Lee's solo career started at the age of 16, while he was still in Noise Addict. He began recording his first solo album, "Grandpaw Would", in both Sydney and Chicago with producer Brad Wood. This was followed by the 1997 album, "Something to Remember Me By", also produced by Wood. An alternate version of his song "Burn to Shine", produced by T-Bone Burnett, played over the end credits of the film "Best Men". Lee was then featured on the "There's Something About Mary" soundtrack, with the song "How to Survive a Broken Heart". 1998's "Breathing Tornados", released on Pavlovic's new label Modular, marked a new direction for Lee as he introduced synthesisers and increased instrumentation into his sound.