A lot of people might confuse Westside: Their Lives Their Music, the new Netflix series (you can watch here), with the singing contests we’re already used to watch on open TV. Anyone who looks from a distance may find it a less boring version of “The Voice”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This original production of the streaming platform makes a point of saying that it has no script. That is: everything we are seeing is part of reality, without makeup, without rehearsals. The plot is simple: the union of nine talented artists to form a musical show that can change their lives.
This mix can be a success or a blatant failure – to find out, you must keep track of it from beginning to end.
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Also, each one needs to deal with their personal demons. The series is very clever at not getting involved or trying to manipulate the participants to come up with a satisfactory result. The nine participants need to deal with the distinct personalities between them and with the issues that move them to achieve success: being recognized, making more money, improving life…
Westside: Their Lives Their Music therefore presents less about the personal history of each of those involved and more about the dream that needs to be achieved, at all costs.
Fame and fortune have always been pursued by these people, even if the motivation behind it is different from each other. The goal, however, is the same. And to get there they face several barriers, which contrary to what was imagined, are not in the artistic field.
This shows that we often let ourselves be sabotaged by our aspirations. We want to achieve success, but the method we use to achieve our dreams can be diverse, which causes shock when it comes to a job that, necessarily, depends on other people to be completed. Westside shows this: the union of several talents who need to be successful in order to reach a common goal, but that go against the personal methods of each person belonging to the group. And, for that, they can put everything to waste.
Synopsis 1: Big dreams. Bigger risks. But when they take the stage, it’s clear: some song are worth singing, no matter the cost.
Synopsis 2: Nine struggling musicians share the spotlight in this deeply personal reality series about the challenges and thrills of staging a Hollywood showcase.