CNN: Freddy Wexler and Billy Joel on Joel’s stunning new music video

06 Mar 2024/Filed in: Press

CNN: Freddy Wexler and Billy Joel on Joel’s stunning new music video

Fareed Zakaria speaks with famed musician Billy Joel and his collaborator, Producer/Director Freddy Wexler, about the music video that accompanies Joel’s new ballad and its amazing use of AI.

FORBES: Producer-Songwriter Freddy Wexler On His Role In Billy Joel’s New Single: ‘He Set The Bar’

06 Mar 2024/Filed in: Press

FORBES: Producer-Songwriter Freddy Wexler On His Role In Billy Joel’s New Single: ‘He Set The Bar’

Billy Joel’s long-running Madison Square Garden residency continued last week with his 99th show at the famed New York City arena. That concert was particularly special because it marked the Piano Man’s debut performance of “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new original song in almost 20 years, on his tour (Joel had earlier played the song at the recent Grammy Awards). Among the sold-out Garden crowd who witnessed the performance of “Turn the Lights Back On” was music industry veteran Freddy Wexler, who co-wrote the song with Joel and produced it.

BILLBOARD: Billy Joel’s Co-Writer Freddy Wexler on His First Words to the Legend and How They Created ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ Together

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

BILLBOARD: Billy Joel’s Co-Writer Freddy Wexler on His First Words to the Legend and How They Created ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ Together

Freddy Wexler already had a good career going long before he co-wrote and produced “Turn the Lights Back On” with Billy Joel. Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, P!nk and Lil Wayne were among the artists who had recorded tunes by the Grammy-nominated songwriter. But writing with his musical hero, who had long ago stopped writing pop songs, fulfilled an unimaginable dream for Wexler and brought Joel back onto the Hot 100 this week for the first time in more than 25 years.

ROLLING STONE: Meet the Songwriter Who Coaxed Billy Joel Back into the Recording Studio

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

ROLLING STONE: Meet the Songwriter Who Coaxed Billy Joel Back into the Recording Studio

Freddy Wexler has written hits for everyone from Justin Bieber to Kanye West, but the biggest challenge of his life was getting the Piano Man to finish his song “Turn the Lights Back On,” and record it.

NYT: Billy Joel Said He’d Retired From Pop. Here’s What Brought Him Back.

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

NYT: Billy Joel Said He’d Retired From Pop. Here’s What Brought Him Back.

Billy Joel’s first new pop song in nearly two decades was sparked by someone miles from the record business: a Long Island doctor. Joel, 74, has long made it known that he isn’t interested in making more albums. He released 12 studio LPs between 1971 and 1993 — most platinum several times over — and retired from the format, though he never stopped tinkering with classical music, or playing live.

ROLLING STONE: Billy Joel Announces ‘Turn The Lights Back On,’ First Single in 17 Years

22 Jan 2024/Filed in: Press

ROLLING STONE: Billy Joel Announces ‘Turn The Lights Back On,’ First Single in 17 Years

Billy Joel will emerge from a 17-year recording hiatus February 1 with the release of “Turn The Lights Back On.” According to a press release, the song is a “classic Billy Joel-style tune, embodying the hallmarks of his signature sound and ushering in the next chapter of his story. In the lyrics, he asks, ‘Did I wait too long… to turn the lights back on?’” The song was produced by Freddy Wexler, who has worked with everyone from Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber to Kanye West, Blackpink, Pink, Lil Wayne, Selena Gomez, and Celine Dion.