm, dream, flush out ideas and finally pull it off with Sloane at the helm… this will be one of my favorite videos forever. I hope it makes you smile.”

Macklemore has also announced North American dates for Live Nation-produced THE BEN TOUR, set to begin September 17 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The 19-date tour will stop on both coasts and in the Midwest. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 6th from Citi and American Express advance sales (details below). General pre-sales begin March 10 at 10 a.m. local time.

For this upcoming tour, Macklemore is proud to have worked with PLUS1 and will be donating $1 per ticket to Bridges – Seattle Alternative Peer Group to support their work serving youth in recovery.

Citi is the official card of the BEN Tour. Citi cardholders will have access to presale tickets in the US through the Citi Entertainment program beginning Monday, March 6 at 10:00 am local time through Thursday, March 9 at 10:00 am local time. For full presale details, visit www.citientertainment.com.

American Express® cardholders can purchase tickets in Canada before the general public from Monday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. local time until Thursday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Last night Macklemore was the speaking guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and will perform a new track entitled ‘Tail Lights’ from his latest album next week on Tuesday March 7th. This morning, Macklemore will perform “No Bad Days” live on NBC’s The Today Show.

BEN is Mackemore’s highly anticipated third studio album. “I’ve always wanted to do an album called Ben,” he says. “There’s something about a self-titled album. It has an air of voyeurism. I let people in, but in a way I wasn’t 100% comfortable with before. But now I am.” Over the course of 2020, he’s had a rare time for introspection during the global pandemic — something not normally afforded to a father-of-three and touring musician…

“I experienced a level of reflection that I don’t think I’ve really been able to use in the past,” he affirms. “This mandatory break and time created a level of intimacy that might not have been there if the world had continued as it was.”

Along with a close-knit group of collaborators including Budo, Tyler Dox and Experience, he ventured to the island several times for concentrated five-day trips. “I’ve recorded in nature before, but I’ve never had the opportunity to do so without an end in sight,” he reveals.

“We were removed from all outside distractions. It just flowed. The idea was, ‘Let’s just make art because we get to it – not because we have to. Let’s capture that magic’.” Macklemore tapped into that magic, announcing the album in 2022 and 2023 with fan favorites; ‘HEROES’ Featuring Legendary DJ Premier, ‘CHANT’ ft Tones and I, ‘FAITHFUL’ Ft. NLE Choppa and ‘Maniac’ Ft Windser.

On “HEROES” [feat. DJ Premier], a head-nodding beat laced with horn samples, a fat bass line, police sirens and scratching set the pace, Macklemore tells his story in dynamic but nostalgic bars: “Wanted a perm like DJ Quik,” my mom said, “Ben , are you aware that your hair is way too thin?’ But in my mind, I was Junior High Iceberg Slim.” “I grew up listening to ’90s boom-bap hip-hop,” he continues.

“It has inspired me more than any other era. Growing up and figuring out who I am as a 15-year-old was crucial for me. ‘Heroes’ is the story of growing up in the late 90’s where hip hop was, skateboarding was and graffiti culture was. It had a massive impact on where I ended up in my life. Premier is also one of my favorite producers of all time. He had a massive impact on me as an artist and as a person. You know right away it’s him.”

Then there’s the single “NO BAD DAYS” [feat. Collett]. Upbeat guitar kicks off Collett’s hook at full speed while Macklemore counters with a catchy call-and-response. He assures, “Don’t have to say goodbye if you never wake up.” “It’s just a mood,” he notes. “It’s one of those songs you put on in the car and instantly put you in a better mood. I love making a record that I can’t wait to whip out at 70 degrees.”

Elsewhere “DAY YOU DIE” [feat. Sarah Barthel of Phantogram] depends on a steady beat punctuated by a hand-muted guitar. Macklemore and Sarah reflect on mortality with unflinching honesty, repeating “We all died.” Singing phenomenon LIVINGSTON lends its powerful whistles to “SORRY” while the closing “Tail Lights” flashes through the haze with a sign of life encoded in the lyrics.

“There’s this idea in recovery where you’re essentially following your sponsor’s taillights,” he reveals. “When I get someone to sponsor, they follow my taillights. Whose taillights do we really follow through life? It’s definitely the more introspective side of the album. What have I learned in the last four years of working on this album? What else is important?”

Once you hear BEN, you’ll never look at Macklemore the same way again. “Songwriting is the glue of my entire career,” he says. “If you don’t write words that resonate, the music will have no depth, weight, or longevity. I’m not trying to follow her. On this album I remain authentic who I am. I think about where I am in life. It turns out I learned a lot.”

Listen to the new album here:

THE BEN TOUR – NORTH AMERICA

09/17 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
09/19 – Anthem – Washington, DC
09/21 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA
09/22 – The roof at Pier 17 – New York, NY
09/23 – The Met – Philly, PA
09/26 – Rebel – Toronto, ON
09/27 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI
09/29 – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL
09/30 – Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
10/01 – Armory – Minneapolis, MN
10/03 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO
10/05 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
10/07 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
10/08 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
10/10 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA
10/11 – Adams Center Arena – Missoula, Mt
10/12 – Idaho Central Arena – Boise, ID
14.10. – The Freemasons – San Francisco, CA
17.10. – Arizona Financial Theater – Phoenix, AZ
18.10. – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA

THE BEN TOUR – EU/UK

04/03 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE
04/04 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE
04/07 – O2 Academy – Glasgow, UK
04/09 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester, UK
04/11 – O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK
04/12 – O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK
04/16 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, NL
04/17 – Forest National – Brussels, BE
04/18 – Zenith – Paris, FR – *SOLD OUT*
04/19 – Zenith – Paris, FR
04/21 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, DE – *CHANGE OF EVENT*
04/22 – Verti Music Hall – Berlin, DE
04/24 – Olympiahalle – Munich, DE – *CHANGE OF EVENT*
04/25 – Stadhalle – Offenbach, DE
04/27 – Edel Optics Arena – Hamburg, DE
04/29 – EXPO XXI Hall 1 – Warsaw, PL
04/30 – Stadhalle – Vienna, AT
05/02 – Samsung Hall – Zurich, CH
05/03 – Alcatraz – Milan, IT
05/04 – Alcatraz – Milan, IT – *SOLD OUT*
05/07 – Vega main hall – DK
05/09 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, NO