Written by Willie E. Smith Thursday, 26 June 2008 03:16

52 is a showcase of an artist with no reason to hold back his muse, rising to the challenge of creating and sharing.

 

 

 

Tues., July 1, 8 p.m.
Lucas School House
$10, 21+

 

My introduction to Ari Hest came through "They're on to Me", the first single from his Columbia Records debut Someone to Tell. His baritone was an uncommon and welcome sound, breathy like Michael McDonald in his prime, with the gravitas of Springsteen circa Devils & Dust. Then suddenly by the crescendo that same voice swept up two octaves, to great affect, forwarding the emotion of the song in impressive fashion. Vocals aside, had the song not resonated melodically, he would have been just another talented singer putting out mediocre material, but mediocrity isn't on Hest's radar.

2007's The Break-In was even more accomplished, but things were not working out, so Hest parted ways with Columbia. Just a year after releasing an album, Hest has taken up the task of self-releasing one song per week over the course of this year, in a project called 52. Let me just say that he has not taken quantity over quality. 52 is a showcase of an artist with no reason to hold back his muse, rising to the challenge of creating and sharing. In what is becoming the new standard, Hest is distributing this music online starting at $20, with pricing tiers offering various perks. Fans will vote on what songs will make up the CD proper, but for those wondering, the material as it stands (25 songs deep so far) is excellent, and fitting for the intimate atmosphere of Lucas Schoolhouse, where he will treat us to the fruits of his labor. Hest was kind enough to do a brief email interview:

You are one of a small group of musicians who seem to hit St. Louis and this region regularly. Did you have any connections here prior to touring?

I didn't have any connection to St. Louis prior to coming here. I had come to Chicago a few times before I finally came down to do a show at Blueberry Hill. Love that place and love coming back to town to play. At this point, I've seen some of the city and am impressed. I wanna get to a Cardinals game sometime; the field looks incredible.

You blend styles and elements in ways that are contrived or ironic, just appropriately creative. Does that have anything to do with your upbringing or environment?

My musical upbringing was pretty substantial. I am the child of two musicians, and throughout my life I've been singing in some way or another, whether it was choral music in high school or TV commercial jingles as a kid. I consider myself a pop musician despite some variance within my songwriting. I grew up on pop songs and they resonate with me in ways that other types of music just don't.

What's it been like to work outside of the major record label machine, be swept up in it and come out on the other side again?

I feel liberated, as you could imagine. I don't have any rules now. No one to play my songs for before they are "approved" for an album, and I don't write with anyone in mind to please other than myself. I'm glad I had the experience at Columbia and hold no ill will toward them. I met some great people there and, for a host of reasons, things just never clicked. Now I just move forward and see what's next, and the 52 project is the first step in a new direction.

In the past, when you were working on your major label releases, did you do the same amount of writing you're doing for the 52 project, or is this a novel approach for the sake of the concept?

I came into the recording on The Break-In, my second Columbia release, with about 20 songs and narrowed it down from there. I've never done this much writing and don't know if I ever will again. Some weeks are easier than others, but there's always a reward at the end of the week; it's both exciting and daunting to create something a few days before putting it out there for others to hear.

If someone's coming out to your show, what would you recommend they listen to in order to set the mood for your performance in the hours leading up to the show?

I suppose a listen to anything off 52 would help identify what kind of show it will be. It's pretty clear right now that I play to a listening crowd; I'm playing intimate shows and relying on intimacy to help set a mood. The recordings presented in the project are largely scaled down, and for now, I want to emulate that on stage as best I can. When it comes time to make an album next year of the fan favorites from 52, some songs will no doubt be expanded on, and the show at that point will likely reflect those changes. | Willie E. Smith

For more information on the 52 project, check out www.arihest.com