British drummer Ash Soan and Canadian guitarist Ariel Posen have followed parallel paths to social media stardom in recent years, with each independently earning widespread acclaim with stripped-down solo videos highlighting their distinctive voices on their respective instruments. When they began sharing duo session clips and teasing a collaborative album, fans of instrumental funk music took notice. The anticipation was immediate, and expectations were high. Their self-titled debut lives up to the hype, delivering a fresh, dynamic blend of groove and grit that’s both exactly what you’d expect and something you’ve never heard.
Soan and Posen both made their names as prolific sidemen: Soan boasts the title of the U.K.’s #1 top-selling drummer, having played on at least 60 top 10 albums for artists including Adele, Cher, Seal, Robbie Williams, and Billy Idol; Posen, who has released several solo recordings and toured internationally with his own band, was dubbed “a modern-day guitar hero” by Rolling Stone and won the titles of Breakout Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2020 and 2021, and Rock Artist of the Year and Recording of the Year in 2022. Their unique playing styles seem to shine especially bright, however, in their solo clips.
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Neither is fast or flashy. Instead, they share a similar sensibility when it comes to using space and restraint. Both seem to play as few notes as possible, often on a slightly off-kilter rhythmic grid, to create a deep groove that you feel more than you hear. They also share a preference for crunchy, compressed lo-fi production, adding a layer of grit to their otherwise polished playing.
With their first-ever duo album, Soan and Posen showcase their respective voices while creating something greater than the sum of its parts, elevating each other’s playing to new heights and crafting a sound that’s both deeply collaborative and distinctly their own.
Posen described the duo’s first in-person session, writing:
back in october, i was on tour with my band all over the uk. We had a show in cambridge. ash and I had been chatting about hanging out as he lives close by.
we have collaborated for a long while now, playing on each others projects, and other things, but always remotely.
ash invited me over to his studio since it was so close to where we were playing.
we had no plan, no agenda. the goal was to just hang and make some music.
almost immediately, once everything was plugged in and ready, we started jamming and it was clear that there was a synergy and a connection happening, deeper than would we could have imagined.
with every idea, there was another idea and we just kept going, and before we knew it, we had an album.
as @cathalmurphy_music and I drove back to the hotel to pick up the band and head to soundcheck, ash had already sent me some mixes and it was just ‘it’.
we really hope you dig it. It’s avail on bandcamp only right now, but will be available on all streaming platforms very soon.
The result of this an inspired meeting between two seasoned musicians at the height of their craft is a groove-forward debut that feels both effortless and groundbreaking.
Listen to the full album, released under the title Self Titled, below.
Ash Soan & Ariel Posen – Self Titled