Lenka’s Secret Playlist
by Australian singer-songwriter, Lenka, responsible for the catchiest song of 2008, has written a Secret Playlist for us which cites a disparate range of musical influences, from She and Him, to Goldfrapp, The Beatles and The Stranglers. It makes for a fun read, even if we do say ourselves. Listen to Lenka’s debut single, The Show.
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Tagged: Australian singer-songwriters, lenka kripac, pop music
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Lenka Kripac talks about her single, The Show
We featured the Secret Playlist of Australian-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Lenka Kripac recently. Well, here’s the scoop: she just happens to have written the catchiest damn song of 2008. The Show is a bouncy, jaunty, almost nursery rhyme-like paean to the joys of showbiz. And it’s been splashed across every TV show that knows what’s good for it. Ugly Betty, any one? We checked in with Lenka while she was on the road [right before a performance in Seattle to be exact], and asked her about the songwriting process behind her debut hit: ‘I wrote The Show with a singer-songwriter called Jason Reeves. We’re both with the same publisher so we sat down together in their writer’s room with piano and guitar and played around with some ideas. The metaphor of life being a show came about because we were both feeling a bit overwhelmed by our lives at the time. We wanted to write something jolly to cheer ourselves up. It’s one of those things where a spontanious energy just takes over and you go along for the ride. An hour and a half and the song was complete! Hasn’t changed at all since that day’.
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Ben Lee really, really loves Pop Music
Australian singer-songwriter — and occasional Lost At E Minor contributor — Ben Lee has a new album, The Rebirth of Venus, and will be co-headlining the Big O university shows across Australia from late February to early March. On top of that, he got hitched in India recently. No wonder he’s glowing. We checked in with him to ask about his latest single, I Love Pop Music, and whether he recalled the moment of epiphany when he wrote its timeless sing-along chorus: ‘I had a less politically loaded version of the song that was a sincere tribute to pop music. It was only when I juxtaposed that with all the statistics and facts that the chorus really seemed to take on a feeling of being special. Bubblegum tastes best after a salty snack’.
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My friend Lenka Kripac, formerly of Aussie group Decoder Ring, now flying solo, has just released her debut single — The Show — and it’s as catchy a slice of pop hedonism as you’re ever going to hear. Be warned: one listen and you may never shake the melody.
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YOU'RE SAYING (4)
Rebecca B said | 10 October, 2008
Lenka’s music is cute, but she seems like she’s acting or something. I love the new crop of female artists that are coming out these days, like Brandi Carlisle and Meiko – have you heard her music? http://www.myspace.com/meiko – have a listen — sooooo good!
curiousmoth said | 12 October, 2008
I agree with Rebecca B; only I couldn’t define it until she said it. But it is difficult to make music this whimsical and not act, a little bit! Because it’s very nostalgic and cheery.
All the same, I would love to hear what she does in future!
danny said | 6 May, 2009
Well I agree with curiousmoth. Her music is whimsical, and after all she does describe herself as making “melodramatic” music, which is all part of her interesting stage persona. But if you see her live, she is actually very real, at the same time. It makes a nice change to see something different and entertaining instead of just a straight delivery. Is there anything wrong with enhancing the lyrics and music with some so-called “acting”?
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Rebecca B said | 10 October, 2008
Lenka’s music is cute, but not real. She seems like she’s acting or something. I love the new crop of female artists that are coming out these days, like Brandi Carlisle and Meiko – have you heard her music? http://www.myspace.com/meiko – have a listen — sooooo good!