Two-Headed Girl
Alev is a remarkable singer, songwriter and composer whose music fuses filmic, world and classical influences. Those who have listened to Alev before will recognise her bittersweet voice and utterly personal lyrics, loaded with melodic flavours and inspiring hooks that take you by surprise, off kilter harmonics and deep and compelling song structures, stemming from a diverse set of influences in her music, from European classical to experimental electronics.
With her unique brand of adult pop music German singer/songwriter/composer Alev Lenz has been compared to the likes Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor.
Since the release of her debut album back in 2009, in her home country of Germany, Alev has kept herself busy with gigs in London (including The Vortex, the hub of the capital’s Avant jazz and electronic scene), New York and across Germany, as well as composing soundtracks for several high profile German films, and collaborating with established artists such as Anoushka Shankar and Lucy Claire.
For her second studio album ’Two-Headed Girl', Alev enlisted the services of acclaimed Finnish drummer, Samuli Kosminen (Múm, Hauschka, Kronos Quartet, Jónsi). Months of Dropbox sessions from London to Helsinki and back resulted in 12 finished songs, all with incredibly unique and contemporary sounds, completed by the mixing skills of Jas Shaw (Simian Mobile Disco).
In addition to her solo performances her collaborative projects have taken her to the stages of the Barbican and King's place with artists such as mulit-instrumentalist Manu Delago and Grammy-award winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and to the Grammys themselves in celebration of the Grammy nomination for "Land Of Gold".
Alev’s big breakthrough came with her song ‘Fall Into Me’ which was used in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror episode, ’Hated In The Nation’.
Residing in London, Alev is signed to MannersMcDade Publishing - who also take care of prolific artists such as Nils Frahm and Poppy Ackroyd - and is currently finishing up her third studio album.
Press:
"‘Airplane’ is a brilliantly bittersweet creative Tune-Yards-like pop song that’s crawling with invention and bulging with juxtaposition." GIITV [Track Of The Day]
"GIGsoup are HUGE fans of Lenz’s distinct sound, it’s at once reminiscent of Tori Amos, and Joanna Newsom with the artistic leanings of Bjork and the beats of Lykke Li – but has an otherworldliness all of its own." GIGsoup [Boom! Track Of The Day]
"London’s latest it girl is Alev Lenz, a rising musician who has recently taken a step back into the spotlight after spending time working on soundtracks for high profile German films. Her style is hard to put a finger on – a steady mix of cinematic, world, and classical influences expressed through off-kilter harmonies and utterly personal lyrics that have led to comparison with Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor." FAULT Magazine
“If Love” is the delicately-triumphant new single from London-based musician and composer Alev Lenz" The Autumn Roses on If Love
"This is beautiful, genuine, considered songwriting. A triumph of minimalism, this lays bare a singer’s heart as honestly and effectively as you are likely to hear" Podcart on If Love
Rhythms rush at sharp angles as her personality shines, the result gloriously disorienting, effervescent and charming best of all." The Autumn Roses on Airport
"Alev Lenz has a type of voice that reminds me of Tori Amos. Her music has a very dramatic pop sound to it and it is full of electronic inspiration. If you have time to listen to one album this week, this album should be your choice." Audio Camp
Alev is a masterly narrator, delivers stories from reality, feelings that move us and always be both sweet or bitter. The music is influenced by classical and electronic - in other words contemporary pop - beautifully arranged." Der Kultur Blog
"a thought-provoking video" The Independent on Eggshell
"Alev inspires the urge to break forth from childhood shells to step into a world of awe and discovery." Impose on Eggshell
"‘Eggshell‘ mixes her kilter rhythms with a blend of dark fairy-tale lyrics." GIGsoup on Eggshell
"Through the muddled atmosphere of its nocturnal tint, Alev’s vocals tremble as they nervously balance over the tightrope of the single’s melodies." At Cost Magazine
"Its fun, upbeat, and painstakingly honest." Impose on Airport
"Immediately ear-catching, ‘Airport’ stands out from the pack, with Lenz’s unique-sounding vocals and interesting composition." Art Felicis on Airport
"‘Airport‘ puts in a strong case for ‘2016 breakthrough smash-hit of the summer’." Vulture Hound on Airport
"'Airport' may just be the most infectious slice of rhythmic pop you’ve never heard." Vulture Hound on Airport
"Alev Lenz, shines a spotlight on quirky lines, upbeat melodies, and humorous visuals." Girl Underground on Airport
"Lenz is honest and light-hearted – traits that music fans need in their lives." Tequila + Denim
"Strikingly honest and refreshingly unambiguous, it’s an album that literally has two heads; one bitter, one sweet, flipping between the two with rhythmic precision." Vulture Hound on Two-Headed Girl [4.5/5 THE VH ALBUMS OF 2016]
"...some of the most intricate and mesmerising percussion work you’ll hear on a pop record." Vulture Hound on Two-Headed Girl [4.5/5 THE VH ALBUMS OF 2016]
"Beautifully arranged instrumentals are accompanied by a vocal performance that can only be described as hypnotic." Vulture Hound on Two-Headed Girl [4.5/5 THE VH ALBUMS OF 2016]
"Repeat listens reveal the actual extent of this sonic selection. Even after spin five, six and seven, like fireflies, new sounds reveal themselves for the first time, appearing and then dissipating, all to the beat of the album’s rhythmic core. It makes for an absolutely hypnotic experience." Vulture Hound on Two-Headed Girl [4.5/5 THE VH ALBUMS OF 2016]
"It's dark and twisted, with Lenz's delicate voice floating in the abyss." NPR on Fall Into Me
"Haunting, cinematic and deeply compelling" Vulture Hound on Fall Into Me
"Lenz’s song writing and production, the mixing of Simian Mobile Disco’s Jas Shaw and the incredible percussion work of Samuli Koskinen, each contributing to the lush and varied mix of sounds used on the album. Repeat listens reveal the actual extent of this sonic selection. Even after spin five, six and seven, like fireflies, new sounds reveal themselves for the first time, appearing and then dissipating, all to the beat of the album’s rhythmic core. It makes for an absolutely hypnotic experience. Alev Lenz has produced a fascinating album. If the pop hooks don’t catch you on first listen, then the intrigue of its deeper moments will because, just like an enjoyable, well crafted story, Two-Headed Girl demands repeat consumption." - Vulture Hound Magazine
"It's Magic (Two-Headed Girl)" - Impose Magazine
“It’s a hot, hot summer/And I’m cool, cool, cool,” coos German artist Alev Lenz‘s in a rare shaft of bittersweet harmony amid a pattering stream of consciousness each note gyrating over sweltering bright pop song that ripples with her gleeful percussion, fizzing samples and calypso beats. She’s singing about the bruising disappointments of love and trying to act like she isn’t bothered: as she waits in the departure lounge with a head full of dreams and set to an escape somewhere far away. ‘Airport’ is a brilliantly bittersweet creative Tune-Yards-like pop song that’s crawling with invention and bulging with juxtaposition.The addictive soundtrack to the joy and pain of a typical summer holiday with your loved ones then?" - God Is In The TV
"Powerful, ambitious sounds signpost a bright future for this lady! If you are a fan of My Brightest Diamond or Agnes Obel, this will be right up your street! (...) Crossing my fingers as this is a very interesting songwriter to watch out for. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her performing on Later… with Jools Holland one day, due to her jazzy influences and distinctive style." - Fresh On The Net
"From rising pop star Alev Lenz, take flight on the single “Airport” that is sure to send your upcoming sunny holiday sailing high in the sky. The summer heat and excitement of anticipated conversations and revelry bubbles up with all the thrills and elation of a never ending vacation." Impose Magazine
"Alev Lenz, is a remarkable songwriter, composer and singer, whose music fuses filmic, world and classical influences. Her bittersweet voice and utterly personal lyrics, loaded with melodic flavours and inspiring hooks that take you by surprise." - Music News
It’s three minutes of infectious rhythm and percussion, all delightfully accompanying Alev’s bittersweet voice as it bounces through a story of love and disappointment. Although constructed from a place of anger, there’s no denying the humour within. Like an Outcast/Fiona Apple hybrid, Alev Lenz is showing her ability to mix the fun with the heartache. - Vulture Hound Magazine
"Alev Lenz dropped the single ”Eggshell” from her upcoming album Two-Headed Girl that uncorks all the bottled up sentiment that gets buried down deep since youth. Alev inspires the urge to break forth from childhood shells to step into a world of awe and discovery." - Impose Magazine
"GIGsoup are HUGE fans of Lenz’s distinct sound, it’s at once reminiscent of Tori Amos, and Joanna Newsom with the artistic leanings of Bjork and the beats of Lykke Li – but has an otherworldliness all of its own. ‘Eggshell‘ mixes her kilter rhythms with a blend of dark fairy-tale lyrics." - Gigsoup
"’Memphis’ TRACK OF THE WEEK: (…) ’Memphis’ is a fascinating mixture of the elegance of European classical music and the inventive nature of modern electronica, and the result is a dazzling track that marks Lenz out as someone to keep in mind when her new record arrives next year." - The 405
"‘Memphis‘, is a pristine slice of escapist balladry: the sound of a woman dreaming of breaking free from the shackles of romantic oppression and searching for something new. Guided along by tinker-toy drum rolls and music box glimmers, fragile doesn’t even begin to describe this one; and yet, it struggles on, much like Lenz’ lyrical runaway." - Planet Notion
“When we first heard Alev Lenz, we immediately got goosebumps. Taking influences from European classical and mixing it with some incredible electronic production, she is crafting a new sound that is getting the Black Cab Sessions team very excited.” Black Cab Session Presents…
“Rising star and German-born, London resident singer songwriter/pianist Lenz brings a refreshing edge and openness to her poignant and beautiful originals (…) Lenz is a compelling prospect live.” - TimeOut London
“Lenz is blessed with the kind of hauntingly wistful voice that puts her in the same happy league as Lykki Li and Feist – (…) Count us in.” - Wonderland Magazine
“Creative wunderkind alev lenz is a remarkable songwriter from germany, a songwriter who has been branching out into ambitious and heart-stopping directions, bringing a purity of voice and lightness of touch to her songs. collaborating with mum/ kronos quartet man samuli kosminen and jas shaw of simian mobile disco shows has given the songs a brilliant sheen but it’s the melodic strength and feeling that shine through, not least carried by lenz’ striking bird-like voice.” - Roughtrade
”With eloquent lyrics and evocative melodies, Alev Lenz’s debut UK EP is a diverse and beautifully moody collection of alternative pop.” - The Panel, MusicWeek
“Certainly someone to look out for this year.” - Music News
”Possesses enough tenderness, deep delving, instrumental weaving and a splash of cynicism in order to earn Lenz some exposure and respect.” - ComfortComes
”What else is floating our boat at Hit Sheet Towers this month: ʼquirky pop singer songwriterʼ Alev Lenz“ – Hit Sheet UK
„Simply different. (…) The 26-year young (Alev), whose turkish name translates into ‚flame’ won’t be caught up in cliches: Her compositions oscillate from Classic, Jazz and Pop, indulge in arragements with a string quartet or sparkle with clever guitar accompaniment out of the speakers into the Room.“ - Associated Press
„The half german, half turkish Alev Lenz covinces on her debutalbum as a Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein. (…) Now if that’s not the popcultural equivalent to the first chairman of a party with migration background.“ - Rolling Stone Magazine
