Lenka is so back.
Best known for tracks like “The Show”, “Trouble is a Friend”, and “Everything at Once”, the Australian singer-songwriter has returned with a new album Good Days, exploring the quandaries of life and love in a wistful and whimsical way.
Produced by Tony Buchen (The Preatures), Good Days delivers an atmospheric soul-revival sound with plenty of horns, strings and layered vocals. It’s a return to an old-fashioned simplicity, Lenka tells us, where musicianship and song-writing lead the way and authenticity shines through.
Here, Lenka opens up about chasing human connection in an AI-saturated world, reconnecting with Australian audiences, and why making “classic” music still matters in 2026.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Album number eight! Tell us about it and the inspiration for it a few years after Intraspectral.
Lenka: I know crazy right! I can’t believe it… For this album I really wanted to make something “classic”. A classic Lenka album, kind of a return to my first album, but also classic in the vintage soul and ’60s pop kinda way. In the song writing style and the instrumentation and treatment. It’s got a very ‘throw-back’ kinda sound.
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Good Days is described as a return to an “old fashioned simplicity”, is there a reason you wanted to go back to the roots or has there been an effort on past albums to shake things up each time?
I think I might be having a reaction against the constant digital and AI infiltration in our lives? I’m longing for human warmth and imperfection, a feeling of connecting to another human being. On other albums I’ve played around with electronic music and synths etc, but this time I felt drawn back to making something as real and natural as possible.
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You’ve had some incredible success internationally. After all this time are you yet to identify why you have that strong connection you have with Southeast Asia?
I think it must have something to do with the optimism and positivity I strive for? But I would assume that could connect with anyone anywhere, it just seems to have landed in a more commercial way in the Asia region.
I also have to give credit to the original Sony marketing team in Hong Kong, who did an incredible job in the beginning building me a real fanbase through lots of fun creative experiences, like a painting competition where I was the judge. They really thought outside the box and I went over a lot to connect in person too.
As an independent artist, have those global achievements helped your relationship with the Australian industry?
Not really! Maybe a little, but I think the Australian music industry and culture here in general is really its own thing. Especially for local artists. I’m having better luck connecting here by doing local shows and building a meaningful fanbase bit by bit.
Back in the day, when I was signed through a major label in New York, I wasn’t allowed to come out here much, it just wasn’t in the schedule. I think that really did me a disservice because while my songs were on the radio and film and TV in Australia I wasn’t able to actually connect here in person.
The challenge now is to remind people that I’m the person who sang “The Show” and “Trouble is a Friend” and maybe would they like to check out what I’m doing now!
This album sees you teaming with Tony Buchen who has worked with some huge local names. Is there still a goal to replicate those international wins on home soil?
Sure! I would love for this album to strike a chord wherever it lands, but Australia is especially close to my heart. Working with Tony was an honour and a pleasure and I think we created a really strong record together.
What sets Good Days apart from the rest of your catalogue, and what would does success look like for you with the record?
My main goal is that my beloved fanbase will cherish this record. I’ve had such a moving response in the past, where people have thanked me for helping them through tough times etc, that I think I’m a bit addicted to that feeling now.
My second goal would be to widen my fanbase a bit and find new listeners to get on board. I feel like I’m making the soundtrack to people’s lives and I imagine them walking around listening on headphones while they experience their day, or using a song on social media to soundtrack the ups and downs of their own existence. That feels really special to me and makes me feel less lonely in this world.
Lenka’s Good Days is out now.
