Heather Leigh West

Heather Leigh West is a New York City based American recording artist best known for her work in house music.

Early Life & Education

Born into a theater family in New York City, West was always surrounded by creative talent. A graduate of Manhattan's prestigious La Guardia High School of Music and the Arts - Vocal Department, it was as a member of the schools Gospel Choir that her unique style began to develop.

inger/Songwriter

West has written and record songs for herself as well as other artists of many genres including: Soul, R&B, Funk, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Dance and House.

House Music

Drop a House

West's commercial debut came as the featured vocalist, credited under the moniker "She," on the 1995 Urban Discharge release "Drop a House". The release peaked at number twenty-one spending eleven weeks on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart and secured it's place as a legendary club anthem. Despite the songs huge club success, "Drop a House" was unable to crossover to the airplay charts because it contained lyrics that were at the time considered explicate. Not credited by name, and later incorrectly credited as someone else on a subsequent vocal version, West would spend the next decade working to prove who "She" was.

Further Releases

In 2000, West, teamed up Eddie X for the release of "Vibe the Underground". The project was later featured on "The Circuit Party Volume 1" compilation.

Joining forces with German music producer Da Hool in late 2003, West wrote and recorded "Set the Stakes High" for Germany's [http://www.KosmoRecords.dr Kosmo Records.] The single's early success in Europe led to its inclusion on numerous compilations worldwide. Soon after "Set the Stakes High" saw it's domestic debut on the American dance label Robbins Entertainment in 2004 where the release climbed to number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart.

In 2004, West was asked to take part in a project with [http://www.figjament.com FIGJAM Records] to benefit the [http://www.aclu.org/lgbt ACLU Foundation’s Lesbian & Gay Rights and AIDS Projects.] The album, a double-disc set titled "Marry Me," with individual discs dubbed "Ceremony" and "Reception," included West's single "Eres Tu," produced by the Bodega Boys. "Marry Me", which also included, among others, music by RuPaul and Ari Gold, was celebrated on November 16, 2004 at a record release gala held at XL in New York's Chelsea neighborhood.

In 2005, West partnered with New York based producer [http://www.djdove.com/index.html DJ Dove] for her next single, "Lift Me." The track, written by West, was released on Catch 22 Recordings and featured additional mixes by DJ Disciple.

The Album

Though still nurturing her career in dance music, West made a departure of sorts from the genre when she began work on her first full length record in late 2005 with New York based music producer [http://www.valentinolarosa.com/ Valentino LaRosa.] The album, a marriage of organic instruments the synthetic sounds familiar to her dance music fans, is perhaps best described as Alternative/Soul. Appropriately titled, "One (Valentino's Heather)" the records name not only marks the first of many to come, but more importantly is a reference to unity. Forever striving to do something different from what she has before, West decided to reproduce the same material with a more laid back musical vibe to create a double release with "One Extra Chilled - HLW On the Rocks". The album is currently available for preview as digital release on iTunes and is planned for official release on CD later in the year. West released a darkly artistic music video for the albums first single "Fall Away." The video is available to view on youtube.com.

Back on the Dancefloor

In late 2007 West returned the studio with music producer DJ Dove to record a new dance single, "Closer", co-written by West and fellow songwriters. The much anticipated single will be her first commercially available dance release since 2005. A big room house anthem, "Closer" beckoning all to "venga mas cerca (Come closer)," is scheduled for release in November 2008 on the Milan, Italy based label Tendenzia Records.

Drop a House (the Reprise)

What happens when a legendary voice reprises a legendary recording? Truths are disclosed and all that was legendary becomes so to an entirely new audience. Nearly 15 years after first recording "Drop a House," West agreed with her fans that it was time to ask the world again "What's she gonna look like with a chimney on her?" West's infamous vocals are sure to rock the walls with the new "Drop a House" just as she did back in the day. The track, to be released by Tommy Boy Entertainment, is scheduled to drop before the years end and will feature remixes by superstar producers!

Commercial Releases

Singles

*1995 - "Drop a House" by Urban Discharge featuring She
*1999 - "Vibe the Underground" by Eddie X presents Heather Leigh West
*2003 - "Set the Stakes High" by Da Hool featuring Heather Leigh West
*2004 - "Eres Tu" by The Bodega Boys featuring Heather Leigh West
*2005 - "Lift Me" by DJ Dove featuring Heather Leigh West
*2008 - "Closer" by DJ Dove featuring Heather Leigh West
*2008 - "Drop a House" by Heather Leigh West

Albums (Digital Release)

*2008 - "One (Valentino's Heather)" & "One Extra Chilled - HLW On the Rocks"

Albums (CD)

*TBD - "One (Valentino's Heather)" & "One Extra Chilled - HLW On the Rocks"

Discography

[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Heather+Leigh+West?noanv=1 HLW Discography from Discogs]

Websites relating to Heather Leigh West

* [http://www.heatherleighwest.com Official HLW Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/heatherleighwest HLW's Official Myspace Page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TiiOhX_-m0 Heather Leigh West - "Fall Away" (Music Video)]
* [http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/HeatherLWestInt.htm HLW Interview with About.com's Dance Music/Electronica Reporter DJ Ron]
* [http://www.heatherleighwest.com For Booking/Management Info Visit the "contact" page on the Official HLW Website]