It is not his first time touring with Heather Nova, but violinist Taylor Rankin still admires her zest for helping rising stars.

"Opening for artists and really pacing my performances as I pull together my recordings, songs and image has been fantastic," said Mr. Rankin.

"I had the good fortune to open a couple shows for Heather last year when she went on tour in Europe, what a blast.

"This year she asked me to open the first half of her tour and it really shows her commitment to young artists and Bermuda.

"Heather is good to people, the genuine real deal. She and her husband have really enlightened and influenced me in how I should treat other artists especially up and coming younger ones."

At the age of five, Mr. Rankin began learning to play violin with the Suzuki technique and he has gone from strength to strength since then.

"I was always rebellious and little bit of a horror and I would always be pushing the boundaries of what the violin could and couldn't do," he explained.

"For instance, DJ style vinyl scratching on the violin, tsitar sounds, human voice sounds, percussion and much more.

"I started mixing my voice into my violin playing early on as well. I'm constantly on the journey of fluidly bringing together my voice, violin and noises from sending a message to the absurd."

Asked when his music changed from the classics to major drumbeats and hip-hop, he said: "When I first heard Stuff Smith, Stephane Grappelli and Jean-Luc Ponty when I was around 13. The sound has really developed in the last couple of years though."

Mr. Rankin has released two albums, but he explained that the inspiration was experimental. "Ep1, which is violin, drum and voice was an experiment, a first look into where we are going," he said.

"It's full of humour and every single sound you hear has been accomplished with only my voice, violin and drums – even the bass, guitar sounds etc.

"You can grab it on iTunes, www.taylorrankin.bandcamp.com, Amazon etc.

"The EP and especially the full length album, which will be released next year has all been part of a rather interesting couple of years."

The violinist also works with drummer Dwight (HartBeat) Hart, although it will only be Mr. Rankin on the Heather Nova European tour. The pair will hit the road at a later date.

"We hooked up last year and it just clicked from beat one," he said. "We get each other and he gets me, knows how to work with my artistic ups and downs and pushes my creative buttons. "He's incredible!"

When asked whether he would be RVing around Europe, he said, 'no'. "As I pretty much fit into most overhead compartments and my driving skills are reserved primarily for rally car type conditions, I'll be on the bus with Heather and the rest of the folks. I'll be pitching in as much as I can all along."

On what he hoped to gain most of all from the experience, he said: "Perspective. Some good food in my belly. Write some tunes on the road. Hang out with some really great people.

For more information on Taylor Rankin's music visit: www.facebook.com/l/6dc5fuLk6PFXrMPGOurPTtijp5w; www.taylorrankin.com signup and get some free tunes and news etc.

You can also name your own price for the EP on my site in the music section and get the EP in iTunes.

Facebook fan site: www.facebook.com/thetaylorrankin.