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Some Stuff About Me
What d'ya wanna know?

Grew up in Obamaland (Hyde Park, Chicago), London UK and some obscure
boarding school in the French mountains.

Started studying piano, age 8, in London.
First song: 'Tuna Fish, Quite A Dish!'
(Points to patient parents...)

Composed a musical, age 15, based on Grimm's fairy tales, including a doo-wop song for peas (bigging up the colour green).
Started a covers band at 15,
playing Ramones songs with a great guitarist Connie, who drove a vintage 1968 VW Beetle.
Went off to university and formed
a band playing original compositions.
Rocked the house in Beineke Plaza.
 
Came to London with a suitcase full of songs. Learned guitar. Formed a band, played gigs, festivals, radio, 'generated label interest.' Released own album.
Went solo. Became a studio musician, spending hours writing and recording hundreds of songs. Thankfully, did not develop RSI.
Highlights: CBGB's NYC (ooh cool!), Connecticut TV (not so cool), Chicago single release ('Safety In Numbers'), mobbed like a proper pop star at EuroPop Music Festival, courted by Island Records, demo on Radio One, White Room appearance alongside Lou Reed.
More highlights: 'Runner Up' in Song Of The Year Competition, Semi-Finalist in UK Songwriting Contest, chosen by Dario Marianelli to score a scene for Atonement in an international competition (BAFTA), Royal Gala song premiere at the Royal Academy of Music.
Likes: avocados, springboard diving, tigers, yoga, dogs, talking deeply, sun-dried tomatos, cross-country skiing, making stuff.
Hates: greed, shame, abuse, anchovies,
scary movies, sexist jokes, being humourless, brussel sprouts, getting ill.
Committed to: animal welfare, human rights, personal healing, the earth's protection and trying to keep an eye on what really matters.
Got her name from Maurice Sendak's 'Where The
Wild Things Are'
 

welcome to www.monicamaxwest.com