Ariel Posen

For Ariel Posen, songwriting and guitar playing have always been inseparable. For ten years he has been building a bridge between those two worlds, balancing his work as a guitarist—with collaborations ranging from John Mayer to Tom Jones—and solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling. Between performances at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival and a voice that matches his guitar work, Posen explores new territory, blurring the lines between genres and generations.

On his album "Bannatyne," this exploration brings Posen back to where it all began. Named after an avenue in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the record is about the need to revisit one’s past in order to better appreciate the present. Across its 12 tracks you’ll find riffs and driving tempos—a nod to the 1990s rock that soundtracked his childhood—alongside syncopated grooves and textures that have shaped his work. Fueled as much by the energy of his live shows as by the precision of his songwriting, "Bannatyne" offers the portrait of an artist in evolution who nonetheless remains true to his musical roots.

"This album is about coming home," Posen explains. He played guitar for longtime friends The Bros. Landreth before launching his solo career with his debut album "How Long." "It’s about looking back and appreciating where you come from, even while you’re on your way to something new."

That idea of "moving toward something new" has guided Posen for years, ever since "How Long" revealed in 2019 his blend of soulful rock & roll, R&B and amplified Americana. Subsequent albums like "Headway" and "Reasons Why" expanded that sonic palette, while the "Mile End" project—a trilogy of instrumental, improvised guitar records—highlighted another form of expression. "Bannatyne" continues to explore new ground. Guests include Canadians City and Colour (featured on "Empty-Handed") and Kathleen Edwards (who shares vocals with Posen on "More Me With You"). You’ll also hear songs rooted in the present moment, like "Future Present Tense," with stacked harmonies and bursts of saturated guitar. Between alternate tunings, gentle vocals and lyrics about the homes we leave behind, Posen keeps shaping his sonic identity album after album.

"Each record lets me discover myself a little more," he says. "I’m not just a songwriter, and I’m not just a guitarist. I am both at once. I take the worlds I feel connected to and bring them together, leaning toward one or the other depending on what I want. With 'Bannatyne,' the idea was to be a bit grittier, rawer, less polished in my performances. I wasn’t chasing perfection or an overly clean execution. I just trusted what felt right."

Co-produced by Posen and his longtime collaborator Murray Pulver, "Bannatyne" hits the mark. It’s Posen’s vision of electrified roots music—propelled by song, nourished by guitar, and deeply personal.