Backstage Pass with... Ari Hest
Music and Life On The Road with Ari Hest
By Sharon Chapman
Ari Hest may not be a household name just yet, but that will likely change in the new year. The 25-year-old Bronx, New York native has been touring college campuses and other venues virtually nonstop for the last several years, and his Columbia Records debut CD, "Someone To Tell," was released in August, along with the single, "They're On To Me." Hest took time out from his recent tour in order to talk to TunedInMusic.com about life on the verge of the Big Time.
Tuned in Music (TI) - How has your life changed
since your label CD was released?
Ari Hest (AH) - Well, I was touring a lot before Columbia came along, so really not so much in terms of being away from home. I expected to be doing what I'm doing now which is being out on the road most of my year. What's changed more so than anything is that instead of just doing a gig on the day of a gig it's now going to a radio station, or maybe two or three that day, and playing, and also doing interviews. Anything that I can do to promote the record. It's really cool that I'm able to get that opportunity. But it's also pretty tiring. It takes a toll. Sometimes you just want to have some down time, and you're not allotted that time. But it comes along with being on the label, and I understand that.
TI - On the concept of time -- you've been touring pretty nonstop lately, but you have a bit of a blank space on your tour calendar right now. Do you have any plans for that time?
AH - That's scheduled time for me to regroup, actually. And the band, too. We've been going at it so hard. That day that I flew into New Jersey to do that show [Writers in the Raw - see our Headliners section for the accompanying article] that was one of their last days off. We haven't had much time off since then, and that was just one day. Really we haven't had a break of longer than three days in months. So, they all need some rest. So do I. When you play every day you start to need a break. Not just physically, and for your voice, but mentally.
Luckily, we're not tired of the songs, which is good. I've seen that happen to bands before, when they get kind of tired of doing the same thing. We try to keep it fresh. Everybody is happy, but also tired. I think this is going to be a well deserved month and a half off.
TI - You appear much more comfortable performing with your band than you were in the past. How has your performing evolved during the past couple of years?
AH - I've just recently found the band that I really wanted to find. I have guys that really add to what I do and guys who force me to complement them, which is something I've never experienced before. It was always about me and my guitar. This is more of a band than I've ever had. It's much more fun. It's fun to challenge yourself and make yourself a part of a group instead of just having to be the forefront guy. It's just a really interesting experience and I'm glad I'm having it. My performance has benefited greatly from it. So has my writing -- I'm writing a lot more, as if I was part of a band instead of as if I was just going to pull off the songs alone.
TI - How has your writing changed recently?
AH - If you listen to "Someone to Tell," while I am
proud of all the songs, I think you can tell that there are some of them
that were
written
to be played alone, at least at first. You can kind of tell the way I
play guitar on them that I wasn't necessarily thinking about a band when
I wrote them. Then there are some, the newer ones like "Anne Marie,"
"Someone To Tell," and "A Fond Farewell," which show a little more
maturity in my writing and they leave room for a band.
TI - Recently you've appeared on shows like Last Call with Carson Daly, ESPN's Cold Pizza and even on MLB TV. How did that come about?
AH - I think it's part of being on a label, that you have some people trying to help you get on TV shows and radio shows. I'm lucky for the opportunity. I never had that kind of thing before. I didn't even have a song on the radio until six or seven months ago. It's a big deal. It's the kind of thing when you go into a new town and nobody knows who you are, you need to somehow stay in people's minds. This is where my label comes in where it really helps. I hope to do a lot more TV next year.
TI - After being on the road so long, what was it like coming back home to play in New York City in November?
AH - I got to see family -- that was great. I got to see my apartment, which needed a lot of help. I had forgotten the way I had left it. But in three days it's tough to restore everything you had before and that's why this month and a half is going to help keep me grounded for a little while, and at least for a while I can make believe that I actually live in New York.
TI - What venue would you most like to play in the future?
AH - I've played The Fillmore in San Francisco. The history of that venue is very rich. You can tell with all the posters and pictures all over the walls there. We played there about four or five months ago and it went very well and I would love to play there again. It sounds so good and it feels like a part of something bigger there than I have had at any venue that I've ever been. I'd love to play there again.
TI - With whom would you like to collaborate in the future?
AH - Too many people to list. There are some lofty ones like Paul McCartney, my hero. I'd love to write a song with Bjork. I'd love to write a song with Jason Faulkner. People who inspire me the most are the ones that I want to write with the most. I'd like to write with people who show me some sort of new direction.
I have a drummer right now, Scott Seiver. One of the biggest reasons, aside from him being a great drummer, that he's in the band, is that he challenges me to think outside the box, which I never did before. I think about experimenting a lot more than I'm used to, which I think is really good.
TI - You have a pretty solid fan base, including the A-Team. When did that start?
AH - A couple of years back. It was just a way to create a little label. My brother and I were the only people who were working on the label, but at the same time we had all these, and we still have sort of these, interns in a way. They help out by promoting the shows and they help out by sending samplers to friends. This was the way that we knew how to do things before Columbia came around. We knew that we had to do something like this to spread the word.
TI - How has the Internet influenced your career?
AH - It's been a big, big part of my career. I encourage tape trading. I think it's a good thing. Our live show is something that's important to me. I think that if someone just heard me on a CD that they're not getting everything that they could possibly get out of me and if they came to a show they would understand better, so if somebody downloads a show it's only good for me. And people can go and check my website out.
TI - What is the favorite-fan related experience that you have had?
AH - I did a show about a year ago in Indianapolis. It was a 21 and over how and I had a lot of fans that I didn't even know about before the gig who were just a little bit under 21 and they waited outside during the show. After the show I came outside and played for them in the parking lot and it was a great vibe. I felt like I was doing something that was important and they certainly appreciated it. I would love to do that kind of thing again, but those kids are probably over 21 by now. But maybe somewhere else.
TI - For the flip side, what has been your least comfortable fan encounter?
AH - My life hasn't been threatened yet. There are some people who overstep boundaries when they write to you or come to you at a show and sort of approach you in a weird way. There are things that go on that you're not expecting and show you that some people have a screw loose. I can't specifically say one instance. I do know that I've gotten some e-mails that are close to threatening, in terms of, "you know, you shouldn't have joined the label," or "I'm never listening to you again because you played here instead of there." Just weird, weird things like that that you don't know how to respond to, so you don't. You sort of just leave them be.
TI - What inspired you to become a musician?
AH - Music, I guess. It runs in my family. My parents are both musicians. I get inspired by other music -- it makes me want to write.
TI - Not many performers have their college degrees. How has your education influenced your career?
AH - I don't know that it's influenced my career, but it's a nice backup in case something goes wrong, or if one day my voice doesn't feel like working anymore. Something that's there for me in case I need it. When I was going through the process of the education system I didn't necessarily appreciate what I was learning but I do appreciate that I have a degree. Let's hope I won't need it.
TI - Your song "Strangers Again" was chosen to appear on the show "Days of Our Lives." What was that like for you?
AH - That made me laugh when I heard it. I don't watch soap operas, but I certainly heard of that one. It's really my first song that's been used in any TV show and that in itself is cool.
TI - What is the best part about being on the road?
AH - The best part, besides getting away, is that you become really close with the band. Not just because you're around them all the time. You wind up doing so much with them. You eventually find things in common that are not even music-related. Now they're my best friends.
TI - Of all the songs you've written, which one is your favorite?
AH - I think "Someone to Tell" and "Anne Marie" are probably my most well-written songs. But it's hard to think of a favorite. I don't really think that way.
TI - How will you know when you've "Made it"?
AH - [Laughing] I don't think in those terms either. "Making it" is very relative. I feel that I've "made it" in a lot of ways. I never expected to make it this far. I'm perfectly happy doing what I'm doing right now at this level.
TI – What do you envision for your career five years down the line?
AH - I just want to make more albums, different sounding albums. See where my writing goes. Already after I made "Someone To Tell" my writing has changed. I'm excited to show everyone what I can do.
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