Somewhere at the crossroads of pop, rock, jazz and soul, Lena Lalani’s piano sits waiting eagerly for the tickle of her fingers -- she does not disappoint.  The singer songwriter garners all her emotion, passion and story telling, channeling that energy into a musical, lyrical lava that flows down through her fingers and her piano roars to life.  The journey begins…or rather continues.  The pop artist consistently delivers passionate pieces declaring messages of girl power, self-love and purpose.

         From her debut single I’m A Winner, a declarative anthem about domestic violence, to her recent Christmas EP, a celebratory holiday pudding, Lena floats masterfully and melodically over piano and guitar driven orchestral arrangements and belts out her defiance of self-pity as powerfully as her convictions over screaming guitars and rhythmic bass lines.  Nicknamed “Songbird” since childhood, the Iowa native’s been performing before crowds of thousands virtually all her life.  

         Vocally strongly hinting of a patchwork of song-bearer influences, she is a vocal powerhouse melding pop, rock, soul and jazz with gospel overtones.  “I wasn't allowed to listen to certain kinds of music as a child, so I grew up listening to the greats like Judy Garland and Sarah Vaughn in old classic movies.  I could listen to gospel and love some of the amazing gospel vocal acrobats like The Clark Sisters.  Singers that made the hair on my arms stand up-- that gave me goose bumps.  Now I love to spin Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Demi Lovato, Michael Buble’ and Christina Perri for inspiration.  I love big voices.”   As her performances have been called electric, she gives as good as she gets.

            Her musical journey is a story in itself.  “I wrote and released my anthem, I’m A Winner; I’ve turned the page--actually, I’ve closed that whole book.  And now, I’m moving forward,” she shared.  Lena’s second single, released 9/30/14, was the gospel-tinged Heaven Hear Me Now in which Lena declares I’ve been away for just a little too long; I’m home to stay--welcome me home. “That’s my life right now exactly.  It’s been a long journey home, but I’ve made it.  And now, I want to connect with others who are for whatever reason fighting for themselves.  My mission is to lift them up-- to lift up women and the men that love them.”  

            Her diverse talent is on full display with the delightful 2013 Holiday Card Video (YouTube) where she wrote what she calls a “songlet” for fans live.  What started as an impulse developed into Christmas Eve, a passionate Christmas love song in the singer/songwriter vein.  It is included on 2014 Christmas EP, I Love Christmas Time, along with her playful arrangement of the holiday classic Sleigh Ride.  Also on her Christmas EP is the classic Silent Night, “with a Lena Lalani twist,” she says.  Jingle Jam is the ever playful and fun story of young love when two hearts find each other at a Christmas Eve dance.  Delightfully poppy and upbeat, it’s sure to become a classic in its own right.  Rounding out her five-song set, the title track strongly hints at her love of standards and growing up hearing them in movies as well as from one of her favorite artists, Michael Buble’. I Love Christmas Time brings back echoes of yesteryear as Lena sings this beautiful standard in salute of all things Christmas.  A jazz trio makes up the backbone of the lovely orchestral arrangement complimenting Lena's sultry vocal performance.

            Listening to Lena’s body of work, it’s obvious that she refuses to stay in any one lane.  “My piano’s on wheels!” she jokes.  “Never know where I’m going to go; I go where the music leads me.”  What’s next for Lena?  Look for a new single, Dirt (Move), due out soon and is yet again a diversion from what we know, but certainly worthy of listening ears and hungry Lena Lalani fans.

            Lena’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby.  To keep up with all the happenings, sign up for the Lena's eNewsletter.

 

updated: 11/20/15

 

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