As every struggling singer/songwriter knows, there's story after story about how to break into the music business. Some rely on luck, some on flashy mid-drift baring attire, others on talent. New York native Hest, falls into the third category as he weaves a tight fabric of sound with sincere and honest songwriting.

Hest's breakthrough album "Story After Story," is well polished and solid in all aspects. From a voice reminiscent of John Mayer's and Pete Yorn's but with more intensity and zeal, to the catchy beats, innovative sound and thought-provoking lyrics, the album is sure to not only leave an impression on listeners, but amaze them.

"I would hope people will recognize me as a good songwriter and melody writer," said Hest. "I want to write great songs that stand out to listeners and make them say 'damn, that was a good song' after they hear it."

Hest won't have a problem achieving this goal. With insightful and touching songs, a listener is able to identify with the issues of love and life he tackles so poetically.

On the track "When Everything Seems Wrong" Hest sings, "You know that you're my best friend/That kind of love will never run out/You know more about me than I know/Things I never dream of showing/But I can't change this way I'm feeling/And I'm not asking for miles of room/Just a little time to fill my tank up/Before I run on back to you."

From smooth melodies to upbeat tempos, Hest combines a radio-friendly voice with an array of instruments that enhance each song. From the soft strum of a cello to hints of an accordion here and there, the musical arrangement is powerful providing melodies of melancholy.

On the album opener, "They're On To Me," Hest's energy is abundant. A listener will find themselves bobbing their head and tapping their toe to the infectious tune. And the pure harmony on "Monsters" is mesmerizing. On the track Hest belts out, "I'd rather forget all about my past/Cruel how these moments/They never cease to last/And you, you can do better than this/If you refuse to hide/ These monsters will subside."

The album closer "Didn't Want to Say Goodbye" was written when Hest was asked to perform at a memorial service of a friend's mother who lost her life in the tragedy of 9/11. Hest said he put himself in the place of his mourning friend and "made it a conversation that she might have had in her head that day."

The poignant song says, "But to stay here where I am/In my world of pretend/I won't know until I die/If my faith was but a lie/'til then you'll hear it in my cry/I didn't want to say goodbye to you."

Hest has a magical way with words and is an undiscovered treasure yearning to be heard. His voice bursts with passion, feeling and knowledge. Listeners can almost hear his determination and love for making music in each syllable he croons.

"Music is a provider of a break from life, a way to escape, not only for the artist, but for the crowd as well," said Hest who seems to escape within his music. Each song on the 10-track album sounds as if Hest is pouring out his heart.

"Story After Story" is compromised of slow, touching songs and also fast paced joy rides. "My music is probably best labeled as Alternative Pop, but as many musicians will tell you, one category often isn't enough, and that's true here too. There's some jazz, rock and funk in there too," explains Hest of his versatile music offering.

Inspired by everyone from Peter Gabriel and Sting to Hall and Oates and System of a Down, Hest combines his eclectic taste into an uplifting and energizing album.

"It's a natural thing to incorporate the music you listen to into your own. It's really unavoidable, though you probably won't hear me screaming on my records anytime soon as 'System of a Down' is prone to do," said Hest.

Music can take people back to different times in their lives. Hest said whenever he hears Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," he thinks of Angela Lansbury for some unexplainable reason. One music association Hest can explain involves metal Gods Def Leppard.

Hest's older brother Danny (also his manager) played him the Def Leppard album "Hysteria" when he was in 7th grade and his love affair with music was ignited. Hest picked up a guitar and tried to learn the song "Gods of War" by the 80s hair band.

"I loved the harmonies, started humming them to myself then saw a nylon guitar of my mother's in the house and taught myself, little by little," said the singer/songwriter.

But it is no mystery where Hest gets his musical genius - it's in his blood. His father is a college music professor and his mother is a Cantor.

"My dad never pushed me to be a musician, nor did he really push music on me in general. We never played together or anything, but I knew he was a writer/performer/professor throughout my childhood, I just didn't really get involved with what he was up to," said Hest. "I can tell you that what he has written is pretty different from what I write. I'm coming at it from a guitar player's mind frame whereas he wrote most of his songs on piano."

Hest took piano lessons but they didn't grab him like the guitar did. While attending Horace Mann High School in the Bronx, Hest played in a Battle of the Bands with friends and covered three songs: Pearl Jam's "Nothing Man," Dave Matthews' "Jimi Thing" and Led Zeppelin's "Thank You." "We sucked but I loved being up on stage, so I figured I'd try it some more," said Hest who went on to play more than a 100 shows at clubs and campuses across the U.S. while he was attending NYU in Manhattan.

"I used to play the New York area every week, sometimes twice, but at the time, the 30 or 40 people that came to watch me couldn't keep up with that pace and the size of the crowd dwindled as a result," explains Hest. "Ever since last year I've been hitting New York clubs every other week or so, and really only recently have I seen bigger crowds. These crowds coming out to see me mean that I started to dictate where I was gonna play, which has been a welcomed advantage since some of the clubs I've played are shitholes."

During a weekend during his sophomore year at NYU, Hest recorded his first LP titled "Incomplete" in Ithaca, NY for $1,000. He went on to record his first full length album "Come Home" and is now following it up with "Story After Story," a sophisticated and emotionally filled album that he's been promoting on an extensive tour.

"In the future I hope more people keep hearing what I do, but if not, I'd be happy as long as I could make a living playing music," said Hest. "I'm already lucky to be doing that now."