Lene Lovich

Since Lene Lovich burst onto the scene with her 1979 hit single "Lucky Number", ushering in the new wave era, her life has been defined by an unyielding commitment to the arts and activism. Lene Lovich's impact on pop music can hardly be understated. The influence of her arty, flamboyant new wave persona, assertive, banshee-howl-inflected vocals, and idiosyncratic songwriting style can be seen clearly in countless female artists, from peers like Siouxsie Sioux and Grace Jones, to those who have followed in her footsteps: Bjork, PJ Harvey, Gwen Stefani, and Karen O. In her absence, it is nigh impossible to conceive of the modern landscape of alternative female pop artists. Lene has carved out a unique niche in the world, always while doggedly pursuing her own muse, her own passions.

Musically, Lene and her longtime collaborator/husband Les Chappell, continue to revel in invention and eccentricity. While retaining the playful experimentation and striking pop sensibilities that imbued earlier Lovich albums, her most-recent release Shadows and Dust is also a denser, complex, multi-layered affair, rife with surprises.

Land of the Lost host Robert Drake chats with Lene from her home in the United Kingdom - excepts of this interview were aired on the August 25 edition of LOTL, but here's the entire chat!

Listen: MP3