Ariana Gillis

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.

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

written by Richard Flohil

More Reviews...

"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

"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

The way new musik should be
I heard "blueberry ocean" while listning to CBC radio one night and I got hooked and I'm so glad this is finally on itunes. Ariana Gillis has a voice made for pop, lyrics made for folk and a package that works in her native Ontario as well as it does down here in Florida where I've been listning to this non-stop. I hope she maintains the voice, the style and the songs because they're great!
- by Rainking1107

Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to hear and observe Ariana Gillis perform in several varied venues — a showcase of young artists at the OCFF conference, an intimate nightclub, a folk festival workshop stage. I've been in this business for well over 35 years and consider myself a pretty good judge of talent.... she's got it all!." – Wendell Ferguson

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