Ari Cohen

Songwriter, Session Work

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24 Reviews (8 Verified)
Ari Cohen on SoundBetter

A versatile songwriter, guitarist and vocalist whose favorite part of music is collaboration :D I absolutely love love LOVE creating with/for other people. I will learn and feel your song as if it were mine. I guarantee you will hear the love reflected in the music :)

Hey hey! My name's Ari, I’m from New York and I'm a Songwriter, Guitarist, Vocalist, and Producer.

**Covid times are hard, so if you need to speak to me about pricing, don't be shy :)**

See below in "Soundbetter Deal" section for bonus

From playing lead alto saxophone in band from age 8 through the end of high school and being personally invited to join a Manhattan School of Music program as an instructor, to teaching myself guitar at age 16 and after only two years of self instruction being accepted into Berklee College of Music’s guitar performance program, to writing songs for myself and other people from age 20 til the present, music has been the air I breathe since before I can even remember.

- I write mainly Pop, Indie, and Rock.
- Guitar heroes are John Mayer, SRV, Hendrix, Page, and Jack White (I guess legendary guitarists are born with “J” names).

I have spent the last decade becoming a student of life, honing the skills and learning the lessons necessary to become even better at doing what I know I was born to do: make music. This is a journey I feel passionately about continuing. I want to wake up every single day doing what I love, so I can be the best version of myself I can be while sharing that love with everyone I meet.

What more can I say? I can’t wait to work with you to make your project come to life.

Speak soon!

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Languages

  • English
  • Hebrew

24 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

Endorse Ari Cohen
  1. Review by Gabriela K.
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    Great singer, really professional approach, I felt heard, he has enormous patience and enthusiasm! Hope we can make so more cool stuff in the future!

  2. Review by Noam H.
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    absolutely amazing. he just got the type of song i needed and made it real. cannot recommend enough

  3. Review by Sue L.
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    by Sue L.
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    Working with Ari was an absolute pleasure! I cannot wait to hire him again to write more songs. My goal and initial message to Ari was to write a "bad-ass acoustic Indie Vibe" tune with him and that is EXACTLY what we did! His talent spans across the board so vastly that the momentum remains intact throughout the entire process. Never a dull moment! He will slay you with his guitar playing, wow you with his vocal ability and his top lining chops are at the pro level. HIRE HIM!

  4. Review by Alana V Hayes
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    Just wrapped up the writing for my current song with Ari and it was a fantastic experience. This is the 2nd song I've worked on with him and it's gone so well. He's very good at what he does and it's always so nice to work with him. Thanks Ari!

  5. Review by Jess
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    by Jess
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    This is the second time I’ve hired Ari now and I still can’t recommend him enough, super knowledgable, patient and communicative. If you’ve been thinking about hiring Ari for your project, do it. You won’t regret it for a second!

  6. Review by Jess
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    by Jess
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    Ari was incredible to work with. Not only is he an excellent musician who made finalising our project a breeze to do, he also brought keen insight into lyrical changes that were possible and made the song so much stronger. Honestly can’t recommend ari enough and I look forward to working with him in future

  7. Review by Sara-Elizabeth C.
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    Ari is professional and timely. He gives great feedback and helps to deliver an amazing final product. 10/10 would recommend

  8. Review by Alana V Hayes
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    I was referred to Ari by a friend & am so glad for it. He's been great to work with. He's got my vision for the song exactly. Its been a great first experience for me doing this kind of thing. I came to him with the lyrics & a basic idea of how I wanted it to sound & he's really helped turn my song into exactly what I wanted. As a newbie I also appreciate that he's so willing to answer any & all questions I have when I don't understand something. Can't reccomend him enough!

  9. Review by Stefanos Andreas
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    by Stefanos Andreas

    11/10 - Ari set up a video call with me and after briefly going over the chord progression and structure, Ari picks up his guitar and says, “so something like this?”, and proceeded to exceed my expectations live before my very ears and eyes! Ari’s enthusiasm for the song, and for music and songwriting in general shines through and he intuitively knows how much flavor to embellish the parts with to enhance the song appropriately. This level of flair and attention to detail was met in the final recordings too. Highly recommend. Look forward to working together again :)

  10. Review by Rosina Jones
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    by Rosina Jones

    Ari's just a dream to work with. I write lyrics and co-wrote a song but we had no idea what to do with arrangement and he came in, listened to the song about twice and then played an amazing guitar accompaniment. I was just in *awe*. He also helped LOADS in my understanding of song rights. It doesn't matter if you're just starting out or you've got loads of experience - you should definitely go to this guy to finish your song.

  11. Review by Dan Trilk
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    I recently got to work with Ari remotely and it was such a great experience. I was blown away by his excellent guitar playing and vocals. His guitar tracks were in the pocket, in tune, and very well recorded. Vocally, again, in the pocket, in tune, well recorded and I love his rich tone and phrasing. If you want to work with a good guy who is hilarious, talented, professional, and works quickly, I would highly recommend Ari. I can't wait to work with him again.

  12. Review by Alana V Hayes
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    I was referred to Ari by a friend & am so glad for it. He's been great to work with. He's got my vision for the song exactly. Its been a great first experience for me doing this kind of thing. I came to him with the lyrics & a basic idea of how I wanted it to sound & he's really helped turn my song into exactly what I wanted. As a newbie I also appreciate that he's so willing to answer any & all questions I have when I don't understand something. Can't reccomend him enough!

  13. Review by Liz
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    by Liz

    Ari has an amazing vibe. Upbeat, enthusiastic, chops to slay and a beautiful voice. He has a swift turnaround on projects and a knack for understanding what you want. I loved working with him and I'm so excited to see our finished product.

  14. Review by John
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    by John

    Ari brings a wealth of talent to every session. I’m always impressed with his skill and enthusiasm. Wonderful vocals, great guitar work, and a heck of a nice guy who is fun to work with. How could you go wrong?

  15. Review by Alexandra
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    by Alexandra

    Ari! I don't know if you have ever heard of the Energizer Bunny, but working with Ari will be an experience of high energy, enthusiasm, laughs, and lots of ideas. His guitar playing will knock your socks off, well that is if you wear socks. I fully endorse Ari as a songwriter, guitarist, and singer and a session with him will be a fun experience.

  16. Review by Cherie Gullerud
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    by Cherie Gullerud

    Ari has the musical chops, the organizational skills, and the understanding of people to get the job done. He listens to others and elicits the opinions of all and always has a "how-can-we-move-this-forward" point of view. A consummate musician, Ari is a pleasure to work with and to listen to. He really cares about those he collaborates with and he strives to make the best project possible. Did I mention that he is comfortable in a variety of styles?

  17. Review by Rachel
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    by Rachel

    Ari Ari Ari where do I start?! Super thankful to have had the opportunity to write with this guy! Incredibly fun, and makes the room just a great vibe/ place to be in. He’s also a super quick lyricist and did I mention INCREDIBLE at guitar. We are talking John Mayer but probably better than John Mayer vibes?! I know that’s bold! But I said it! Anyone who needs intricate guitar work, or a great collaborator, Ari is your guy. Love our song Ari! So glad we made a little magic!

  18. Review by Marina Bennett
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    by Marina Bennett

    Ari is a wonderful person to collaborate with! He brings a huge amount of energy and passion into his songwriting and guitar work, and is someone who truly lives and breathes music. I've had the pleasure of writing with him over the last year and he has very sharp skills with lyrics, melody, hooks, and overall song structure. His sense of humour is a game changer because laughing always brings out the best energy in a song. He's extremely diligent and works on ideas until they fit just right. He's also open to exploring new ideas and makes sure to keep songs relevant to the modern landscape.

  19. Review by Tyler Friedel
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    by Tyler Friedel

    Ari Cohen is a creator!!! From manifesting awesomeness to coming up with chill yet moving guitar licks, to understanding the structure of a good song, he is one of the people I will always turn to when I want to collaborate!!!

    I've been a songwriter for half my life and it wasn't until he and I worked together that I truly understood what it meant to build a great song!! He will take your reference track and blow your mind with what he creates!!

    I have woken up every day for over a month singing our song!! It is exactly what needed to happen!!

  20. Review by Francesca Pastore
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    by Francesca Pastore

    I had a half-finished song I'd been stuck working on for over a month, so I contacted Ari for a cowriting session to see he could help me out. After just one session, the song was not only finished, but so much better than before. He made me feel comfortable and believe that no ideas were bad ideas, just steps in the process to a finished product. His contributions to my lyrics and his modifications and additions to my song structure really helped bring the song to life. He is a talented, kind, and passionate guy who is great at what he does. Would work with again!

Interview with Ari Cohen

  1. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  2. A: People seem to think that I won't value their musical ideas simply because I'm a professional/this is my job and they're not/it isn't their job. And that couldn't be further from the truth. What makes me a professional is my intuition, my ability to take ideas and turn them into songs, and the hundreds of thousands of hours I've dedicated to learning, practicing, and working in the craft of songwriting and music making. But EVERYONE has valid ideas. One of my main co-writers is someone (as she puts it) who is not "musically gifted" (I disagree), but her ideas are SO full of passion and spirit that the songs we write wouldn't be the same without her. Your ideas matter, and I want to help you turn those fresh baby ideas into big strong superhero songs, together.

  3. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  4. A: I give 150% of my talent, professionalism, and dedication to every project. I'm very open to critique and suggestions, (don't be shy if you want to request any changes to my first drafts). Also, clear, easy and fast communication, working inside the borders of what's asked and bringing the best possible solution to the idea.

  5. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  6. A: I have 3 different pop songs that are in production for briefs I received for ad licensing, and I have a UFC fight song that I'm writing that's becoming more rock-epic every day :D

  7. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  8. A: Yes! Kimera Morrell is an ASTOUNDINGLY talented female pop vocalist. Worth every penny.

  9. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  10. A: Analog for "pure sound perfection" but digital every day because it's so customizable and easier to use a wide variety of sounds.

  11. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  12. A: I love working with people, I love creating, and I love new challenging projects. This combines everything I love into one amazing job :D <3 I feel so blessed to be able to do this kind of work and help people in the process.

  13. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  14. A: How did you do that!? To which I reply "Magic." and I wave my cape then fade into a cloud of smoke.

  15. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  16. A: I don't really have any set questions that I ask ahead of time because I start every project with a video call so we can get to know each other. Just come ready to be yourself and make a new friend!

  17. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  18. A: Be as clear as possible in describing what you're looking for. A great way to do this is to come prepared with 2-3 reference tracks. Also, don't be afraid of telling me what you like and what you don't. The collaborative process works the best when everyone involved comes to the collab with the following mindset: "We're making something together, and this isn't about anyone's individual ego or defending ideas. We're going to openly share our ideas, not judge ourselves or others, and be honest when an idea doesn't resonate with us." Just like any relationship, if we don't communicate clearly about the stuff we like and the stuff we DON'T like, we won't get anywhere. I show up with this attitude to every project I'm a part of. And I encourage my clients to do the same <3

  19. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  20. A: Bare essentials? Taylor acoustic guitar, capo, guitar strings, notepad, pen

  21. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  22. A: Woof, well... I've been a lover of music since I was literally a year old (if you go to my instagram there's a pic of me trying to strum one of my dad's electric guitars), and a musician since I was 7 and first picked up an instrument (Alto Saxophone, band nerds what upppp). But *professionally* I've been doing this since 2010.

  23. Q: How would you describe your style?

  24. A: Very versatile, multi-genre, fueled by passion and love of sound.

  25. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  26. A: John Mayer. Because it's been my dream to work with him since I started playing guitar. The day I get to write and/or record a song with him I will officially consider myself to have "made it."

  27. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  28. A: Set up your VSTs and open audio stems before you start laying down tracks. It's so frustrating to get in the flow and then have to stop and look for a sound. Get it done first, and your creativity will thank you later.

  29. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  30. A: Pop, Indie Singer Songwriter, Rock, and all shades on the spectrums those genres fall under. I'm a chameleon tho so if you have something else in mind, hit me up. I'm sure I've done it at least a few times.

  31. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  32. A: Patience, and empathy. I know what it's like to be in the shoes you're in. And I SO appreciate the trust you're putting in me to bring your song to fruition. I am here for you, and for the song, and with no bullshit :) Also correspondence. Send me a message whenever.

  33. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  34. A: I bring my experience and expertise, my professionalism and my personal taste, and my creativity and a fun judgement-free creative environment for my super talented clients (like yourself) so we can take your project to its highest heights! ;) It's all about the music! <3

  35. Q: What's your typical work process?

  36. A: We are in this together. I start with a face to face (video chat) conversation so we can get to know each other and discuss your vision for the song. As a songwriter, I then find what the essence of the song is and which parts of your ideas are the strongest, and build the song around that. As a guitarist I just let my ear fill in the spaces I hear in the song. Sometimes all you need is some light plucking, other times it calls for some intricate arpeggiated riffs to lay a texture down behind everything. It changes from song to song because every songwriter is different, and every song demands a different vibe :)

  37. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  38. A: My home is my studio :) Equipped with the bare essentials to make a great record. No distractions by extra fancy gear. Minimal fanciness with focus on songwriting and recording excellent quality audio.

  39. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  40. A: Jon Bellion is a mofriggin GENIUS. End goal is to be him, but better and more Ari than Jon ;) Also Lady Gaga, Jacob Collier, John Mayer, and Grimes. Just brill songwriters.

  41. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  42. A: I bridge the gap between "idea" and "full song." And then I do any guitar work that needs to be done for that song with a big ole' smile :D

Terms Of Service

Up to 3 free revisions (charge for additional revisions on a case by case basis, but I'm reasonable). 4 days turnaround time (often sooner than that).

GenresSounds Like
  • John Mayer
  • Eddie Vedder
Gear Highlights
  • PreSonus AudioBox USB 96
  • Presonus M7 Condenser Microphone
  • Taylor 324ce Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
  • ReVoice Pro 4
  • Logic Pro
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SoundBetter Deal

(: If you refer a friend who hires me, I will take 20% off the cost of your next project with me :)