Lenka

Taking a break from her duties as vocalist and keyboardist for Australia's Decoder Ring, songwriter Lenka Kripac relocated to Los Angeles and began crafting eclectic, atmospheric pop songs under her forename. Her solo material took its cues from artists like Jem and Björk, with Lenka pitting her breathy vocals against landscapes of electronic drumbeats, horns, and twinkling piano. A former child actor who studied under Cate Blanchett, she also brought a sense of theatricality to her music. Her self-titled album was recorded in Woodstock, New York, with artists like Howie Day and Missy Higgins stopping by for quick cameos. It was released on Epic Records in September 2008. ~ Andrew Leahey