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I'm Ari (pronounced Ar-ee ... not air ee) Herstand (note the compound word - not "her stad"). I currently live in a city with an incredible music scene- Minneapolis. If you want suggestions on new music please don't hesitate to message/comment me and ask! I'll hook you up with some excellent new artists that you've probably never heard of - all hailing from the Twin Cities. People who see me live typically ask how I got into looping and why my looping isn't featured on my studio albums. Well, to answer the first question, I have always loved performing with a band - so much on stage musical chemistry and I love feeling the power of the full band playing together. In my early stages when my band members couldn't make a show I felt like there was a large musical element that was missing from the overall sound. I went to the music store one day and asked if they had anything that enabled me to loop my instruments and voice live, on stage. They introduced me to the loop station and the rest is history I suppose.

Because I had been writing my songs with a full band in mind, when I went into the studio I wanted the songs to reach their full potential, arranging each instrument in its proper place and creating a full sound. That full sound I'd been trying to recreate solo over the past few years when I play solo - hence the loop station. However, because I have been performing solo for so long - and have really grown into this looping show - people have started latching on to my looping show. I am releasing a live DVD/CD package this Fall that captures my solo, looping show.

January, 2008 I quit my day job at Starbucks in downtown Minneapolis and finally made the leap to a full time musician! It's been a struggle, no doubt, but I really love what I do and am so fortunate I'm able to make a living doing it. Thank you for buying my music and paying the cover to come to my shows and sharing my Myspace, Facebook, YouTube videos and my CDs with your friends, roommates, family, teachers, everyone. You are the reason I can survive outside the coffee shop.