SETLIST: Sondre Lerche 9.7.12

One of our favorite singer-songwriters, Sondre Lerche, turns 30 today! To celebrate we have made a playlist of some of our favorite of his tunes over the years. Treat yourself with a listen and snag your tickets to see him perform live at 9:30 Club this Friday.

Sondre Lerche is a fascinating study in the cross-cultural spread of musical influences. Born in Norway, Lerche grew up listening to British Invasion pop alongside good old fashioned American rock and roll. As he matured, so did his musical palette, expanding to include jazz and Brazilian bossa nova. These sounds combine in Lerche’s melting pot to form a unique kind of jazzy indie pop, one without the bravado of some of Lerche’s contemporaries. Lerche is a sort of toned-down, more delicate Gotye or Tallest Man On Earth – a textured pop musician born in a foreign country, but having garnered enough experiences abroad to rightfully call himself a citizen of the world. He sings quietly over mellow yet taut arrangements, but what he sings is golden, so listen close.

After six studio albums Lerche is back on the road. His 2011 release, Sondre Lerche, received rave reviews across the board – and it should be noted that he saved his eponymous titling, often something artists use as a means of self-definition, until this release; this record really counts. It’s the sort of music perfect for a sunny day at the beach, a road trip, or a drive through the mountains. Having played the 9:30 Club last year, concertgoers know they can expect a lush, gorgeous, and varied set by a (shockingly still somewhat underground) craftsman and multi-instrumentalist. Don’t miss this special opportunity to see a singer, who pours so much of himself into his music, in such an intimate venue.

-Kelsey Butterworth

Click here to listen to Sondre’s latest Daytrotter Session. 

Tickets for Sondre Lerche are on sale now.

Photo Credit: Eric Ray Davidson

Sondre Lerche is quite the charmer. His voice soars, his songs poetic, there is a seemingly wide-eyed innocence about him despite the deep emotional insight given in his lyrics.

That said, what you might not have known is that every year Sondre gives a cover of his favorite song of the year to his fans, and his choice of Beyonce’s ‘Countdown’ for his 2011 gift might be his most challenging (and our favorite) so far! You would think the choppiness of the song would throw Lerche, but no, he perseveres to the chorus with such a lovely tone it could grow any Grinch’s heart 4x.

Click the photo above to hear his cover as premiered by Stereogum.