ABOUT
Lena Rich is an americana singer/songwriter artist known for her commanding voice, vivid lyrics, and melodies that stay with you. With songs that celebrate the beauty of the natural world, the depth of human connection, and the magic of moments that stick, Lena gracefully dances between catchy melodies and poignant storytelling, offering an entirely unique sound inspired by folk traditions. Having shared the stage with artists such as Anais Mitchell and Antje Duvekot and played festivals such as Red Ants Pants and Ossipee Valley, Lena is already making her way as a distinctive singer/songwriter in the folk landscape.
A graduate of Oberlin College & Conservatory, Lena designed her own major, pulling from elements of music composition, poetry, and performance. As a recipient of the National Parks artist in residency grant in Capitol Reef, Utah, she spent a month living alone in the desert writing and recording. She is currently working on a record with the music from her residency featuring collaborations with Bozeman artists and production from Juniper Sound in NYC, slated to be released in the fall of 2025.
Inspiration
Growing up on the coast of Maine gave me a strong relationship with the outdoors from a young age. I feel most connected to my creativity when I'm immersed in nature. Although it's not always conscious, I find I write most about human connection, concepts of home, and moments that stick in my mind, mundane or not. The process of writing a song from start to finish is really what lights me up the most. I've yet to find a more invigorating feeling.
I’m always finding inspiration in the music I was raised on: classic 60s and 70s songwriters like Carole King, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell. I’m also heavily influenced by contemporary roots music and songwriters such as Gillian Welch, Adrianne Lenker, Elliot Smith, and Bridget Kearney.
Process
I've been drawn to making music my entire life. Whether it was banging on the keys of an upright piano in my grandfather's lap as a toddler, playing fiddle around a campfire or performing around the U.S., music has always been my rock - grounding me, teaching me, inspiring me and connecting me with community. I've been a part of bluegrass bands, jazz bands, folk bands and played classical music but my original music remains the most "me", genre-less and ever-evolving.
Collaboration is essential for my creativity. I love partnering with other artists and producers to see what we can create.
