Artist of the Week: Ari Hest

There is nothing I enjoy more than going to a concert and discovering new music. This past Friday, I attended Amber Rubarth's show at Rockwood Music Hall (review to come soon) and walked away with a list of several new artists to showcase. One singer in particular was Ari Hest. With deep vocals that bring resemblance to Mat Kearney, he captivated all in attendance while onstage.

Piano centered tracks like "Avalanche" accompany Hest's vocals beautifully. The piano never overpowers, and instead assists Hest's voice to soar in the perfect direction. "Stalking the Moon" continue to showcase his raspy vocals with light guitar picking. Throughout each song, it is the lyrics that truly move the listener. Accompanied with fitting melodies, Hest's descriptive lyrics transfer impeccably with his emotional vocals.

Ari Hest's tracks on MySpace don't do him justice, so I've included a few live performance videos below. For more, be sure to check out his Web site.

"Sleep Tonight"



"Broken Voices"



"I've Got You"



"When and If"



Recommended: For fans of Mat Kearney, Tyrone Wells, Jack Johnson.

Related Links:
• Band of the Week: Hot Chelle Rae
• Band of the Week: Athlete
• Band of the Week: Murder By Death
• Band of the Week: The Young Things