Ari Shine is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter with roots in both rock and roll and powerpop. His latest album “Ghost Town Directory” was co-produced with Noah Shain (As Tall As Lions, The Secret Handshake) and is his most direct and realized work yet. It’s ten tracks offer a modern spin on the hooky yet gritty sound of Petty and Mellencamp while retaining a smattering of the Nick Lowe styled songcraft for which he has earned a worldwide following. At the forefront are tunes featuring what Americana UK called “bruised earnest romanticism and infectious good natured vibe”. Classic Rock Magazine noted his “wry turns of phrase” and “incredibly well-crafted vignettes”.
Ari has toured the US, UK and Canada extensively, sharing the stage along the way with acts like Rhett Miller, John Doe, Silversun Pickups, Liam Finn, Ian Hunter, The Donnas and many others. Official showcases at SXSW and NXNE garnered glowing reviews and Shine has appeared at numerous other festivals both in North America and overseas.
Shine’s first ep “Age/Occupation” earned nods from the Village Voice and underground press alike. Its followup, “A Force Of One” was shortlisted for a Grammy nomination. In Feb 2009 legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham made Ari’s cover of “Waterloo Sunset” from the itunes only ep “4 Covers” his pick of the week on Sirius Radio.
Ari’s music has been licensed heavily to shows like Veronica Mars, DeGrassi: The Next Generation, Kyle XY and all over the MTV network (whose new station Iggy profiled him in early 2010). In addition, Ari is endorsed by Fender guitars and has been featured in their Soul of Tone series. As an in demand collaborator, Ari’s co-writes have received airplay from KCRW to CMT and have been heard on programs like Ghost Whisperer and Lincoln Heights. They also earned him the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest as co-writer of the Spanish language track “Escondidos”. 2010 will see the release of “Ghost Town Directory” and extensive touring in support.
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