Australian singer-songwriter Lenka is gracing us with her wonderful songs and unique performance this Saturday at the Ark. She is supporting her recently released 4th album, The Bright Side. Having seen Lenka a couple of times over the past few years, I can guarantee that her shows are filled with humor and an intimate playfulness on stage that many other artists are sorely lacking.
Lenka recently explained her music like this,"My aim with music is to create mood enhancers for people, That gives me the most joy, when people say my music makes them feel better.” Lenka’s gift for sharing her bliss has served her well. Whether or not you realize it, her buoyant, wistful songs—most notably “The Show” (off her self-titled debut) and “Everything at Once” (from Two, her follow-up)—have been soundtracking your life for almost seven years now. She’s lent a light mood to several commercials including spots from Windows 8, Old Navy, and Coke, and charm to dramedies like "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty," and imbued films such as :Moneyball" with graceful poignancy.
In a music culture that leans heavily on branding, Lenka has stood out for willfully being herself—occupying a spot between the upbeatness of Top 40 singles and the thoughtfulness of indie albums. “Music is a wonderfully direct way to enter people’s psyches,” she explains. “Mine is about keeping a sense of wonder about the world.”