About
Hannah Arista is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and cellist whose unique confluence of musical influences allows her to seamlessly perform jazz, salsa, R&B, neo-soul, pop, and even Bulgarian folk. With a versatile vocal pitch that ranges from alto to whistle tone with access to F#7, Hannah is capable of channeling the stylings of Mariah Carey, Sabrina Claudio, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish, and boasts vocal agility that can bounce between airy ethereal, clear belt, and twang.
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Hannah has performed in many beloved Los Angeles venues, as both a solo artist and as part of musical groups, such as: the Hammer Museum, The Blue Whale, House of Blues, Troubadour, The Viper Room, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, and The Wallis Center. She has collaborated and recorded with notable artists, such as “Ambassador of Soul” Ellis Hall (Tower of Power) and Bulgarian jazz legend Theodosii Spassov (UNESCO Artist for Peace) and Viza, Miroslav Tadic, and been commissioned to sing for feature film soundtrack and commercial use while co-writing songs with artists from around the world. Hannah performs as the lead vocalist for the LA Balkan brass funk band Orkestar MÉZÉ “the best Balkan party jam band in Los Angeles,” according to LA Weekly. They have been featured in Standart News and their music has premiered on Bulgarian National Radio. ​
Hannah is also a longstanding member of LA cross-cultural chamber music ensemble, Bridge to Everywhere, led by celebrated composer and conductor, Derrick Skye. She is a featured composer and vocalist on their newest album, "Unveiled," released in May, 2024, which premiered in it's entirety on KPFK 90.7 FM Radio's Global Village Thursdays with John Schneider.
A native of Boston, Hannah began her musical journey playing cello in youth orchestra at New England Conservatory, while also performing at Jordan Hall and attending summer programs for voice and guitar at Berklee College of Music. As a child, she learned singing by ear, obsessing over the greats in different genres while dissecting, studying, and imitating every nuance. Hannah’s passion for music was also stoked by a desire to utilize her artistry to bridge communities and cultures. This has informed her versatile sound and style.
Hannah studied Bulgarian, West African, Latin jazz, and North Indian music at California Institute of the Arts and is proficient at singing in different languages. She has performed songs in Bulgarian, Spanish, Italian, Roma language, Serbo-Croatian, Georgian, Ukrainian, and Greek.
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She is a soloist who also thrives at blending and harmonizing, from background vocals to choirs. She has performed in an intimate 2-piece guitar and voice duo, a larger scale 13-piece brass band, and a 20-piece classical chamber orchestra.
Hannah uses her voice and composing to inspire change as a member of Bridge to Everywhere, which is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to supporting composers, performers, and educators who celebrate cultural diversity through interwoven musical traditions. Most recently, Hannah collaborated with the LAMusArt Eastside Music Project in support of East LA musicians and arts education (featuring guest artist Wil-Dog from Ozomatli). She has also helped to develop and facilitate a music class for Peace4Kids, a nonprofit that serves youth in foster care.
