If you’ve grown up in Australia then you might recognise her face from TV or as the vocalist from Sydney’s Decoder Ring. However, if you’ve been watching the music scene for the last six years from corners of Asia, North America or Europe, then you will recognise this seamstress of melodic patchworks as Lenka - Australia’s humble music ex-pat and the world’s adopted Daughter of Pop.
Whether it’s a song placement in Grey’s Anatomy or an ad with Old Navy and Microsoft, Lenka Kripac has not only created a warming presence with millions of fans around the world, she’s given them a soundtrack to their lives; love, heartache, and rolling with the punches. Her new album, Shadows, a “collection of emotionally charged lullabies” for adults, grapples with fear, loss and separation, as well as what it is to be a new mother. And only at 35, Lenka has so much more endeavours to explore, such as producing soundtracks for film and television, collaborations - and most recently - motherhood.
You have fans in almost every corner of the world. Did you ever anticipate how far your music would travel?
No, not really. And I continue to be surprised. I have recently acquired new fan bases in Russia and Turkey and will be going there later this year to play shows. It's bizarre and wonderful to me.
Many Australian singers have only managed to scrape the surface with the international music market. How did you manage to tap into the Asia’s pop market?
I had a few radio hits with my first album in quite a few different Asian countries. This coupled with going over there to do promo, meet fans and do shows, is probably what connected me to them. I got lucky (I think) in that they really embraced me, my songs and my style.
TV placements, a Microsoft ad, global audiences, a home in New York - do you ever have moments of going, “How did this happen?”, especially when your performance career began as an actor?
A little, yes. Life can be quite surprising. The film/TV thing makes perfect sense to me though. I gravitate towards those opportunities partly because I like to feel like I'm still a bit involved in that world. I'm no longer acting, but I like working with soundtracks as that gives me a buzz.
Do you think you could have achieved the same level of success that you have now if you were still a full-time musician in Australia?
I think it would be different. I made a conscious decision to start my solo music career in America in the hope that it would spread to the world more easily from there – and it did! But now I find myself having been absent from the Australian music scene for so long, I have some grass roots work to do to catch up when I visit. If I had stayed in Australia I would have hoped that by now I'd be having a great career there, but I wouldn't have the fan bases overseas like I do now.
You’ve travelled all over the world in the last few years as part of Lenka. Apart from home (Brooklyn, Sydney) where is your favourite part of the world?
I love Europe. Cities like Berlin, Stockholm and many more. Being on tour in Europe is really enjoyable. I almost moved to Berlin many years ago. I actually learned a bit of German at university in preparation, but I ended up going to America instead.
Your new album, Shadows, is inspired by being a new parent. Is there anything you now know – call it ‘motherly’ insight – which you wish you knew before becoming a mother?
The only way is through. You have to surrender to the moment and go with the flow. Also, sleep is more important than we realise. It affects everything.
What’s the best part about viewing the world from the eyes of a child?
I can appreciate the small things again. The wonder of flowers and how gizmos work. “Look! If you turn this handle the door will open – WOW!”
You’ve reunited with your old band mate Tom Schutzinger (Decoder Ring) on this record. Which songs did you work on together and what did he bring into the mix?
He produced, No Harm Tonight and Heart To The Party, which we co-wrote. I like working with Tom because he moves me outside of my musical comfort zone. I can be very 4/4 C major. He sees music differently and approaches things in a layer-upon-layer kind of way.
At 35, you’ve already achieved an enviable career – some of those moments already mentioned above. What is yet to come for Lenka?
There are a few more musical moments I'd like to experience. I’d like to do a big concert with an orchestra, and collaborate more with inspiring contemporaries. I find myself moving more and more towards soundtrack work. I'm now writing songs specifically for film and TV projects. I just want to enjoy being a mummy and continue being an artist if I can and see where that leads me.
Famous last words...
Every cloud has a silver lining, but you should appreciate the rain it brings too.
