Heather Leigh West
Encyclopedia
Heather Leigh West is a New York City based American
recording artist best known for her work in house music
.
- Vocal Department, she developed her style as a member of the school's Gospel Choir.
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 its place as a legendary club anthem. Despite the song's huge club success, Drop a House was unable to cross over to the airplay charts because it contained lyrics that were at the time considered explicit. Not credited by name, and later wrongfully credited as someone else on a subsequent vocal version, West would spend the next decade working to prove who "She" was.
West decided to re-record the legendary track Drop a House with DJ Demarko! for release on Tommy Boy Entertainment's imprint Silver Label in 2009. The updated version, at last crediting West, peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Chart.
In association with German music producer Da Hool
in late 2003, West wrote and recorded Set the Stakes High for Germany's Kosmo Records. The single's early success in Europe led to its inclusion on numerous compilations worldwide. Soon after, Set the Stakes High saw its 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 FIGJAM Records to benefit the 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 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.
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 Valentino LaRosa. The album, a marriage of organic instruments and 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 the popular video sharing website, YouTube
.
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)," was released digitally through beatport.com on October 26, 2008.
Also in 2010, HLW returned to the studio to record Don't Hold Back, the much anticipated follow up project with DaHool. The track is slated for release on the German label We Play Records in late 2010.
In the same year, West joined forces with DJ/Producer Nick Harvey for Pure Love. The project credits HLW as Halo, which the artist explained is an alter ego.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist best known for her work in house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
.
Early life and education
Born into a theater family in New York City, West was always surrounded by creative talent. A graduate of Manhattan's La Guardia High School of Music and the ArtsFiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
- Vocal Department, she developed her style as a member of the school's Gospel Choir.
Early Years
West has written and recorded songs for herself as well as other artists of many genres including: Soul, R&B, Funk, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Dance and 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
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
Chart and secured its place as a legendary club anthem. Despite the song's huge club success, Drop a House was unable to cross over to the airplay charts because it contained lyrics that were at the time considered explicit. Not credited by name, and later wrongfully credited as someone else on a subsequent vocal version, West would spend the next decade working to prove who "She" was.
West decided to re-record the legendary track Drop a House with DJ Demarko! for release on Tommy Boy Entertainment's imprint Silver Label in 2009. The updated version, at last crediting West, peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
Chart.
2000s
In 2000, West teamed up with Eddie X for the release of Vibe the Underground. The project was later featured on The Circuit Party Volume 1 compilation.In association with German music producer Da Hool
Da Hool
Frank Tomiczek , better known as Da Hool, is a German DJ and producer. It was in Bottrop that he first honed his skills as a DJ, and by 1990 was an acclaimed performer in his native country....
in late 2003, West wrote and recorded Set the Stakes High for Germany's Kosmo Records. The single's early success in Europe led to its inclusion on numerous compilations worldwide. Soon after, Set the Stakes High saw its domestic debut on the American dance label Robbins Entertainment
Robbins Entertainment
Robbins Entertainment is an American dance music record label. It is owned by Cory Robbins and is responsible for releasing and promoting several new artists, such as Cascada, and their hit single "Everytime We Touch". It is also the company responsible for the Dance Party Like It's.... series and...
in 2004 where the release climbed to number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
Chart.
In 2004, West was asked to take part in a project with FIGJAM Records to benefit the 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
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
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 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.
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 Valentino LaRosa. The album, a marriage of organic instruments and 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 the popular video sharing website, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
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)," was released digitally through beatport.com on October 26, 2008.
2010 & Beyond
In early 2010, West appeared as a featured artist on JFortino's release, Fearless People, which she co-wrote along with JFortino and Dawn Tallman (who is also featured on the recording).Also in 2010, HLW returned to the studio to record Don't Hold Back, the much anticipated follow up project with DaHool. The track is slated for release on the German label We Play Records in late 2010.
In the same year, West joined forces with DJ/Producer Nick Harvey for Pure Love. The project credits HLW as Halo, which the artist explained is an alter ego.
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 (Kosmo, Germany; Robbins Entertainment, USA)
- 2004 - Eres Tu by The Bodega Boys featuring Heather Leigh West
- 2005 - Lift Me by DJ Dove featuring Heather Leigh West (Catch 22 Recordings, USA)
- 2008 - Closer by DJ Dove featuring Heather Leigh West (Tendenzia Records, Italy)
- 2009 - Drop a House by DJ DeMarko featuring Heather Leigh West (Tommy Boy/Silver Label, USA)
- 2010 - Fearless People by JFortino featuring Dawn Tallman and Heather Leigh West
- 2010 - Pure Love by DJ Nick Harvey featuring Halo [a.k.a. Heather Leigh West] (Nick Harvey Music, USA)
- 2010 - Don't Hold Back by Da Hool featuring Heather Leigh West (We Play Records, Germany)
Albums (digital release)
- 2008 - One (Valentino's Heather) & One Extra Chilled - HLW On the Rocks (HLW Music)
Albums (CD)
- TBD - One (Valentino's Heather) & One Extra Chilled - HLW On the Rocks