About

Brooklyn Youth Chorus has developed an active commissioning program and has collaborated with some of the most important composers of our time including Pulitzer Prize-winners Caroline Shaw and Tania León, Nico Muhly, Angelica Negrón, Bryce Dessner, Paola Prestini, Nathalie Joachim, Toshi Reagon, Alev Lenz, and William Brittelle.

Stillness was also the watchword for Alev Lenz’s spacious 7 planets,(...) reminded me of the drone music of LaMonte Young or the choral music of John Cage, or the rich vocal textures of Björk’s Medúlla.

Alev Lenz's 7 planets (...) did evolve magically from simple tonal counterpoints into a complex and beautiful web of microtone, slowly shifting rhythmic patter and drones (...).

“Lenz is the pure-voiced, London based, German/Turkish singer and composer who collaborated with Shankar on the latter’s 2016 album Land of Gold”

"The latest record from German-Turkish songwriter, producer and composer Alev Lenz is a veritable feast for the ears in its own right, harnessing her remarkably dexterous vocals to craft some sensorially beautiful music.”

It's dark and twisted, with Lenz's delicate voice floating in the abyss.

German/Turkisk, Grammy nominated producer Alev Lenz takes on the most cinematic concepts of all the remixes. Speaking of the process, Alev says that she “got emotional” and - in feeling the fragile moments of ‘Annihilation’ - guided us through a stretch of vulnerability that is almost at breaking point; emo-ambience, subtle atmospherics and an ancestral epicness make up for a truly spellbinding listen.

(...) “Splendid Soldiers,” the album version of Lenz’s Black Mirror hit “Fall Into Me,” showcased her own hauntingly compelling voice, with its dark and twisted melody and lyrics set over a hazy reverberating backdrop. The highlight of the set was the final number, “The Chair,” a ninety-second up-tempo tune. Here the overlapping patterns—Lenz’s spoken words, and the chorus’s poppy melodic fragments—resulted in a catchy groove where all textures enhanced each other and produced ear-worms that remained in my head long after the performance.

“She [Alev] really did an amazing job of connecting the dots (with musicians based in different countries). I feel like she took what I was doing and elevated it. It turned out much more powerful than I envisioned. It was such a beautiful journey.”

"She modulates her voice, goes up and down the scales effortlessly and find minor yet majestic inflections (...) 3, a powerful set of pieces, all created with voice, including the harmonies and structures. "

“Alev Lenz is a really close friend and collaborator of mine. She sang the title song on Land of Gold and that's where we originally knew each other from. I’ve just worked with her again on Love Letters; she produced the EP, co-wrote most of the material and features on a bunch of the songs. She's an amazing musician, singer and woman.”

"Alev Lenz, who is a principal collaborator on the album, was a trusted source of emotional support for her and it’s their conversations that evolved into the songs on the album.”

"Lenz’s bare voice fits like a glove… she modulates her voice, goes up and down the scales effortlessly and finds minor yet majestic inflections that make the song a very tightly-knit merger”

Songwriter and composer Alev Lenz has just returned with her latest album, ‘3’, a stunning collection of twelve largely vocal-led songs, spanning trad folk, electronic music and contemporary classical. (...) Exhilaratingly experimental, the songwriting is also tightly and meticulously crafted, resulting in a wholly satisfying listen.

“As a songwriter Lenz has forged a distinctive, other-worldly and often eerie sonic landscape”

"She is a composer with exceptional vision and drive. The newly released album “3” documents her capacity for artistic innovation that illuminates the truth of her music and deepens her connection with her audience. It has a dozen songs, written mainly for voice, many under two minutes. The whole of it offers the listener an abundance of audacious musical ideas."

Lenz, whose music has featured on Netflix shows black mirror and dark, is the first artist to work with SA recordings and spitfire on what is planned to be an ongoing series of releases.”

“imagine this: you buy an album and you’re enchanted by its sounds. You’re so smitten with its sonic textures that you can imagine yourself making your own music with its ingredients. Welcome to 3, the new album by Alev Lenz.”

Before Wye Oak came onstage, we were treated to five world premieres: the Brooklyn Youth Chorus performed a new composition by Owen Pallett, “Cyclops,” and four new songs in collaboration with the singer/songwriter Alev Lenz. “Cyclops” used the mythological creature as a metaphor for conservative ideology. Pallett described the piece as a “fourteen-minute nightmare,” but I found the most frightening moment of the night to be Lenz’s “Splendid Soldiers.” Lenz’s songs had amazing breadth, ranging from bright and poppy to ominous and etherial. I particularly liked “The Chair,” in which the chorus sang and whooped while Lenz recited a spoken-word poem.

Airplane is a brilliantly bittersweet creative Tune-Yards-like pop song that’s crawling with invention and bulging with juxtaposition.

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.

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.

“If Love” is the delicately-triumphant new single from London-based musician and composer Alev Lenz

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.

Rhythms rush at sharp angles as her personality shines, the result gloriously disorienting, effervescent and charming best of all.

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.

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.

A thought-provoking video

Alev inspires the urge to break forth from childhood shells to step into a world of awe and discovery.

"Eggshell" mixes her kilter rhythms with a blend of dark fairy-tale lyrics.

Through the muddled atmosphere of its nocturnal tint, Alev’s vocals tremble as they nervously balance over the tightrope of the single’s melodies.

Its fun, upbeat, and painstakingly honest.

Immediately ear-catching, ‘Airport’ stands out from the pack, with Lenz’s unique-sounding vocals and interesting composition.

Airport puts in a strong case for ‘2016 breakthrough smash-hit of the summer.

Airport may just be the most infectious slice of rhythmic pop you’ve never heard.

Alev Lenz, shines a spotlight on quirky lines, upbeat melodies, and humorous visuals.

Lenz is honest and light-hearted – traits that music fans need in their lives.

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.

...some of the most intricate and mesmerising percussion work you’ll hear on a pop record.

Beautifully arranged instrumentals are accompanied by a vocal performance that can only be described as hypnotic.

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.

Haunting, cinematic and deeply compelling.

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.

It's Magic (Two-Headed Girl)

“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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

’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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With eloquent lyrics and evocative melodies, Alev Lenz’s debut UK EP is a diverse and beautifully moody collection of alternative pop.

Certainly someone to look out for this year.

Possesses enough tenderness, deep delving, instrumental weaving and a splash of cynicism in order to earn Lenz some exposure and respect.

What else is floating our boat at Hit Sheet Towers this month: ʼquirky pop singer songwriterʼ Alev Lenz

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.

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.