Ask any Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-er how they got their first big break and some will tell you that it’s all about luck. Others will tell you it’s all who you know. But most successful musicians will agree that it’s all about determination and hard work. Well, for 24-year-old singer/songwriter Ari Hest, perseverance has indeed paid off. After pounding the proverbial New York City pavement for over 5 years, this Bronx native has finally caught the eyes of Columbia Record execs and released his first major label debut, Someone to Tell.
After a long stint on the road promoting his 2003 release, Story After Story (and even making a stop at the University last semester), Hest went back into the studio to record his follow-up. With producer David Rolfe, Hest has created a noticeably more mature album than many of his 20-something counterparts. With perceptive and insightful lyrics, melodic guitar lines and a soothing, soulful voice, Someone to Tell is a must for anyone looking for genuine but creative songwriting.
The high-energy toe tapper, “They’re On to Me,” is a great song to kick off the album. He really shines, though, on the next track, “A Fond Farewell.” Arguably the best song on the album, “A Fond Farewell” is a powerful tune about rising above your own insecurities. With lyrics like “Say goodbye to those sleepless nights / To those corridors with no end in sight / A driven man with these words I write / I’m making peace with my soul tonight,” Hest proves he his much more mature than his 24 years would let on.
Songs like “Anne Marie” and “Holding On” will please the average pop/rock fan, but for those partial to a more funky and different sound, “Consistency” and “Not For Long” will really please. The unusual melody coupled with a strong horn section in “Consistency” really shows off Hest’s diversity as a musician. Beautiful ballads like “Strangers Again” and “When Everything Seems Wrong” display his raspy, but powerful and controlled pipes. With a soulful baritone voice and a flawless falsetto, Hest’s vocals are truly impressive.
With the release of Someone to Tell, Ari Hest has proven that it is, indeed, possible to create a genuine and honest record while still having the support of a major record label. And with an already very loyal fan base, Ari Hest’s audience is certain to grow with this album.
-Megan King
