Lulu West is a NYC based composer, improviser, performance artist and educator. She is focused in heavy music that is deeply layered with vocal quivers, field recordings, interviews, and prepared guitar. Her music is guided by rural queer and trans histories as she looks to create experiences of communal healing. Lulu is specifically fascinated by how historical folk melodies and subtly prepared acoustic instruments can merge with the freakiness of harsh noise, hardcore, power electronics and experimental found-sound sampling. A natural product of this work has resulted in making performance art that physically challenges trans bodies.

Lulu’s main collaborative projects at the moment consist of a folk/classical guitar duo project entitled Polsky West, a noise rock trio called DUCHESS, a metal band called MZZTR, and a free-improv duo with percussionist Paul Sakai.

Lulu’s contemporary compositional works have been performed by ensembles and individuals such as, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Yo-Yo Ma, The International Contemporary Ensemble, The Akropolis Reed Quintet, Kinan Azmeh, Quartetto Indaco, The Playground Ensemble, Russell Greenberg, The Neave Trio and others. Very importantly, Lulu’s main mentors and teachers in her sound related endeavors have been Meredith Monk, Wendy Eisenberg, Mari Rubio, Ka Baird, Yuniya Kwon, Jon Deak, Anthony Cheung, Lu Wang, Erik DeLuca, Kristina Warren, Conrad Kehn.

Lulu holds undergraduate degrees in Performance Studies and Music from Brown University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the Performer/Composer program at The New School.

Lulu is currently a lead teaching artist for the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composers Program and Philharmonic Schools Program, as well as for the Community-Word Project.

If you are interested in working with her in any capacity please reach her at: luluwestluluwest@gmail.com