Lulu West is an NYC-based composer, improviser, songwriter and educator. 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 folk melodies, field recordings and ambient drones 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 consist of a folk/classical guitar duo project entitled Polsky West, a noise rock trio called DUCHESS, 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, abeceda. Ensemble, Quartetto Indaco, the Playground Ensemble,  Russell Greenberg, the Neave Trio and others. Lulu’s mentors include Meredith Monk, Zeena Parkins, Wendy Eisenberg, Mari Rubio, Ka Baird, Yuniya Kwon, Jon Deak, Anthony Cheung, Lu Wang, and Conrad Kehn.

Lulu has performed at venues such as: Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, The PAC, The Memorial Art Gallery, The Owl Music Parlor, The Stone Circle Theater, Gallery 1412 and more. Her work has been supported by residencies at Tippet Rise, GLISS (Sarah Hennies, inti figgis-vizueta and Andrew Yee), the .abeceda Institue and more.

Lulu’s forthcoming albums include: a trio with Billy Martin and Paul Sakai, a trio with Conner Simmons and Paul Sakai, a Polsky West album, and a DUCHESS album.

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

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