ariana gillis

Bio:

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Not every young Canadian singer-songwriter gets to launch her CD with a live appearance on the US satellite station Sirius XM. The show was hosted by Dave Marsh, author of more than 25 books on rock and roll and known as the “dean of American rock writers” who admits to being her biggest fan.

But that’s how Ariana Gillis , from St. Catharines, Ontario — who turned 21 earlier this month — began to premiere her second album, Forget Me Not. Earlier, Marsh had played a track — “John and the Monster” — from an advance copy of the CD; one response was a phone call from an enthusiastic listener who wanted to know more about the unusual song, and the singer. The mystery caller was Elton John’s lyricist and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.

Later, he wrote to the young singer’s father, musician and producer David Gillis: “I’m staggered by how good she is. There is not much that impresses me these days but after hearing her available tracks I can honestly say she’s the single most exciting thing I’ve heard in a very long time.”

Forget Me Not, like her first CD, To Make It Make Sense, is a collection of Ariana’s original songs. “Original” not only indicates that she wrote or co-wrote all the songs, but that the subjects are unusual. Not many artists (regardless of their age) write songs about creatures in a lake with healing powers, people in adjacent graves chatting with each other, the annual slaughter of dolphins in a cove in Japan, or young sailors forced to walk the plank.

Chosen as Young Performer of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards, she is fulfilling the promise many people have seen since she put out her first EP when she was 17.

Unusually, her chief collaborator is her father, David Gillis, himself an award-winning guitarist with his own solo career. He produced the new CD, co-wrote several of the songs, and plays banjo and/or guitar on every track.

Ariana’s latest industry awards:

- 2009 Canadian Folk Award for Young Performer of the Year
- 2009 The Niagara Music Song-writing Award
- Nominated for three 2009 Hamilton Music Awards

Ariana’s debut CD, To Make It Make Sense, showcases her fascinating and evolving talent.



Quotes:

"Ariana Gillis may be the best new emerging artist anywhere, PERIOD!"
– Dave Marsh, best selling author, former music critic of __Rolling Stone Magazine & Creem Magazine

"I'm staggered by how good she is. There is not much that impresses me these days but after hearing her available tracks I can honestly say she's the single most exciting thing I've heard in a very long time."
– Bernie Taupin

"Some singers have a great voice and great music and sing their songs a thousand times. I myself like music that has some connection to my life and values and beliefs. I usually need to feel a genuine connection between the singer/performers and the songs as they sing them. Ariana is 2 people in one. She is a normal nice demur 21-year old. But when she starts singing her entire body is taken over by the most powerful force and the songs become a lot more than just words or music. I did not know this about her performances until I saw her. I was stunned and agape at the intense connection between herself and what she was singing. Her stage presence is the most visually grabbing one I have ever seen. It parallels the videos I've seen of some Michael Jackson performances. Throughout, I thought of the strength of character that embodied Janis Joplin performances.
Something about Ariana is superhuman. For the sake of genuineness, she writes and composes almost all of her material. She has a wide variety of styles in her songs. Even her solo performance will be remembered by millions once she is on TV. I can't get her arrangement of All Along The Watchtower out of my head. Ariana started out so soft for the first verse and finished with her band sounding like Neil Young's rendition of this song, which I couldn't help but scream along with for the words."
- Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computers

"A blast of energy and fearless confidence, Ariana Gillis sings and strums and stomps and leaves ripples behind her wherever she goes. With an impressive vocal range and a firm grasp on the craft of songwriting, Ariana is unstoppable. In 2009, she won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Young Performer of the Year and she has received multiple Niagara Music Awards. There is an intense, driving force behind her folk/pop sound, and a deeper story behind every song."
– Andy Frank, Roots Music Canada

"An insanely young and talented songwriter and singer, Gillis is just 21, but has already wowed everyone who has heard her, and continues to amaze on her new and second album...".
– Bob Mersereau, Veteran Canadian Broadcaster - CBC

"Beautiful, dynamic vocals; strong songs and stage presence – this gal's going places!"
– Suzie Vinnick




.Ariana performing her original song Dream Street at eTown in Boulder, CO - March 2012. David Gillis on Guitar, backed up by the eTones.




..Ariana performing All Along The Watchtower at Hugh's Room - November 2011. David Gillis on electric guitar, Warren Stirtzinger on electric guitar, Mark McIntyre on bass, Denis Keldie on Organ and Ben Rollo on drums.




Ariana performing her original song From the Start. Filmed by Mitchell Reilly Pictures.





Ariana performing Metric's song Eclipse (All Yours) . Recorded live with only one microphone with no overdubs or fixes, just a touch of reverb added.

Member Since:

October 04, 2006

Members:

Ariana - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Accordion
David Gillis - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Banjo
Bill Dillon - Electric Bass
Gary Craig - Drums
Bryden Baird - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Keys
Kevin Breit - Electric Guitar on Bridges of QEW
Kevin Fox- Strings
Denis Keldie- Organ

Zander Lamothe - Drums
Mark McIntyre - Electric Bass
Rob Lamothe - Engineer

Produced by David Gillis
Mixed by Cory Barnes
Mastered by Phil Demetro

Influences:

"I think a good novel would be where a bunch of men on a ship are looking for a whale. They look and look, but you know what? They never find him. And you know why they never find him? It doesn't say. The book leaves it up to you, the reader, to decide. Then, at the very end, there's a page you can lick and it tastes like Kool-Aid." -Jack Handey

Sounds Like:

I wish I had a dollar for every time I spent a dollar, because then, yahoo!, I'd have all my money back. -Jack Handey

Record Label:

INDIE