Aussie tunesmith savors doing her own thing

Australian-born singer-songwriter Lenka Kripac, better known as Lenka, will kick off her first China tour in support of her new album, The Shadows. It marks her transition to being a new mother, an independent singer-songwriter and her departure from the upbeat commercial hits on her previous two albums, such as The Show and Trouble Is a Friend.

"When I left my label, I felt very liberated and wanted to try being completely in charge for once. To be in the studio with no one's expectations but your own is a pretty special kind of happiness," says Lenka, 36.

The singer-songwriter's third album is a step in a different direction. Released on her own Skipalong Records, The Shadows keeps Lenka's voice soft and sweet. She describes the new album as "lullabies for adults".