Today’s “Featured Artist and Song of the Day” showcases Niagara, Ontario, Canada’s own, Ariana Gillis, with her song, “From The Start,” which she recently sang during her first appearance on the internationally syndicated radio variety program and podcast, eTown.  The up-and-coming singer/songwriter also played “Dream Street,” and “Forget Me Not,” and in eTown tradition, performed the finale song in a collaboration with hosts Nick and Helen Forster, and other musical guest, Gomez.  They performed, in tribute to The Monkees, “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone.”  That night’s show will air between May 23 and May 29th.  For more information on the show and more videos click here, and to locate a radio station in your area to hear the performance click here.

It should be said that there must be a guideline in the eTown ‘standard operating procedure’ to bring in incredible artist, after incredible artist, for that is exactly what the listener gets with each show, and was evidenced again with Gillis’ interview and performance.  Along with vocals, Gillis plays the acoustic guitar, accordion and keyboard, and performs alongside her father, David, who plays both the electric and acoustic guitar, banjo, slide, and ukelele, and Ben Rollo, who plays the drums and percussion.

A guy by the name of Bernie Taupin, who writes the lyrics for Sir Elton John, yes, Elton John, said of 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.”  Statements like these, one can be sure, are just the beginning of what is to come, for Gillis’ musical talent will take her to wherever she wants to go.  She’ll be one to continue to lookout for, and will be one to follow as she takes on the troubadour’s road.

These words begin the song, “From The Start,”