The Playlist: Ariel Posen
As The Bros Landreth’s Ariel Posen releases solo album Howlong, he reveals the key songs from his journey so far…
The song that made me want to play… Daytripper – The Beatles
“There was something about the main guitar hook that pulled me in, and I loved the rest of it as well. It was the total package. A cool song, good lyrics, great vocal hooks, and of course, an amazing guitar hook that was so much fun to play. Basically any Beatles song...”
The first tune I learned to play… Having an average weekend–Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet
“Again, it was probably Day Tripper. The other earliest memory of songs that I learnt on guitar was the theme song of a Canadian sketch comedy TV show called The Kings In The Hall. Again, something drew me to it, or maybe it was just what my teacher felt like teaching me.”
A guitar solo I love… Sometimes – Kevin Breit
“That’s really hard. There are so many. I’ll pick two random ones in that bunch. First would be SRV’S Tin Pan Alley. For some reason, every time I hear that, I get completely trapped in it. It’s the perfect example of dynamics, thematic playing, telling a story and taking the listener on a journey. One of my other faves is by my favourite slide player, and fellow Canadian too, Kevin Breit. His solo on Sometimes, which is a tune by him and Harry Manx basically moves me to tears every time I hear it. Right from his entrance to the very end, it’s absolute magic.”
A song of mine I’d play to someone who had never heard my music… Things that i’ ve said–Ariel Posen
“That’s hard to answer as well. The first two singles of the album, Fade and Things That I’ve Said, are a good example of what my music is all about. They are both song-driven first, but have their own guitar moments. They are not ‘guitar’ songs by any means though!”
A great showcase of an underrated guitarist… She’s a woman – The Beatles
“That rhythm playing! I think John Lennon is a highly underrated guitar player. Everybody knows how legendary his songwriting and singing was, but no one ever talks about his enormously important rhythm playing. Lennon and Ringo were the driving force in The Beatles. He obviously had his lead moments too but, yeah, I’d say he is a guitarist that never gets talked about enough as a guitarist.”
A song I’m looking forward to playing on my UK tour… Fade – Ariel Posen
“I played all [the new album’s] songs on my UK tour this past February, except Fade, as I didn’t write it until immediately after the tour. I’d say that’s the one I’m most excited to play! It got a great reaction in the US when I was on tour weeks after releasing it, so it was very encouraging!”
A song I’ve been involved with that I’m particularly proud of… Sinking feeling – The New Lightweights
“I have a band with some friends back home called The New Lightweights. We’ve put out three EPS over the span of the last 10 years. There’s a couple of songs we’ve written that I am quite proud of. Some faves are Sinking Feeling, Maybe I Don’t Know, Get To You and Waiting. Other then that, I’ve had the fortune to produce and co-write with a handful of great artists. I love doing this kind of stuff.”
How Long is out now. Ariel tours the UK between 16-28 February. See arielposen.com for dates