The alt-rock icon dives deep on playing a “twisted dream version of myself” for multiple episodes.
Warning: This article contains spoilers aboutThe Wildsseason 2 finale.
EvenBen Foldsdoesn’t really know how he ended up onThe Wilds.
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Folds literally changed the direction of the entire series.
No one could have seen that coming, least of all the musician himself.
“I’m used to music.
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There’s no spoilers there,” he tells EW with a laugh.
“I’m not an actor, but I did my best.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It was such a surprise to see you pop up onThe Wilds.
The girls on ‘The Wilds’ season 2.Prime Video
How did you end up on the show?
BEN FOLDS:Gosh, I don’t even know what’s the story behind the scenes.
I couldn’t tell you.
It was pretty nutty.
Did you watch season 1 before filming season 2?
I did once they asked me about this, but I don’t watch TV.
I’m really pathetic.
I don’t know any TV shows.
I’m not selective about what I don’t know.
I’m an equal opportunity ignoramus.
What conversations did you have with the showrunners about what your part would entail?
Because this was way more involved than I think anyone would have expected from a simple cameo.
It’s safe."
And we all feel that.
There’s a really radical-sounding line of psychology that is basically about killing off your parents in your mind.
And I think that’s what it was.
This son of a bitch is not letting me grow up.
I want to grow up."
How did you prepare to film all those scenes as a different version of yourself?
It’s a matter of looking at the dialogue.
And that’s because he’s being let go.
I’m like, “Dude, I don’t want to keep you out here all day.
And then, like, “What?
You’re leaving the house?
No, no, no.
I’ll take care of that.”
That was pretty neat.
If you’re not a musician, you wouldn’t know how bizarre it is that I did that.
Holy s—.”
You don’t think those things when you write it.
You don’t think it will ever come out.
You see them s—ing their pants and trying to get through their phases and years and stuff.
And they go out and they make their way and they do things.
That’s because you had them, but they’re not yours anymore.
That’s the way it is with songs.
You let them go, and they take on a whole life.
That’s the beauty of creativity.
Oh, I’ve played the piano on the beach before.
That made me seasick.
That was pretty weird.
What was it like filming such a big, dramatic scene fully submerged in the water?
I’m not a big fan of the water.
I can’t say it’s the most comfortable thing in the world.
But it all worked because it looked good in the final cut.
And I was just a big fan of Sarah.
She was so super stoic and had been working more than humanly possible.
Look, I grew up working multiple jobs and trying to put myself through school.
When I started on my band, we were moving our own piano and sleeping four hours a night.
I was depending on her to take care of me because I don’t know how to act.
I was like, “Whatever Sarah does, I’m going to do.”
You’re making a nice little side career out of it
[Laughs] That’s so weird.
Is that something you’re looking to do more of in the future?
From my perspective, I don’t assume that anyone’s ever heard of me.
But in the case ofYou’re the Worstand this, it’s predicated on something else.
It could be anyone.
It worked either way.
I didn’t seek the idea of doing myself again.
Let’s put it out there.
Someone has another version of me they want, let’s try it.
What could go wrong?
This is not about this show, but it’s one of my favorite recognition stories.
Some people will say, “You’re Ben Folds?”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Oh, come on.”
My favorite by far was, I had been going to this local coffee shop for a year.
And I’m thinking, “Oh, okay, she knows who I am.”
She goes, “You’re the guy that plays Ben Folds onYou’re the Worst.”
I’m like, it doesn’t get any better.
I was like high-fiving myself all the way down the street.
It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever heard.
