Alev Lenz

Alev Lenz is a singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Based between London and Germany, she dug her heels into the ground to plant her own musical sign post – somewhere between sophisticated pop, etheral vocal scapes and music honouring her heritage outside of the 12-tone scale. Daughter of a turkish actor, activist and artist and Oscar winning german engineer, Alev – whos name translates into flame - has always danced to her own rhythm. Her rich catalogue of compositions fuse distinctive musical worlds into something that is authentically hers. Her honest lyrics, instinct for melodic hooks and intriguing harmonics form deep and compelling songs that hold their own on both on record and screen.

Soloing school choirs, recording radio plays, traveling TV stages to big festivals with a rock outfit by her own name, Alev started her journey early to reach her now well over 10,000 hours and in 2009 she released her debut album Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein, which showcased her talent as a singer-songwriter. Through her sophomore record Two-Headed Girl, co-produced with acclaimed drummer Samuli Kosminen and mixed by now long-time collaborator Jas Shaw of Simian Mobile Disco, Alev continued to explore her diverse set of influences, from European classical to experimental electronics.

While working on material for her latest record ‘3’, Alev composed her breakthrough track 'Fall Into Me' for Charlie Brooker’s Netflix series 'Black Mirror'. Her s single ‘May the Angels’ from ‘3’ featured on season two of critically-acclaimed Netflix series ‘Dark’. ‘Splendid Soldiers’, Fall Into Me’s album version, has also been featured on the third season of ‘The Rain’ (Netflix) while ‘Pieces’ of the same record has even been prominently featured twice on SKY’s brand-new series ‘Funeral For A Dog’.

‘3’ was released 2019 on the label arm of music tech company Spitfire Audio, SA Recordings, alongside a 20 patch Alev Lenz - ‘3’ best selling and five star reviewed sample library, the first in the acclaimed music tech company whole new series of artist-led sample libraries. The record itself is comprised of 12 songs which are predominantly carried by voice alone and exhibit the artist’s courage to push the tonal palette of pop music into risky and truthful directions. The twelve compositions are bound by Alev’s authentic voice and her rich choral arrangements as sung by Grammy-Award winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. The intricately crafted compositions evoke a primal, almost prayer-like sensibility, whilst also addressing patriarchal oppression and the subsequent heartbreak and disorientation that it leaves in its wake. ‘3’ marked a moment of deep personal and artistical awakening in Alev’s life through motherhood. In our hyper-modern world, burdened as it is with 'content' and constant distractions, Alev’s deeply personal sonic experience offers a contemplative and refreshing alternative.

Since 'Fall Into Me', her voice and writing have been in steady demand. Alev recently finished work on her debut feature film score, a commissioned piece for Grammy-award winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus and contributing vocals to Oscar nominated composer Volker Bertelmann's scores for the US-drama 'Downhill' and Netflix-blockbusters like 'The Old Guard', ‘Stowaway’ and ‘Against The Ice’. Alev is frequently working in close collaboration with other artists, most famously with Martin Phipps who called her in to write the original song for “Black Mirror” and calls her the “queen of simplicity” and renowned sitarist and 7-time Grammy-Nominee Anoushka Shankar, with whom Alev co-wrote the title track for the Grammy-nominated album ‘Land of Gold’ as well as co-writing and co-producing Shankar's latest album 'Love Letters' - which culminated in three sold out shows with Shankar at London’s Southbank Centre in December 2019 and a Grammy-nomination for the 63rd GRAMMY Awards in 2020. In 2021, on occasion of the gala concert at Krakow Film Music Festival, her composition for the Netflix-series Black Mirror was performed.

Outside of music Alev follows her artistic calling in multiple ways, from creating collages and album artwork to directing her own music videos and painting and exhibiting her multiple artworks. And creating ways to nurture new talent. Alev has also being invited to speak at prestigious educational institutions like USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles and Trinity Laban in London, NYU in New York and Berklee in Boston.

Alev Lenz is one of the first two composers in residence to work for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus in 2024. She will be working on new music and lyrics for the choir, which will be performed at the BYC's final concert "Spring Sings" in May 2024. In June 2024 her first score for theatre will premiere at the Almeida Theatre in London. Alev released a mini album in 2024 with long time collaborator Jas Shaw ans she is currently working on her fourth album, more commissioned vocal work, two musicals and a two-women satirical music show among other projects. 

Awards & Nominations:

2022 Between US GRAMMY Nomination (role: songwritter)
2020 Love Letters GRAMMY Nomination (role: producer, songwriter, vocalist, musician, engineer)
2017 Land Of Gold GRAMMY Nomination (role: songwriter, vocalist)