Amanda West

ABOUT AMANDA WEST: " Songs written from the heart and most beautifully sung from the heart." ~ Peggy MacNeil, Isles FM Radio, Scotland ??deeply-introspective acoustic folk rock with lyrics that have that direct-from-the-diary quality, and gossamer vocals that effortlessly float and shimmer?? ~ The Santa Cruz Good Times "...absolutely engaging, stunning..." ~ Peter Merrett, PBS107.6fm, Australia BIO:

" Songs written from the heart and most beautifully sung from the heart."
~ Peggy MacNeil, Isles FM Radio, Scotland

??deeply-introspective acoustic folk rock with lyrics that have that direct-from-the-diary quality, and gossamer vocals that effortlessly float and shimmer??
~ The Santa Cruz Good Times

"...absolutely engaging, stunning..."
~ Peter Merrett, PBS107.6fm, Australia

BIO:

If an inquisitive mind, an open heart, and a beautiful soul took a walk and discussed what it means to Be, their conversation would sound like the music of philosophical folk songstress, Amanda West.

Amanda has been singing since she was born, playing guitar & songwriting for more than 15 years, and performing for over a decade. People have repeatedly noted she has "the voice of an angel." To accompany her singing, Amanda also occasionally plays the piano, banjo, and djembe, in addition to the guitar. Notable influences include Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, and Loreena McKennitt.

In February 2008, West released her debut full-length studio album, "The Way to the Water", offering 11 original tunes selected from the past decade of her songwriting. The disk has received international radio airplay and drawn rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Peter Merrett of PBS Radio, Australia, called it ??a music manager's dream of an album." The Santa Cruz Good Times described the recording as:

"?a bold examination, both outward and inward, that delves deep into such universal themes as trusting one's instincts in the face of expectations, the search for truth and satisfaction, and love's palpitations and travails. Sparse instrumentation, lush and intimate, focuses the attention on West's voice, gorgeous, selfless and emotive."

John Sandige of KPIG radio has remarked that Amanda writes "songs to think about," as she follows her musical exploration of the question: what does it mean to be human? The songwriter earned her Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology and holds a firm belief in the power of music as an avenue to the experience of world peace and interconnectedness.

Amanda West has graced the stages of Ghengis Cohen in Los Angeles as well as the legendary Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. Festival credits include the Santa Cruz River Arts Festival, The San Francisco Free Folk Festival, the Yakima Folk Festival, as well as the Downtown Berkeley Music Festival in 2008 and 2009. In August of 2009, West co-produces and performs in Womansong ? a multi-artist event featuring eight women songwriters benefiting the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center. The concert takes place in the Spirit Garden of Big Sur.

Regularly performing in and around the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas, Amanda has been commissioned for work in film, and performances at weddings and other private events. Recently she has begun playing with Pete Solomon who accompanies West's original songs on world percussion & classically influenced jazz saxophone. They took this arrangement on the road for West's two and half week ?Yakima N' Back? Summer Tour 2009. The duo expands upon West's solo performances creating a dynamic and emotionally fulfilling experience for audiences of all ages.

West is currently working on her second solo album.


OTHER LINKS:
www.amandawestmusic.com
www.cdbaby.com/amandawest
www.myspace.com/amandawestmusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/amandawest