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You
come from a musical family, was music something
you knew you would eventually get into?
Ari:
Music was always in my life in one way or another,
starting back when I was a little kid and my parents
forced me to take piano lessons. I stopped maybe
a year or two in -- not because I didn't like piano
but because my teacher was old -- and being 7, I
thought that was uncool. Everyone in my immediate
family is musical, but I didn't think 'til I got
to college that it meant much to me or that I was
good enough at it to do it professionally. I didn't
plan on this happening the way it has.
Who
are some of your influences when it comes to music?
Ari:
I listened to a lot of pop radio as a kid. Lots
of whatever was hot at the time - U2, Pearl Jam,
Def Leppard, whatever…those bands I still
enjoy, but it was really The Beatles who made me
pick up a guitar. Some musicians I listen to a lot
now are Ron Sexsmith, Patti Griffin, Rufus Wainwright
and Martin Sexton.
You
went from being indie to signing with a major label.
Were there any major adjustments you had to deal
with?
Ari:
No major adjustments yet. I wake up a little earlier,
do more interviews, in-store performances, and have
more meetings, but they've been pretty hands off
when it comes to my music so I have to give them
credit for that. I'm excited to see how the new
record will do. This is my first opportunity to
have a record of mine distributed nation-wide and
possibly world-wide. I really wanted that opportunity.
What
made you start taking music more seriously when
you got into college?
Ari:
I was feeling pretty isolated. Cornell is in the
middle of the mountains, not much to do if you don't
like to drink your head off, and my girlfriend at
the time was in college in DC, so music became a
big part of my life then mostly out of loneliness.
What
were you like as a kid?
Ari:
Shy. Athletic. Stupid. Lazy.
Do
you have a favorite place to perform, and what can
fans expect from a live show?
Ari:
I guess New York is my favorite place to play simply
'cause of the home crowd and the atmosphere that
brings. I think I get a little more of a high being
in front of my hometown crowd. The live show is
pretty raw, changes pace a lot, and I think people
either just stand and watch or dance depending on
their personality. Whatever's cool with them is
ok by me.
What can people expect
from the new album? Has the sound changed much from
the indie stuff?
Ari:
The new album has half old songs that were favorites
of myself and my fans, slightly altered and mixed
better than my previous records, and half new songs
that I tried to pay a little more attention to band
arrangements rather than simply separating my guitar
arrangement from everything else. It's just the
way I've been writing lately, involving the band
more than before, trying not to overpower them with
what I'm playing. The record is positive - it has
a lot of songs about dealing with change. The songs
are therapeutic to me because they remind me to
keep positive given whatever situation I encounter.
I think I had trouble with that in the past, leaving
moments behind that really affected me, and these
songs show a growth from that part of my life.
What
would you say is your favorite song on the album?
Ari:
My favorite song, I don't really have one, but "A
Fond Farewell" is really what the album is
about, so that might be the most important song
on the record.
If
you could share the stage with one other artist,
who would it be and why?
Ari:
Singing with Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel or Sting
would be quite a treat. They're all big influences.
I feel like I'd either wet my pants or sing really
off key given any of those scenarios. So it probably
won't happen any time soon.
What
would you like to say to all your old and new fans
out there?
Ari:
Thanks for your support in the past and I really
hope you enjoy the new record. I'll see you all
on the road!
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