Ari Hest's aspiration to be in the music industry began at an early age. As a teenager in the Bronx, Hest taught himself how to play the guitar by listening to his parent's albums, including Paul Simon, and the radio, with artists like Pearl Jam and The Dave Mathews Band. While attending NYU, he began performing covers and personal work at the East Coast college circuit. He released two albums under his independent recording label "Project 4" in 2001 and 2002 (Coming Home and Story After Story), until he signed with major record label Columbia in 2003. In 2004 he released Someone to Tell, working with producer David Rolfe, and later created two EP's, 2005's Guilty Hearts and 2006's Green Room Sessions. Hest sang everything and played all the instruments on the EP Green Room Sessions, along with recording and mixing on the popular, free program GarageBand. A year later he created another full-length Columbia record, The Break-In. After releasing these big name albums, Hest did something unusual - he left his major label to inspire something of his own. Since then, he has been touring throughout 2008 while creating something unique.

Ari Hest is one ambitious musician. After parting ways with big-time record label Columbia, Hest has started his own career ambition during 2008 to create 52 new songs throughout the year. Since January 7th, Hest allows fans to review and critique each varied piece, eventually ranking which songs will make his next independent album. Each Monday Hest debuts his newest song on his own website (arihest.com) for listeners and fans to preview. His sound, similar to a younger Counting Crows and John Mayer like mix, proves that this prolific songwriter and singer is someone to reckon with.