Alice Teeple
Just sit and be I will take you home
Pillow of your own, a bone whatever
You’re lonely, I’m lonely
Lenny Zenith is a rock-and-roll renegade with a history as rich as his riffs. From the soulful streets of New Orleans to the electric energy of New York City, Zenith has blazed a bold path, carving out a career that’s fearless and fascinating.
Zenith’s journey is just as compelling as his catalogue. A pioneering transgender artist, he found his creative footing at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, supported by doctors who helped him navigate his path with care and confidence. He went on to front bands like Jenifer Convertible, Tenterhooks, and Minor Planets, working with industry icons from James Murphy to Wharton Tiers. Sharing stages with U2, Iggy Pop, and The Replacements, he built a legacy of loud, unapologetic artistry.
His latest album, He/Hymn, is a rollicking rollercoaster of sound, melding rock, pop, and country into a high-voltage fusion that’s as dynamic as the artist himself. Every note, every lyric, pulses with passion. His songwriting swings from soaring to searing, weaving stories of love, loss, and longing with poetic precision.
Tracks like One of Us Should Go pack a punch, while Beards of Grey winks at nostalgia with a twang. Ballads like Partly Cloudy Dog and Mask bring a tender touch, highlighting Zenith’s ability to finagle fire and finesse. He pulls listeners in with lyrics that linger and melodies that mesmerize, balancing raw emotion with undeniable charm.
In 2022, Zenith’s anthem Where Is Safe took a stand for trans rights, with proceeds fueling the fight for equality. With He/Hymn, he continues his streak of storytelling, proving that his voice, both musically and culturally, rings louder than ever.
Meet Lenny’s Dogs!
Dogs have always held a special place in my life. One of our first family pets was Coco, a scruffy mutt with a white muzzle and wiry hair. I loved him for his calm demeanor and soulful eyes. Then there was my grandfather’s dog, Poopie, an energetic, mischievous mixed breed who added plenty of excitement.
When my then-girlfriend (now wife) and I moved into our first apartment, we adopted Roxy, a lively Catahoula, Louisiana’s state dog. She was an energetic puppy, and one night, while we were asleep on our waterbed, I awoke to hear a familiar gagging sound. I opened my eyes just in time for Roxy to throw up—directly into my eye! I bolted to the bathroom to wash it out, while Andree, with her deep love for dogs, couldn’t stop laughing. Despite the rough start, we adored Roxy, and now we hope to foster or adopt another dog when we move back to New Orleans soon.
My sister Lulu was a lifelong dog lover who rescued greyhounds from the racetrack and doted on every one of her adopted pets. Tragically, she passed away in a car accident in Colorado with her partner Missy and one of their dogs, Daisy. Just before that, she had laid her beloved greyhound Patrick to rest in the same river where she later died.
During my mother’s grief, I made it my mission to bring my sister’s last greyhound, Sugar, home to her in New Orleans from Marble, Colorado. Sugar brought my mom so much comfort, as did her pit bull Nikki, whom she loved deeply and lost only a few years ago. Over her life, my mom has mostly had mutts, though two loyal German shepherds have also brought her immense joy and comfort, even in the hardest times.
My sister’s passion for animals—and her commitment to rescuing them—inspired my song “Partly Cloudy Dog”. She was always adamant that buying an expensive pedigree dog was unconscionable with so many abandoned and mistreated dogs in need of homes.
Living in a small New York City apartment makes it challenging to have a dog of my own, but I’m lucky to get frequent visits from my friend James’ dog, Levon. Levon sometimes spent times with me and James — who’s also my neighbor and producer, in the studio when we’re working on He/Hymn, and I love having him around.
Throughout my life, dogs have been a constant source of love and connection, weaving their way into my family’s story and leaving an enduring impact on us all.
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