Ariel Posen

For Ariel Posen, songwriting and guitar playing have always been inseparable.

For ten years, he has built a bridge between these two universes, reconciling his work as a virtuoso guitarist – with collaborations ranging from John Mayer to Tom Jones – and solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling.

This results in a career as rich and varied as his music.

Between his performances at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, his own Fender Stratocaster signature model and a powerful voice equal to his guitar playing, Posen explores uncharted territory, blurring the boundaries between genres and generations in the process.

On his latest album, "Bannatyne," this exploration brings Posen back to where it all began. Named after an avenue in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, this record speaks to the need to revisit the past to better appreciate the present.

Through its 12 tracks blend powerful riffs and driving tempos – a nod to the 1990s rock that shaped Posen's childhood – as well as syncopated grooves and bold and unexpected textures that have always guided his work.

Nourished as much by the raw energy of his concerts – where Posen doesn't hesitate to plug in his guitar and let its virtuosity speak, which led Rolling Stone to call him a "modern guitar hero" – as by the precision of his writing, "Bannatyne" offers a 360-degree portrait of an artist in full evolution, in pursuit of new horizons while remaining true to his musical roots.

This idea of "moving toward something new" has guided Posen for years, since "How Long" revealed in 2019 his blend of soulful rock & roll, R&B and amplified Americana.

The following albums, such as "Headway" and "Reasons Why," significantly broadened this sonic palette, while the "Mile End" project – a trilogy of records filled with instrume