About Me
Most artists are inspired by nature, family, love, and everyday living. Likewise, so am I... however, my inciting inspiration came from a grapefruit.I threw a grapefruit at the door and watched the juice trickle down after a family argument. Ironically, it had to hit the door to hit me. As Nietzsche once said, "We create art because we need it, if we're happy we don't create." Through this moment, stemmed my first song "Fantasy Child". Since then, I've written over 80 songs and recorded around 20.I grew up in a musical Russian family living in New York City. My father is a legendary jazz musician known in Russia as Vladimir Sermakashev or Vlad West in America. He is my hero and I am his apprentice.Now I am 20 years old and studying at New York University-Tisch School of the Arts (screenwriting), continuing my three passions of life: music, writing (Film in Tisch), and art. I've worked through Musician's Union in many different places; festivals, libraries, etc. I've also performed from American Theatre Wing, had a show with my original songs at CBGB's, Singer's Forum, and various other open mic's around the city.In music, I received an award from the Bertelsmann Foundation (SonyBMG) World of Expression for the vocal composition "Runaway". Three of my songs were picked up for the Witchblade TV Series (subsidiary of J.L. Ferri Entertainment) as well.I teamed up with a NY producer and came up with the song "Goodbye". This is my first professionally recorded song which I took home and added some "extra flavors" to. :0) I have a home studio where I arrange the majority of my songs after learning from my father. Though, it is very difficult to pull off recordings when I haven't any real guitars to work with. "Escape" and "Taken" I attempted to arrange on my own... Now, I just got an Amazing band going! Stay tuned! There will be more songs, videos and news on the way!Check it out!Best,
Laura West
