Lenka: On a mission

T his Tuesday, get ready for some cheering up.

Up-and-coming Aussie pop singer Lenka is coming to town, and she wants to give you your money's worth.

With peppy, upbeat music that never approaches trite, Lenka makes a mission out of lifting people's spirits with her music.

On her self-titled debut album, she strives to mix the depth of her writing with melodies to make you feel good.

"I was thinking about the fact that in my music collection, there's one or two songs or artists that make me feel good and happy and better than I felt before," said Lenka of her style.

"Most of the music I like is depressing, but those songs that make you feel good are so special," And it shows. The album blends down-to-earth lyrics with catchy melodies and upbeat rhythm. Think Regina Spektor from Down Under.

You might recognize Lenka's most famous song "The Show," which has been featured in numerous advertisements, including one for Old Navy, and in the soundtrack of the popular show "Ugly Betty." She was recently seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Television performances are nothing new for Lenka, who got her start in Australian television, eventually moving into music with her band Decoder Ring.

"I had a career as an actress for awhile and that was sort of where I was going," said Lenka of her transition to the music world. "I loved the crossover, but I just really wanted to do my own projects and have my own creative control. That's when I started to really get into music and really try to work on becoming better at it."

Today, she welcomes the thought of the description of her music as upbeat pop.

"If no one had ever heard it, I'd say it was upbeat and cheerful, kind of happy sounding," she said. "There's a bit of darkness there, but it's colorful."

Her musical influences easily show where her music is headed.

"Usually I say Bjork, the Beatles and Burt Bacharach. It's sort of a joke, but if you really think about the three styles and mix them together, it's what I do. It's sort of accessible, 60s pop music with the sweetness."

Perhaps her relaxed nature stems from her Australian upbringing.

When asked how she feels now in the United States, Lenka laughs, "Funnily enough, it's actually very similar."

Noting Australia's cultural influences from both Britain and the US, she jokes it's "kind of like Canada." But it's not entirely the same.

"There really is a cultural flavor to Australia. It's true what they say: Aussies are really laid back, relaxed. I didn't notice it until I'd spent a year here and went back and could feel it."

While all the surf, sand and fun is great for a relaxed lifestyle, Lenka admits that it's not so wonderful for career ambitions.

"There's not a huge market. It can be really hard to get projects off the ground and get people excited because they're so laid back. Americans are just so excited and want to work with you and get started. I found it a great way to flourish and spread my wings a bit."

Above all, Lenka stays true to her mission: to brighten the world, one song at a time.

"I just feel like that's what I want to do: make music like that for the world, even though most of the time I'm writing about mostly depressing stuff."

The mission for the concert?

"Now the mission is to be able to recreate that spirit on stage and make people walk away from the live experience feeling uplifted and happy," she said. "I want to give you your money's worth."

So if you're feeling a little down and tired, come out to the Record Bar Tuesday night for a little of Lenka's cheering up.

awright@unews.com