About L. Marie Cook



L. MARIE COOK is a musician, author, and artist. She plays both the acoustic and electric ukulele, and keyboard/piano. The WILD HEARTS EP is her 9th studio release and solo debut. Combining  90s art-pop, alternative rock and reggae influences the WILD HEARTS EP creates an atmosphere of stormy emotion as breathtaking and dynamic as the ocean itself. Her poetic, nature-inspired imagery and smoky, vocals will carry you to the coasts and lead you through the woods of all your favorite sacred places. L. Marie Cook got her professional start as the front-runner and main songwriter for SheGo! (2005-2009) a Reggae-Rocksteady band based out of Hilo, Hawaii, releasing a full length self-titled album. In 2009 she moved to Los Angeles and after a fateful meeting with Kent Hertz (Steve Miller Band) and LaniaKea Cleary (Backstreet Boys) she helped create the electronic rock  band, SlowStart (2010-2013) releasing a self-titled EP and two music videos. Later L. Marie and Laniakea formed Luv Maschine, an electronic-dance duo (2013-2015) where they self-produced and released “Killin’ Em” EP and  two singles “Polaroid Dreams” and  “Badonk-a-Donk” (Hookisonic)  which rose to #7 on Beatport's Hip-Hop charts.  With the help of Shane Black (Leathal Weapon, The Nice Guys, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) Luv Maschine produced a major-production music video for the self-titled single Killin’ Em. In 2019,  L. Marie Cook collaborated with Agent Jay (the Slackers) lending vocals for the songs “Soft Landing”  and "Stowaway" for his Crazy Baldhead release “Go Oasis.” She has also collborated with DJ/Producer Michaelis; the reggae inspired “Boom-er-rang” and the house-downtempo, “Believe in Me” in 2015. Her published works include Not Crazy, Crying Out (Poems 2018),  It's Just What Comes Out of Me (Poems 2017), Boton Halk and Other Erotic Stories (2016) and Lay Me Down (2011) a memoir which took First Prize in the Wild Card Division of the 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival and Honorable Mention at the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival. Writer's Digest dubbed it a "No-holds barred portrait of a troubled but resilient girl/woman."  Kirkus called it "An entertaining, cheeky and simple memoir of a rouge teenage girl." She is the editor of a women’s anthology, Wild Women’s Medicine Circle (2017). She has a forthcoming novel (2021), Vagabond Lover and the Gypsy Tears. Her writing can be found on Rat's Ass Review, The Legendary, Airplane Reading, and Guerilla Reads.   As a visual artist L. Marie Cook specializes in mixed media, working mostly in collage, charcoal and acrylic. She will often incorporate her poetry and writing into her work and uses many of her pieces as the cover-art for her books. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and commutes to Los Angeles, CA. 

 

 

CV

LESLIE MARIE COOK



FORMAL EDUCATION
2009                University of Hawaii at Hilo, B.A.- Communication and Mass Media- Hilo, HI
2004                SEA-MESTER- Marine Science, Navigation, S.S. Ocean Star, Lesser Antilles, West Indies
2004                Alexander W. Dryfoos School of the Arts, Theatre-Costume Design, Photography -West Palm Beach, FL

CONTINUED EDUCATION
2018                New York Academy of Art, Still Life Drawing and Painting, Adam Cross, Fall Cont. Ed. New York, NY
                        New York Academy of Art, Figure Atelier, Robert Armetta, Fall Cont. Ed. New York, NY
The Arts Student League of New York, Constructive Figure Drawing from Life, John Varriano, New York, NY
The Arts Student League of New York, Anotomical Drawing from Life, Sherry Camhy, 
New York, NY
                        The Compleat Sculptor, Casting Overview, New York, NY
2016                Algonkian NYC Pitch Conference, Marketing and Publishing, Susan Breen, New York, NY
2015                Bali Center for Artistic Creativity, Artist in Residence (Spring), (Abstract, Color Theory, Mixed Media, Wet on Wet, Oil Painting), Bruce Sherrat, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
                        Life Drawing Montmartre, Drawing from Life/Anatomy (Fall), Maria Kuzma-Kuzniarska PhD., Paris, FR
                        Sackett Street Writer’s Workshop, Creative Non-Fiction, Spring Session, Brian Gresko, Brooklyn, NY
2010-2013       Writer’s Workshops Los Angeles, Creative Non-Fiction, Chris Daley PhD, Los Angeles, CA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2019                The Art Students League, Artist Model, (Drawing/Painting, long and short poses)
Ronnie Landfield, Robert Cenedella, Leonid Gervits, Marilyn Friedman, Marshall Jones, Costa Vavagiakis, Greg Kreutz, Henry Finklestein, Frank O’Cain, Harvey Dinnerstein, John Varriano, Michael Burban, Jerry Weiss, Garin Baker, Naomi Campbell, Fred Wong, Greg Follender , New York, NY
Costa Vavagiakis, Artist Model (private), Brooklyn, NY
Drawing New York, Artist Model, Life Drawing, Simon Levinson, National Arts Club New York, NY
Salmagundi Arts Club, Artist Model, Life Drawing, Marshall Jones, New York, NY
2018                The Art Students League, Art Model, (Drawing/Painting, long and short poses)
Wendy Shalen, Marshall Jones, Costa Vavagiakis, Robert Cenedella, Edmond Rochat, Henry Finklestein, Leonid Gervits, Frank O’ Cain, Jerry Weiss, Ronnie Landfield, Sherry Camhy, New York, NY
Drawing New York, Artist Model, Instructed Life-Drawing, Simon Levinson, National Arts Club, New York, NY
The Compleat Sculptor, Artist Model, Sunday’s The Quick Sketch in Clay, M. A. Ambroise, New York, NY
DMS Sculpture Studio, Temporary Studio Assistant, Queens, NY
The Future of Sex w/LIPS-zine exhibit, Form Model- Body Casting, Marc Fields (The Compleat Sculptor) New York, NY
2017                Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park- Website re-design- Wordpress,
New York, NY
Trupal Pandya- ghost writing/copywiriting for Fine Art/ Photography, New York, NY
J. Mulhearn, Website design, Wordpress/Blogger, New York, NY
2015                Ink. Paper. Plate- Figure Drawing Monitor, Studio Assistant, Sirima Sataman, Pt. Reyes, CA
2014                Photoshoot Project Los Angeles, Model, Los Angeles, CA
2013                Dana Lee Calabrese, Model for photography, Los Angeles, CA
2012                Brandy Engler PhD, Copyedit, Libido, Los Angeles, CA
                        FOOD + LAB, Copywriting, packaging, Nino Mier, Los Angeles, CA
2011                SMLXL Supply Co, Copywriting, Fashion Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA
                        Best Friends Animal Society, “Swatch Steals the Show on Project Runway,” online
2010                Kole Imports, Marketing Manager, Carson, CA
2008                Ke Kalahea, Arts and Culture Section Editor, (photographer) Hilo, HI
2007                Ke Kalahea, Arts and Culture Staff Writer, (photographer) Hilo, HI
2003                The Wiz”, (Stage Production) Wardrobe/Costume Dept., Dryfoos School of the Arts Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL
2002                Macy’s Spring Preview (Fashion Show), Wardrobe Assistant, Miami Beach, FL
                        Zombie Prom”, (Stage Production) Pompano Beach Playhouse, Penelope Williams, Pompano Beach, FL
2001                Peter Pan”, (Stage Production) Wardrobe Dept. Costume Mistress, Dryfoos School of the Arts Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL
2000                A Chorus Line”, (Stage Production) Lighting Dept. Dryfoos School of the Arts Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL
                        You Can’t Take it with You”, (Stage Production) Wardrobe /Costume Dept. Dryfoos School of the Arts Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL
                        “The Taffetas” (Stage Production) Understudy, Wardrobe /Costume Dept. Dryfoos School of the Arts Theatre, West Palm Beach, FL
1994                “A Christmas to Remember” (Stage Production) Lead Actor, New Community Church- Wellington, FL
“A Christmas to Remember” (Condescend Preview- Parade Production)- Lead Actor, New Community Church, Wellington, FL
1991                “Wellington” (Print Publication)- Lifestyle Model (Child)- Wellington, FL

TV/FILM
2019                Dare 2 Draw”, (Television Show), Artist Model- Manhattan Neighborhood Network Charles D. Chenet, New York City, NY
                        Baby Cobra”, L. Marie Cook (Music Video), Featured Artist, Producer, Barbados, West Indies
2014                “License to Paint” (Unpublished Documentary), Featured Artist (Muralist/Street Artist), Back Bay Productions, Pam Glennon, Los Angeles, CA
“Killin’ Em” (Music Video), Producer, Co-Director, Featured Artist (Luv Maschine), Los Angeles, CA
2012                “I Feel For You”  - SlowStart – (Music Video) Projection Model/Vocalist- Cavalier Artist Group, Clifford Cruz/Kent Hertz, Los Angeles, CA
“Turn Your Lights Down Low”  - SlowStart – (Music Video) Vocalist- Cavalier Artist Group, Kent Hertz, Los Angeles, CA
Guerilla Reads, (Filmed Public Reading) Lay Me Down, Los Angeles Book Fair, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA
2000                Do You Want to Know A Secret”, (Feature Film), Background Actor, Kermit Christman/ Margot Hartman Lake Worth, FL



EXHIBITIONS
2019                UP! Mag- Group Exhibition, The Storefront Project, LES, New York, NY
2016                Trupal Pandya-, Solo Exhibition for Trupal Pandya, plaque copy, artist statement, photo narratives, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY
2014                Bad Manners – Solo Exhibition, Asylum, Los Angeles, CA


COMMISSIONS
2019                H.Walker-, Mixed Media on Canvas, 48” x 36”, Melbourne, Australia
2018                D. Connor- Mixed Media on board, 24” x 36”, New York, NY
            A. D’or – Mixed Media on canvas, 24” x 36”, New York, NY
2015                MTV,  “Awkward” Commissioned Mural/Scenic design, Mixed Media, 20’ x 30’, Theresa Norton, Los Angeles, CA
H.Walker- Mixed Media on Canvas, 48” x 36”, Melbourne, Australia
                        K. Lloyd - Mixed Media on Canvas, 24” x 36, Los Angeles, CA
                        A. Sawenko- Mural, exterior acrylic, 25’ x 10’, Taubmans Sponsorship, Venus Bay, Australia
2014                Anonymous –Nude Portraits Drawings (2), Charcoal on Paper, 48” x 36,
Los Angeles, CA
South End Wine Bar, Multiple Private Commissions, custom designed, hand-poured candles in recycled wine bottles, Mario Vallera, Venice, CA
                        Bar Toscana, Private Commission, (40) custom hand-poured candles in recycled wine bottles, Los Angeles, CA
2013                M. Abruscato, (50) custom centerpieces, custom-made hand-poured candles in mason jars with handmade paper, linocut print labels, and Wooden hand-bound guestbook, Los Angeles, CA

WRITING/PRESS
2019                Up! Mag, Volume 1 “Money” – Artist Interview, print/online publication
2018                Not Crazy, Crying Out, (Poetry) Amazon Publishing
                        The Legendary,  (Poems) “The Artist”,  “Little Voices”, “Gas Powered”, “The Heart Works”, “Strange Girl”, online publication
2017                Wild Women’s Medicine Circle (Anthology), Editor/Curator, Amazon Publishing
                        Boton Halk and Other Erotic Stories, (Short Fiction), Amazon Publishing
2016                It’s Just What Comes Out of Me, (Poetry), Amazon Publishing
Rat’s Ass Review, (Poems) “Van Morrison”, “It’s Just What Comes Out of Me”, “Guys”, Online publication
2012                Airplane Reading, “Lightning Crashes” (Short Story) online publication
2011                Lay Me Down, (Creative Non-Fiction), Amazon Publishing
2008                Ke Kalahea, “Ozomatli”,  “Vagina Monologues”,  “Reggae Fest”,  “Grease Gate”,  “BJ Penn vs George St. Pierre”, Hilo, HI
                        World Extreme Fighter,  “Tabata Drills”, Online Publication
2007                Ke Kalahea, various Arts and Culture articles, Hilo, HI

LIVE PERFORMANCE (MUSIC)
2019                      Arlene’s Grocery, L. Marie Cook (full band), New York City, NY
Silverlake Lounge, L. Marie Cook (full band), Los Angeles, CA
Winter’s Tavern, L. Marie Cook (full band), Pacifica, CA
The Waypost, L. Marie Cook (full band), Portland, OR
HI Portland Northwest Hostel, L. Marie Cook (full band-short set), Portland, OR
Substation, L. Marie Cook (full band), Seattle, WA
Ballard Farmer’s Market, L. Marie Cook (full band), Seattle, WA
The Unknown, L. Marie Cook (solo), Sixty-Sixth Congress, Lucy Shelby, Brooklyn, NY
Sixty-Sixth Congress, L. Marie Cook (full band) Brooklyn, NY                       
111 East Bar- L. Marie Cook, (Sit in w/Arturo Tappin), Speightstown, Barbados
2018                Otto’s Shrunken Head L. Marie Cook (full band) New York, NY
Troost L. Marie Cook   (solo), Brooklyn, NY
2016                Troost L. Marie Cook (solo), Brooklyn, NY
Private Event             L. Marie Cook (solo), Miami Beach, FL
Pete’s Candy Store L. Marie Cook (open mic), Brooklyn,
2015                Café Ozmos L. Marie Cook (3 solo sets), In support of Donna Lorraine, Paris, FR
The Evening Muse L. Marie Cook (open mic), Charlotte, NC
HopMonk Tavern, L. Marie Cook (open mic), Sabastopol, CA
Smiley’s Saloon L. Marie Cook (Full Set- solo), Bolinas, CA
Deer Lodge, L. Marie Cook (open mic), Ojai, CA
2014                Velvet Margarita, Luv Maschine (electronic duo), (Cahuenga Block Party), Hollywood, CA
2012                ER Bradly’s L. Marie Cook (duo set), West Palm Beach, FL
Longboards L. Marie Cook, (Sit-in w/Spread the Dub) West Palm Beach, FL
Viper Room L. Marie Cook (Pole-lympics), West Hollywood, CA
Planet Dailies/Mixology 101   L. Marie Cook, (July-Aug, Saturday Residency w/DJ + Live percussion + horns) West Hollywood, CA
Kibitz Room SlowStart, Los Angeles, CA
Universal Bar and Grille (x2) SlowStart, Burbank, CA
King King SlowStart, Hollwood, CA
Viper Room-SlowStart, West Hollywood, CA
Whiskey-a- Go-Go-SlowStart, West Hollywood, CA
The Good Hurt -SlowStart, Mar Vista, CA
Molly Malones SlowStart, Los Angeles, CA
Libertine on Sunset SlowStart, West Hollywod, CA
2008                Emerald Orchid SheGo!,  December, Hilo, HI
Emerald Orchid, SheGo!, February, Hilo, HI
2007                Emerald Orchid, SheGo!, November, Hilo, HI
                                    House Party, SheGo!, Hilo, HI


AWARDS
2012                Los Angeles Book Festival, First Prize, Wild Card Division, Lay Me Down,  Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Book Festival, Honorable Mention, Non-Fiction Division, Lay Me Down, Los Angeles, CA



MEDIA
body movement, vocals, song writing, poetry, acrylic, oil, pastel (oil + chalk), charcoal, graphite, ink, collage, wheat-paste, piano, ukulele, poetry, fiction/non-fiction stencils, linocut, glass-cutting, paper-making, hand-poured candles, book-binding, sewing, upcycling/recycling, photography, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Snapseed, Microsoft Office Suite (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), Instagram, Twitter, Etsy, Wordpress, Blogger, Google Products/Docs/Drive, Apple/Mac, Garageband, iMovie, Dropbox, , journalism, marketing, copywriting, copyediting