Liz Lenten is an example of what artistic development should be all about. She can boast a unique sense of collaboration and endless strength, both of which have made her an artist that cannot be underestimated. From playing music at the smoky jazz joints in London to recording music in the exciting atmosphere of Nashville’s recording studios, Liz Lenten has proven her worth and uniqueness time and again. This talented musician always managed to stand out thanks to her soulful yet slightly raspy voice, which allowed her to embody the best traditions of Americana, blues, and roots music. Liz Lenten founded her band, Auburn, back in 1999 along with her long-term partner and colleague, Mark “Gus” Gustavina. The newest album called “BEHIND THE SCENES” came out on March 26 and includes eleven songs. It is time for us to dive into the world of the album and see what stories it tells.
“Bathroom shelf” starts with the gentle slide of a guitar string along with a few notes played on an acoustic guitar which sounds like someone getting comfortable in a chair. In the song, the character meets a “girl” on a bathroom shelf and she can tell that this girl is loved and is living her best life. This character makes sure to let us know that she is envious of what this girl on the bathroom shelf has. Liz’s singing is quiet and casual, almost hesitant to disturb the silence inside the house. The music steadily builds up with a fiddle melody which creates an atmosphere of yearning, resulting in a bitter sweet feeling about the ordinary objects around us that are cherished only when they are all that’s left of a haunting presence.
“Perfect imperfections” opens with a fast, syncopated fingerpicking guitar riff that instantly elevates the mood from the previous tracks. The lyrics represent a message of total acceptance of oneself and a love story dedicated to the imperfections of the human being that allow light to shine through the cracks. In the song, the character is accepting her partner fully, eye wrinkles and all. The kind of love described in the song, is the type of love that we all yearn for. The song’s musicality includes a “front-porch” style of folk music in which Lenten’s voice sounds confident and joyful at the same time. The presence of light, shuffling percussion adds a certain movement to the music track and can be interpreted as an encouraging slap on the shoulder, influencing the listeners with a feeling of relief.
The opening track, “Let the good times begin,” starts with a long-held note from the piano before introducing a fun harmonica tune with blues roots. The song features artist Dante Augustus. In the song, there is an emphasis on the theme of resilience, and the deliberate decision to pursue happiness following a time of either sadness or no progress whatsoever; it depicts a change of tides. The song encourages us to leave whatever that has happened in the past and move forward. The vocals of Liz are strong and gritty, and she sings in opposition to the rhythm with an invigorating power. Instrumentally, there is much going on in a crowd, creating a celebratory feeling inside a bar.
The song “Speaking in Tongues” opens with the deep sounds followed by eerie echoes of guitars that establish the mystique right from the beginning. This song feature the artist Eden Ann- Parish. The topic of the song revolves around communication problems and lies between lovers where words mean nothing but noise and where both parties become alienated from each other because they cannot speak in their own language anymore. The persona in this song tells us how she got hooked on someone else’s song and his lies The voice of the song is soft and mysterious; it flows among layers of synth sounds combined with acoustic touches. The effect produced by this song is definitely movie-like; it puts you in the middle of a beautiful but confusing mist.
Next is “Behind the Scenes” begins with an intricate and delicate guitar that brings to mind the sun’s rays shining through the leaves. Lyrical-wise, “Behind the Scenes” talks about the persona that people see when they meet us and what really happens when there’s no one there, when the lights are low. It talks about not revealing our personal issues to the outside world, focusing on the difference between our external image and our true selves. Musically, the song is quite gentle and subtle, with Lenten giving one of her most emotionally vulnerable performances, her vocals breaking on the highest notes. The instrumentation continues to be minimal, providing a perfect accompaniment to the lyrics, which make us realize that we do not know what people’s real battles are, but they are there.
“What You Don’t Know” starts off with an energetic, moderately fast-paced rhythm of drums along with the electric guitar which has more of an “Alternative” feel. This song has a theme of hiding our true feelings. It talks about how we pretend like we don’t care or try to hide what we’re really feeling. So she tells us listeners, how she really feels when she’s with this person. Liz’s singing is full of confidence, and she sings with a kind of commanding quality that says “Don’t under-estimate me.” The combination of the rhythm and the soaring vocal harmonies gives you an empowering feeling.
“Opposites” opens with a pleasant walking bassline accompanied by soothing rhythmic hand claps, creating an organic flow for the song. The song features artist Gus Andriewiski. The song describes the attraction that exists between two individuals with very little in common except for the way that they complement each other perfectly. It is the embodiment of the phrase “opposites attract” in the cutest way. Musically, Opposites is quite airy, with Lenten and Gus’ vocals delivering the song in a jazz style. This results in the display of Lenten’s excellent range and timing. The song remains unencumbered with regard to instrumentation, giving it the relatable charm that it needs.
“Lie as easy as you breathe” begins with a lone crying pedal steel guitar that lingers in the atmosphere before the mournful piano tune takes over. This is the most piercing song in the album; the betrayal that lies within the theme and how easily one whom we know can lie to us. We are given a front row seat into our character’s relationship from its beginning to the very end where the relationship got destroyed because of lies. The vocals of Liz are powerful and filled with a worn out sense of knowledge. It is done in such a way that the bitterness in the words can be clearly seen. There are lots of elements in the music; the pedal steel guitar acts as a second voice crying together with Liz.
Next is “Don’t Give Up”. It starts with a tapping beat on the body of an acoustic guitar to form a steady heartbeat-like tempo. It has a timeless but very emotional theme of perseverance and staying strong even when things seem very overwhelming and difficult. Its musicality starts in a very low-key way but ends up becoming a huge orchestral folk rock explosion of sound. In the song, Liz shows us how to use dynamics effectively in singing, changing from a soft whisper to a loud roaring voice in the end.
“You’re Beautiful” is the second to last song on the record. It opens with an easy guitar arpeggio, evoking a dreamy, almost soothing lullaby quality. As for the lyrics, the whole piece is just about expressing love and appreciation without any hints of sarcasm and cynical comments. There is nothing but gentle and tender singing in the performance; Lenten’s voice gives such a feeling that the singer embraces you and takes into his arms. The music itself does not contain many instruments, but there is plenty of warmth and affection.
The final track “Sweet dreams” closes the album by introducing a light sound of the wind chimes and an underlying cello tone producing a feel of deep tranquility. The song features artist Sanka GB. The message conveyed by the song is that of finality and acceptance of the idea of leaving something behind be it the day, the person you loved, or your whole life. Musically it has an ethereal feel, with Liz’s voice hovering above other elements creating an atmosphere of grace. The instrumentation has long-held notes and no structural pattern that helps to close the album and let it fade out.
In the aftermath of a global shutdown of the planet, Behind The Scenes has been created as a stunning tribute to the indomitable human spirit, born out of the creative collaboration of thirty-two artists in the United States, United Kingdom, and Brazil. This bold album is a smooth fusion of American roots music and contemporary acoustic-led pop, radiating from the vibrant energy of a thousand intertwined tales. At the core of this album is the centerpiece track called “Perfect Imperfections,” an uplifting and melodic ballad that transforms the essence of romance forevermore. This track reveals that laughter and humility are the keys to transcending the flaws of our imperfections and transforming them into our most powerful strengths. With its natural, “alive” approach to creating music and dedication to telling stories unfiltered, the album brings an elegant blend of cross-Atlantic influences that are both classic and totally on point. The album sits proudly alongside today’s finest artists like Brandi Carlile and The Secret Sisters, but it has its own unique weight. Liz Lenten (BEM) serves as the backbone of the album with her years of experience in Nashville’s music scene and industry knowledge. While it would be an understatement to say this album delivered more than I was prepared for, it is a powerful work of art that makes me extremely eager to see what this incredible team will release next.
Stream the “Behind The Scenes” album on Spotify
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