We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Storytelling Piano Playing Fr​ä​ulein

by Alev Lenz

/
  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Hey there! So this is my debut album 'Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein' and recently the rights went back to me and since there were a few copies left in stock I got hold of those and can now sell them to you guys directly here! It's a really nice CD not in a easy to break jewel case but in a lovely cardboard case with photos, all lyrics included and in high quality print with lovely artwork and illustrations by me, packed in shrink-wrap. Brand new to YOU!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

1.
Breathe 04:24
I still feel the pain You still make me cry I still feel the shame Of almost having killed ourselves Our homeless souls Searching for something We just couldn't find In each other's eyes And therefore scratching them out What have we done? Where did we go wrong? Should let go what was gone and Breathe I still feel the pressure We put on each other I still feel we measure Your incapability against mine Our endless questions The answers we just couldn't find In each other's hearts And therefore ripping them out What have we done? Where did we go wrong? Why couldn't we be strong and Breathe
2.
Guys with guitars at open mic bars Are so much better than guys with skateboards So much better than guys with books Guys with guitars sing over and over the same Things that keep me awake at night Guys with guitars, they listen to my songs Sing a song for me, don't be horrible I'll sing a song for you If you don't think it's terrible Let's go home We don't understand What tomorrow's about anyway Write me a song and I'll sing along You won't marry me, I won't marry you But at least, tonight, we can pretend we'll do And then we will write a song People will sing along How he wouldn't marry her She wouldn't marry him And the next day she fell in love With another guy with a guitar At an open mic bar With a bursting heart, just like her And a hungry soul always searching for more Guys with guitars sing over and over the same life That I don't understand And together we don't understand it Together we don't understand it better Sing a song for me, don't be horrible I'll sing a song for you If you don't think it's terrible Let's go home We don't understand What tomorrow's about anyway Write me a song and I'll sing along You won't marry me, I won't marry you But at least, tonight, we can pretend we'll do And then we will write a song People will sing along How he wouldn't marry her She wouldn't marry him And the next day she fell in love With another guy 'Cause she's in love with life And another guy with a guitar at an open mic bar With a bursting heart, just like her And a hungry soul always searching for more
3.
I saved myself from drowning On new shores You couldn't follow When love is gone Where does it go And can I follow? Which way must I go? 'Cause all I see is a place shiny and new Where I can seem to find everything but you Don't watch me go Don't let me leave Did I close this door Or did you leave before? Don't watch me go Don't let me leave Where was I before? Why don't I love you anymore? When dreams wake up Where do they go? And can I follow? When your words Can't touch my heart anymore Can I take them there? Back to where they were? 'Cause all I see is a heart beating For all that's new And it feels like there is no place left for you Don't watch me go Don't let me leave Did I close this door Or did you leave before? Don't watch me go Don't let me leave Where was I before? Why don't I love you anymore? When love is gone Where does it go And can I follow?
4.
I wish I were a photographer so I could picture How beautiful you are All you'd have to do is what you always do Just standing there, aren't you? But I am faster, I'm running ahead You're only by my side when I need to rest I am faster, I'm running ahead What is it that draws you back? The problem is, you got my back The problem is, you held me up The problem is, looking at you now means Looking back You got the L and the O and the V and the E And now that makes LOVE I juggle the whole alphabet From mountain to valley, from ocean to sea I am faster, I'm running ahead You're only by my side when I need to rest I am faster, I'm running ahead What is it that draws you back? The problem is, you got my back The problem is, you held me up The problem is, looking at you now means Looking back Have we met too early? Or are you just running into another direction Away from me? Will we meet later?
5.
I wanna ride with you on dolphin backs And listen to the stories the wind tells Hear the horses run, drive on endless roads Let the sun comb our hair and feel safe Under the blanket of the darkest night And chase the sunrise Stand in front of the deepest abyss And still do not be afraid Share freedom with heaven Be wakened up by the moon to go Traveling with the stars Grow with the highest mountain Have races with the birds Hear the river laugh, play with clouds And dive into the clear blue sky Wash our faces with soft warm rain Taste the sweetness of the air Catch up with the stream Sleep on a light summer breeze Stray on water and count the waves Fill the silence with our thoughts Kiss the earth and hug the summits And dance with the trees My biggest adventure is you I'm doing everything I ever wanted to do Needing less than others do And still having everything 'Cause I am here with you Live our dream Love everything surrounding us Our biggest adventure Us
6.
I don't wanna fool myself again Not willing to listen to my heart for so long That I can hardly hear it speak Hear it speak But I wanna love you But I wanna love you No, I don't wanna fool myself again Oh, I wanted to love you I don't wanna fool myself again Not willing to listen to my heart for so long That I can hardly hear it speak Oh, I don't speak the language of my heart Anymore I don't wanna fool myself again I don't wanna love just because I want to love And desperately wish for a stupid fantasy Oh, I wanna love you Oh, I wanna love you No, I don't wanna fool myself again But I wanted to love you I'm sorry, I fooled myself again I'm sorry, I fooled myself again
7.
Smile 05:05
I know the pain kills you The tears just wanna run down your face You say it's easier to forget And I never see you cry Cry, cry for me now Cry, I wanna hold you in my arms I wish I could help you But maybe I should just help myself Maybe it's really easier to forget But I never see you smile Smile, smile for me now Smile, please hold me in your arms Smile and don't leave the world outside Smile and don't leave yourself outside
8.
Your nose doesn't bleed when you've got cancer Planes don't crash down as often I wish I wasn't scared so easily I think I watch too much TV I think they sometimes lie to me I think they're also trying to scare me Catastrophe! Emergency! You never know what happens Probably the worst I'm prepared, I'm ready! But I can't move I think I watch too much TV I think they sometimes lie to me I think they're also trying to scare me I can't sleep through the night Although you're by my side Life is dangerous on TV Spinning stories in my mind Of what there could be The Oscar goes to tragedy I wonder what is wrong with me How are the quotes for my real life show? Did I manage an exciting plot? Look at my perfect scenery! Missing every trace of live I think I watch too much TV I think they sometimes lie to me I think they're also trying to scare me I can't sleep through the night Although you're by my side Life is dangerous on TV Spinning stories in my mind Of what there could be The Oscar goes to tragedy I can't sleep through the night Don't want you by my side Love is different on TV Spinning stories in my mind Of what there should be The Oscar goes to tragedy Tell me, tell me, is life dangerous? I think I watch too much TV Maybe I'll go and read a book
9.
You are a song Sweet Bittersweet You're playing with my dreams You are an idea, an idea I like I'm in love with this idea Not with you You don't want to be just a song Bitter It's your sweet love I need I'm playing with my dreams I'll change my mind New ideas will arise I'm in love with this idea Not with you Can I ever love? Can I ever rest my head on someone's shoulder?
10.
Maybe one day we will turn around And see what we can be Maybe one day you will turn around And come see about me Maybe one day we will love us again Like we should have done before Maybe one day we will turn around and see Loving eyes don't ever see It's gone now and you are too But can't I be just a small part of your life? I'm trying to forget the way I loved you To forget the way I saw you Long ago I'm trying to forget the way I loved you To forget the way I saw you Once again Maybe one day we will turn around And see what could have been Maybe one day we will turn around And see that we were seen Maybe one day we will love someone Like we wanted to love before Maybe one day we will turn around Not far from where we once have been It's gone now and you are too But can't I be just a small part of your life? I'm trying to forget the way I loved you To forget the way I saw you Long ago I'm trying to forget the way I loved you To forget the way I saw you Once again I have to admit I keep comparing I keep trying Still today I keep trying to forget you Maybe one day we will be And maybe we'll never be And maybe one day I will understand the way I feel today
11.
Flight 1701 03:00
Mind has buckled its seatbelt Heart has an empty seat next to it Soul is afraid of heights Body is tryin' to get comfortable They're all passengers of flight 1701 They're all passengers of flight 1701 Turbulence scares them all They never know how long they will be Tossed around And if they'll ever reach solid ground Mind does never sleep Heart is drenched in red wine Soul is afraid of dying Body wants to talk to mind Turbulence scares them all They never know how long they will be Tossed around And if they'll ever reach solid ground Turbulence scares them all Unfinished songs to be sung They never know how long it will take for them To ever reach common ground Mind comes with a lot of luggage Body still has a cramp Soul wants to get high again And heart swears to never fly again
12.
Some don't bloom yet Some need warmth to bloom Some do always bloom Some never have a blossom Some only bloom once and then die Some seeds are never planted Some spread across the countries and borders Some get framed, some written down Some are looked at, some not recognized Some bloom in the dark Some bloom fast Some need time Some can bloom under bad conditions Some can't Some can survive a storm Some can't Some need a lot of rain Some get framed, some written down Some are looked at, some not recognized Some bloom in the dark Some bloom fast Some need time Show me the flowers I wanna grow a garden Show me the flowers I wanna make a garland Show me the flowers I wanna grow a garden Show me the flowers I wanna wear them In my hair

about

Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein
Alev Lenz

Alev’s Story - Re-Told

Imagine a parallel universe where everything is different yet the same. Where roots rise high into the sky, where “people go where they wanna go”, where singers tell their life stories in verses, and where far, far away cities become new homes.

Imagine a tiny bar in the East Village where smoking is still allowed and where lonesome people “drenched in red wine” who “need warmth to bloom” huddle around the stage of Lach’s open mike session every Monday night to have their hearts eaten out by singer-songwriter Alev Lenz and her piano: a movie scene in black and white -- key tone colors.

Alev, a 26-years young, blonde lady with an oriental soul, an occidental mind and a cosmopolitan vision, is taking over. In a truly captivating way, her mere presence demands attention while she devotedly fills the air with sweet-sounding emotions and sensations. Vividly painting colorful images with her clear and beautiful voice, she sings 1000 and one stories into life - the stories of a caring human, hoping to “find in each other’s eyes” what we are all looking for: love.

It all starts with boarding a plane - “Flight 1701” - taking off into the unknown. A metaphoric experience, as “1701” is actually her birth date and the plane Alev herself. Stories about new possibilities and lost opportunities swirl through the air, the “silence filled with thoughts”, the “soul afraid of dying”. Jumping into the unknown, the music accompanying Alev as “words could not touch anymore”, everything starts to take shape.

Alev recalls: “Inspired by a German comedian who went to New York to partake in open mike sessions, I decided I wanted to do the same. I got myself on a plane and ended up staying for six weeks. I sang, I played, I loved, and I lived. It was great. Since then I keep returning to New York whenever I can."

A new chapter in Alev’s life began: thrown left, right and centre, she who had left her old rock band Alev (which carries on as Alev although she’s no longer part of the story), started to discover who she really wanted to be right now: a “Storytelling, Piano Playing Fräulein”. The metamorphosis of a front singer girl into a grown woman with many stories to tell, lavishly playing her favorite instrument, the piano, was on full throttle.

“While travelling back and forth between Germany and my beloved New York, I ended up finding a producer in Berlin and then a co-producer in New York who I started to work with, simultaneously writing and trying out my new song material in front of an audience. I saw others while they saw me, and I saw them seeing me, and it taught me a lot. I went to concerts of artists like Regina Spektor and Randy Newman -- people who, like me, tell stories with a piano. Upon seeing Randy Newman, I knew: ‘It’s possible. I can sing and play and entertain people. I can just sit on the piano and do it there and then. There are all kinds of people who do that kind of thing, and even more who really like it.’ This is how I started to play concerts, to get feedback, to improve my song-writing, and to write entirely new songs.”

Soaking up impressions like a sponge and at the same time being the water that was being absorbed by others, Alev embraced her newly chosen environment with the verve of somebody who has found their place in space and time. Playing and writing and travelling, Alev’s heart and soul opened more than ever, and while she adapted to the changes, or the changes adapted to Alev, what she most longed for was starting to happen: Stories that turned into songs and songs that turned into stories poured out of her; her solo album took shape.

One Thursday night, when Alev came back to play her weekly gig in a tiny bar in Greenwich Village, the owner came over to ask her: “So, what is it really that you do?” Alev replied: “I tell stories.” - “Well, and you play the piano... So you are a storytelling, piano playing... what??? German?” - “Yes,” retorted Alev, and the woman touted: “So you are a Fräulein! A Storytelling, Piano Playing Fräulein”, and this is how Alev found her identity and what later would become the title of her album. The circle closed. It all made sense now.

“I started to play the piano at a very early age”, recounts Alev (whose Turkish name translates to ‘flame’): “My first piano teacher always allowed me to ‘tell stories’ on the piano by letting me improvise. He taught me how to translate emotions into sounds which I really enjoyed. Later, I just wanted to express myself freely, make some noise and strum, but at some stage, I tried to incorporate piano songs into my rock band repertoire.” This is when she started to sense that she had to say good-bye to her rock-star life and find a new beginning. With her piano.

Alev’s bright spirit gleaming and her lyrics and her arrangements sparkling, her music flows with little classical twirls and a New York songwriter twist. Dressed in ebony and ivory, Alev and her piano resonate in perfect harmony; together, they sound powerfully innocent whilst being incredibly karmic. Her shimmering voice is very versatile and sometimes draws comparisons with female singers like Beth Gibbons, Tori Amos or Fiona Apple.

“Storytelling Piano Playing Fräulein” is the true story of a true person being true to herself. Living her life her own way, telling her own stories, the burgeoning singer-songwriter Fräulein Alev who readily left behind German soils to find herself, is branching out into the world with wide-eyed curiosity while embracing life with all its facets. A bit capricious and a bit coquettish and full of cosmopolitan sophistication, Alev, half German and half Turkish, is torn between places, emotions and identities whilst being hundred percent herself. A natural talent gives this Fräulein her unique flair.

Roaming the metropolises of this planet looking for her place in space and time, she opens hearts where she goes. Full of curiosity about life, men, love, music and places, she ventures out and ends up dancing in the streets to music that nobody else hears while making songs that speak of great maturity. When you listen to an album like this, you learn how to live.

text: planetkat.com

credits

released February 13, 2009

Music and Lyrics by Alev Lenz
All songs published by Universal Music Publishing
String arrangements on track 1 outro, 3, 4 & 11 by Hans Friedl
String arrangements on track 1, 6, 8 & 10 by Sebastian Studnitzky
Produced by Don Philippe
Additional production on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 10 & 11 by Fab
Engineered by Rainer Robben
Recorded at Audiocue, Berlin
Additional recording at purmix.net, New York City
Mixed by Fab at puremix.net, New York City
Mastered by Dave Kutch as The Mastering Palace, New York City

Photos by Michael Herdlein
Illustrations by Alev Lenz
Artwork: fpm Factor Product Munich

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Alev Lenz London, UK

Alev Lenz is a German-Turkish singer, songwriter, composer and producer. Lenz’s rich catalogue of compositions fuse distinctive musical worlds into something that is authentically hers - compelling songs for both record and screen. Her latest album '3' sees Alev distilling and extracting her voice, joined on 7 tracks by Grammy-award winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. ... more

contact / help

Contact Alev Lenz

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

Alev Lenz recommends:

If you like Alev Lenz, you may also like: