Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMusic and lyrics
Singer songwriters revive the mellow styles of folk singers with melodies and storytelling
By Kelina Imamura
Posted: 10/14/08, 4:01 AM EST Section: Decibel
Album: "The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache (And Other Frightening Tales...)," released in 2007
Song to download: "Reaching." The lyrics of this song speak for themselves: "You're inches from my fingertips/ I've come as close as I can get/ I'm reaching, but the rest is up to you." The relatable lyrics cement themselves instantly, and "Reaching" won't leave your head.
Andy Davis
Age: 25
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Reason to listen: Andy Davis tells stories with his songs. Combined with his talented piano playing and inventive lyrics, Davis' songs showcase love at its best, worst and most unpredictable. He utilizes musical and lyrical metaphors to create songs about astronomical love, even comparing one of his relationships to that of Earth and Venus. His emotional sound is tinged with some Nashville, Tenn., flair (Davis attended Belmont University, where he began home-recording CDs in his living room). It's refreshing to hear a musician who makes you feel at home in a dorm room. His homemade records may be gone, but that homegrown indie sound remains in the pop-folk tracks.
Album: "Let The Woman," released last year by bigHelium Records
Song to download: "Laugh So You Don't Cry." An uplifting song for the worst of days, Davis sings about, well, laughing to prevent crying. It's about the little things in life that make the world a little better, like smiles and the parts of movies you can watch numerous times.
Ari Hest
Age: 29
Hometown: Manhattan, N.Y.
Reason to listen: Ari Hest epitomizes the singer-songwriter genre. He remains a somewhat unknown artist, despite releasing more than eight albums. This year alone, Hest plans to write one song a week for the entire year - that's 52 songs. The project, started after Hest returned to an indie label and was inspired to write again, has been going on all year long. Weekly, posts appear on his Web site with a simple title: "Week 41- 'The Landlord.'" Without classical guitar training - he taught himself guitar around age 15 - Hest proves he is a musician in it for the music.
Album: A series of albums all supporting "52"
Song to download: His cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Granted, this cover doesn't showcase Hest's exceptional writing abilities, but his version of the song is haunting, yet beautiful. On the chorus, the simple guitar chords paired with Hest's slightly raspy voice calms nerves.
Song to download: "Reaching." The lyrics of this song speak for themselves: "You're inches from my fingertips/ I've come as close as I can get/ I'm reaching, but the rest is up to you." The relatable lyrics cement themselves instantly, and "Reaching" won't leave your head.
Andy Davis
Age: 25
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Reason to listen: Andy Davis tells stories with his songs. Combined with his talented piano playing and inventive lyrics, Davis' songs showcase love at its best, worst and most unpredictable. He utilizes musical and lyrical metaphors to create songs about astronomical love, even comparing one of his relationships to that of Earth and Venus. His emotional sound is tinged with some Nashville, Tenn., flair (Davis attended Belmont University, where he began home-recording CDs in his living room). It's refreshing to hear a musician who makes you feel at home in a dorm room. His homemade records may be gone, but that homegrown indie sound remains in the pop-folk tracks.
Album: "Let The Woman," released last year by bigHelium Records
Song to download: "Laugh So You Don't Cry." An uplifting song for the worst of days, Davis sings about, well, laughing to prevent crying. It's about the little things in life that make the world a little better, like smiles and the parts of movies you can watch numerous times.
Ari Hest
Age: 29
Hometown: Manhattan, N.Y.
Reason to listen: Ari Hest epitomizes the singer-songwriter genre. He remains a somewhat unknown artist, despite releasing more than eight albums. This year alone, Hest plans to write one song a week for the entire year - that's 52 songs. The project, started after Hest returned to an indie label and was inspired to write again, has been going on all year long. Weekly, posts appear on his Web site with a simple title: "Week 41- 'The Landlord.'" Without classical guitar training - he taught himself guitar around age 15 - Hest proves he is a musician in it for the music.
Album: A series of albums all supporting "52"
Song to download: His cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Granted, this cover doesn't showcase Hest's exceptional writing abilities, but his version of the song is haunting, yet beautiful. On the chorus, the simple guitar chords paired with Hest's slightly raspy voice calms nerves.
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