The Kurt West Express

Moody alternative country rocker Kurt West, from Westlock Alberta, will be unleashing his soulful debut album in early 09 tentavely titled The Kurt West Express, The upcoming album is inspired by a vagabond lifestyle filled with booze, drugs, woman, fast cars, and trucking across long stretches of blacktop in North America listening to outlaw country radio and writing songs on his acoustic guitar during breaks. "I write songs about real people, real situations, the people I have met, and things I have gone through, things I have lived and things I have seen" says the young songwriter. When questioned about the content of the material he explains. "there is enough people writing bubble gum pop country. I want to write for those that are in trouble, those that are struggling to gain hope, and struggling through addiction and pain. I want those people to know that they are not alone. I want them to know they have a friend". Two years of clean living has helped him focus his mind and motivate his career and take his music into a thoughtful and structured direction where old and new audiences are now beginning to feel the impact, and appreciate his artistic voice as a contemporary Albertan born singer-songwriter on the international scene. When talking about the past, Kurt Explains "I was going through a particularly dark time in my life dealing with my own demons, same as a lot of people do I guess. It was either continue down that path and end up dead in a ditch somewhere or turn my life around and try to live out some of the goals and dreams I have. I guess it took me a while to see I wasn't given these gifts for nothing". His highly evolved songwriting skills touch on subjects of death, the loss of love, ugliness, beauty, and redemption. His hard hitting haunting style reflects a man who has lived life on the dark side but also showcases a sincerity and tenderness exposing a full range of emotions with hard hitting soulful intensity. He has played music most of his life honing his musicality in bands ranging from hard core metal to solo acoustic gigs. He has had the opportunity to share the stage with Canadian greats such as legendary Tom Jackson, rising star Shane Yellowbird, Laura Vinson, and Will Belcourt among many other greats. His has played some big stages in front of thousands, but is not afraid to enter an open microphone jam-night to showcase his abilities alone with just an acoustic guitar, a microphone and his voice. This year Kurt has many plans to establish himself as a talented and worthy artist on the Albertan, Canadian and world scene. 2009 will be his year to shine.