Ariana, the Latinized form of (Greek: ἡ 'Αρειανή/Arianē), inhabitants: Ariani (Greek: Αρειανοί/Arianoi), was a general geographical term used by some Greek and Roman authors of the ancient period for a district of wide extent between Central Asia and the Indus River, comprehending the eastern provinces of the Achaemenid Empire that covered entire modern-day Afghanistan, east and southeast of Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and northwestern Pakistan.

At various times, the region was governed by the Persians (Achaemenids, 550-330 BC; Sasanians, 275-650 AD; Kushano-Sasanians, 345-450 AD), Macedonians (Seleucids, 330-250 BC; Greco-Bactrians, 250-110 BC; Indo-Greeks, 155-90 BC), Indo-Iranians (Parthians, 160 BC-225 AD; Indo-Scythians, 90 BC-20 AD; Indo-Parthians, 20-225 AD; Kushans, 110 BC-225 AD), white Huns (Kidarites, 360-465 AD; Hephthalites, 450-565 AD), Indians (Mauryans, 275-185 BC; Hindu-Shahis; 870-1000 AD Pala Empire; 750–1174 AD)

The Greek term Arianē (Latin: Ariana) is based upon Old Iranian Āryana- (Avestan: Airiiana-, esp. in Airiianəm vaēǰō, the name of the Aryans’ mother country, whose localization is disputed). The modern name Iran represents the ancient name Ariana, - a word itself of Avestan origin.; a view which is borne out by the traditions of the country preserved in the Muslim writers of the ninth and tenth centuries.

Ariana Savalas (born January 9, 1987 in Los Angeles) is an American jazz fusion vocalist, musician, and songwriter. Her first single "Perfect Man" was released in January, 2012. The music video features actor Eric Dane from ABC's Grey's Anatomy.

Savalas was born in Los Angeles but was raised in Minnesota following her father's death. Savalas studied Shakespeare and acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and is a student of Penn State University. Before turning to cabaret, Savalas toured and recorded in Europe as a pop singer in her teens with European producer Jack White.

Savalas began her career as a jazz singer in the Los Angeles cabaret scene then quickly advanced to a national stage, performing at venues including the New York Friars' Club, and events such as the annual Frank Sinatra celebrity invitational, Smokey Robinson's Foundation Gala at the Waldorf Astoria, Herb Alpert’s Vibrato in Beverly Hills, and Palm Desert's McCallum Theatre.

Savalas penned her debut single, Perfect Man, produced by Mark Portmann, calling her style of music "Anthem Jazz" drawing influences everywhere from Freddie Mercury to Jessica Rabbit and The Beatles. Also featured on Perfect Man are guitarist Tim Pierce and bassist Paul Bushnell. .

Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success. At the age of nineteen she received a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the single "Criminal" from that album in 1998.

After Tidal, Apple released the critically acclaimed, though less commercially successful albums, When the Pawn... (1999) and Extraordinary Machine (2005). A perceived shelving of Extraordinary Machine was met with vocal protests from her fans, who campaigned against her record label in 2005. Apple's musical style contains elements of jazz and alternative rock.

Born in New York City, Apple is the daughter of singer Diane McAfee and actor Brandon Maggart. Her older sister, Amber, sings cabaret under the stage name Maude Maggart. Her half brother Spencer is a director and directed the video for her single "Parting Gift." Her half brother Garett Maggart starred in the TV series The Sentinel. In addition, her maternal grandparents were Millicent Green, a dancer with the George White's Scandals, a series of 1920s musical revues similar to the Ziegfeld Follies, and Johnny McAfee, a multireedist and vocalist of the big band era; her grandparents met while touring with Johnny Hamp and his orchestra. Apple was raped at the age of twelve, a trauma she would later allude to in songs such as "Sullen Girl."