EVOLVING TALENT
Grammy nominee Ari Hest credits personal growth for stronger songwriting
Ari Hest is always up for challenges. His most recent album, “Silver Skies Blue,” was definitely one. And it yielded him a Grammy nomination for best folk album a few weeks ago.
“It’s an amazing honor,” he says in a recent phone interview. “I’ve been in this business for a long time, and I’ve been afforded many opportunities. I’ve always worked hard and never expected it.”
Hest worked with legendary singer Judy Collins on the duet album.
The pair met a few years ago and hit it off.
“The project grew from me opening a lot of shows for her,” he says. “Then we enjoyed singing together. Then I thought I would like to write a song for her to sing.”
Hest says that when Collins heard the song he wrote for her, she immediately said, “Let’s sing it together.”
“We came up with idea, and I don’t think either one of us knew we would create a full album,” he says. “She’s been so gracious to me and is an amazing duet partner.
She helped elevate the album.”
Though the album was released in June, Hest has been at work on another solo album.
He’s finishing that album and admits to constantly writing.
“Writing so many songs, you are exercising muscles,” he says. “It allows you to skip certain weaknesses that you have to work though. I just feel like there are some roadblocks that have come up in the past and I watch out for them. Some of these things have gotten in the way of me writing. I have to stay focused to convey exactly what I want.”
Over the years, Hest says, his songwriting has gotten stronger.
He credits the development to personal growth.
“I look back at songs I wrote back in 1999, and they represent the person that I was then,” he says. “Then the songs I’ve released now are more introspective. I’m comfortable in my life. I feel like I can be more open with an audience.”
Hest remains busy with various projects and would be open to another album of duets at some point.
“I’m very satisfied right now with everything I’m working on,” he says. “Now if Paul McCartney wants to work with me, I’d drop everything.”