Embracing all our Perfect Imperfections

Liz Lenten (Auburn)’s musical journey is a testament to her versatility, resilience, and enduring passion for collaboration. From the intimate jazz clubs of London to the vibrant studios of Nashville, she has captivated audiences with her soulful, husky voice and a distinctive blend of Americana, blues, and roots music.

In 1999, she co-founded Auburn with long-time collaborator Mark “Gus” Gustavina. Their debut album, Dreams, and the hit single “Cry” propelled the band into the indie music scene, quickly earning them a dedicated following. Liz’s expressive vocals, paired with Auburn’s rich and textured instrumentation, became the foundation of a sound that felt both timeless and contemporary.

After a decade-long hiatus, Auburn returned with the critically acclaimed Indian Summer in 2012, an album that reflected both personal and musical growth. The release drew comparisons to artists such as Macy Gray, Dusty Springfield, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen, cementing Auburn’s reputation for emotionally grounded, character-driven songwriting.

A fruitful collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Thomm Jutz followed, resulting in a series of well-received albums including Nashville, Mixed Feelings, Love and Promises, and the innovative 2019 release Game of Faith. These records expanded Auburn’s international profile and demonstrated Liz’s increasing confidence as both a songwriter and creative director.

Beyond her work as a recording artist, Liz is deeply involved behind the scenes of the music industry. She runs a community youth choir, manages artists including folk icon Martin Carthy, and hosts the podcast Behind the Scenes of an Indie Artist, where she speaks in depth with collaborators and independent creatives. This broader perspective informs her approach to artist development, mentorship, and community-building within the independent music world.

Auburn’s latest chapter new album Behind The Scenes (out now via Scarlet Records), was a project born out of the isolation and distance of lockdown and driven by a renewed desire for human connection. Working with writers, vocalists, musicians, and producers from around the world, each song emerged from shared ideas and honest conversations. The album explores everyday life — relationships, friendships, and the situations we all find ourselves navigating.

I sat down with Liz and we discussed everything from how the album came together, what went into its creation, where the title originated, and, of course, her thoughts on penguins!

Your brand new album with Auburn is entitled Behind the Scenes, so let us begin with asking you where that album title came from? - “The title Behind the Scenes really came from this idea of identity and perception — what we show the world versus what’s actually going on underneath. Not just me – it’s everyone.”

“It felt like it captured both the emotional themes of the album and the creative process itself, because there’s so much that happens “behind the scenes” when you’re collaborating and building something like this.”

It is also a collaborative album that came together after lockdown, built around reconnection and shared human experiences, so can you please explain where the idea first came from to do this? - “It grew quite organically after lockdown. I’d started experimenting more with recording from home and sharing ideas remotely, and I became really interested in what happens when you exchange musical ideas across distance.”

“Starting in my studio in Lincolnshire, the album developed across the UK, the US, and Brazil, eventually involving over 30 collaborators. Some things were done together in person, others remotely — it became this shared creative journey shaped by different people, places, and perspectives.”

“I’d also recently trained in Ableton with producer Sie Medway-Smith, so I was recording more myself, which was completely new — and really exciting once I got the hang of it!”

On the album you are working with 32 writers, vocalists, musicians and producers across UK, US and even Brazil, so did it all come together smoothly; and if not, how did you fix any and all issues? - “Not always! When you’re working across time zones and locations, things inevitably go wrong — technical glitches, miscommunications, recordings that don’t quite land.”

“But I actually came to value those moments. Quite often, what starts as a mistake leads you somewhere unexpected creatively, and those can become the most interesting parts of the record.”

“For example, I once spent ages trying to fix what I thought was a doorbell interrupting a mix—only to realise it was actually on the vocal track… so we kept it in!”

“And during one vocal session, that was being produced remotely, a neighbour’s chicken wandered into the studio while I was recording. I just carried on singing with my eyes closed — and when I opened them, it had gone… but not without leaving something behind – it wasn’t an egg!!”

Indeed, a lot of words and terms have already been used to describe your music over the years, but how would you yourself sum up your sound on this new live album ... and in just five (5) words? - “Fresh, Free, Musical Magic, Unique.”

Blending roots-influenced Americana and soulful pop is what we hear on the new album, but for those who don’t know you yet, is that the usual Auburn/Liz Lenten sound, or does this album have a different musical side to it? - “I’ve never really seen Auburn as fitting into one specific genre. There’s always been a blend of Americana, roots, blues, and soul influences in what I do.”

“That’s been part of Auburn from the very beginning, but this album probably expands that even further because of the number of collaborators involved. Each person brings their own musical language, which naturally stretches the sound in new directions.”

“But at its core, it’s still very much about storytelling — that’s the thread that runs through everything and makes it feel like an Auburn record.”

With songs written about friendships, relationships and everyday life, how many of them were created by you and thus are lyrically very personal to you? - “Even though it’s a collaborative album, a lot of the songs are still very personal to me. Some — like What You Don’t Know — come from a very intimate place.”

I was involved in all of the lyrics though and part of the process is the chats we have when writing, so there’s a consistent emotional thread running through the album. At the same time, it’s not just my story—each collaborator brings their own perspective, which adds layers and nuance I couldn’t have created on my own.”

So, it becomes something shared—personal, but also collective, which feels very true to the spirit of how it was made.”

You co-founded Auburn in 1999 with Gus, a time thereafter had a ten year hiatus, and then brought the band back in 2012, so what keeps Auburn ticking these days; perhaps like it didn’t do before? “Auburn isn’t a fixed band in the traditional sense — it’s more of an evolving collective. I work with a wide range of musicians, writers, and producers. Some are long-term collaborators, others come in for specific projects. That flexibility keeps things fresh and stops it from becoming static.”

“There’s also that balance between continuity and change. People like Gus (Mark Gustavina), my long-time co-writer, have been there from the start. Others — like Pat Garvey, Eden Ann Parish, and Thomm Jutz — have been central for years.”

“At the same time, new collaborators are always coming in, and that constant evolution is really what keeps Auburn alive.”

Taking a look at some of the songs on the new album, can you please tell us (in as many words as you wish to use) what these songs below mean to you:

Perfect Imperfections - “A song about loving someone for exactly who they are—flaws and all. I wrote this with Janet King, Michael Garvin and Sharon Vaughn up a mountain in Spain, which in itself felt quite special and removed from everyday life. For me, the song is about recognising that it’s often the small, imperfect, very human details that make someone truly beautiful. It’s a celebration of authenticity — of loving not despite someone’s flaws, but because of them.”

What You Don’t Know - “An intimate song about the things we hold back, even from those closest to us. This one felt very personal to write and record, and producing it myself allowed me to shape it in a more honest, understated way. It reflects that quiet emotional space where not everything is said out loud — where people carry thoughts, fears, or truths beneath the surface. The subtlety in Will Fowler’s piano and Pat Garvey’s drumming really brings that feeling to life, and it’s become one of my favourites because of how exposed it feels.”

Lie As Easy As You Breathe - “One of the darker moments on the album, dealing with deception and betrayal. It’s quite direct lyrically, and musically it leans into that tension and unease. For me, it captures that unsettling realisation when trust is broken — when you begin to see someone clearly for the first time, and it doesn’t match who you believed they were. It’s about the emotional conflict that comes with that — holding onto what you felt, while confronting what’s actually true.”

Sweet Dreams - “The album’s closing track about love, longing, and connection. It features Nottingham-based rapper Sanka GB, who brings a completely different texture to the song, adding another emotional layer. There’s a dreamlike quality to it — where memory, imagination, and reality start to blur. We wanted a gentle ending to the album’s journey, holding onto a sense of connection even when it feels distant or just out of reach. Produced with beautiful, expressive guitar work by Thomm Jutz.”

What are some of the last albums (CD, vinyl, cassette, et al) you physically purchased (vintage and/or new releases) and which one have you already gone back to listen to more and why? “My most recent purchases are RAYE’s This Music May Contain Hope — I absolutely love it, such a fresh sound and tunes….and Lucinda Williams – The Worlds gone wrong – I love her songwriting, it’s so visceral - she’s the real deal.”

“One of my long-time go-to albums is Taking My Time by Bonnie Raitt. I’ve been listening to it for years — I love every single song on the album, and the way she delivers each one – so authentic and emotive – I have listened to it 10000 times and it never gets old.”

“And I love everything by Gretchen Peters – Woman on the wheel is also one of my favourite albums ever – the songs are just beyond brilliant.”

What would you like all the readers of this interview to know about the new album and what to expect? - “I’d say this album is really about connection — whether that’s love, identity, resilience, or simply understanding each other a little better. Music has always been about connection for me — this album just explores that in a more expansive way.”

“It brings together a lot of different voices, influences, and experiences, but I hope it still feels cohesive and honest. More than anything, I’d love people to find something in it that resonates with their own lives.”

And yes, we ask everyone we interview this very same question (as we are putting together a kid’s book), we here at Exclusive Magazine love Penguins and so we were wondering if you had any love for them and/or had a story of one (soft toy, zoo, chocolate bar, relative, etc.) that you could share with us? “I actually do! I was a competitive swimmer as a child, and my swimming club was called “Penguins” — so I’ve been a proud Penguin myself!”

And finally, we asked Liz if she could please take anew, and never-before-seen photograph of herself, one that would perfectly personify her readiness for the world to hear this new album, and she kindly sent us this photo below.