John McLaren is an Acoustic Instrumental Guitarist , whose style of guitar playing is very unique due to the percussive elements and altered tunings. Everything that you hear is played on one acoustic guitar with no loops, tracks or other instruments.

The journey began at seven years old, when he took up playing classical violin and Scottish fiddle music. Winning First place at The Toronto Kiwanis Festival in 2000 was one of several awards won. With a musical family coming from Cape Breton Island, his Grandfather Dan J Campbell and uncle John Campbell were both professional fiddlers.

By the age of fifteen, John lost interest in the violin altogether. Instead, he decided to teach himself how to play the guitar by reading books and watching many hours of video.

In John's twenties, he was performing mostly electric guitar session gigs alongside various artists in the Greater Toronto area. It was Brittany McLaren, John's wife, who encouraged him to start recording and releasing his original music to the world in his thirties. Many of his songs were inspired by years over the road driving an 18 wheeler and travelling North America with his wife.

John’s debut single “The Pathless Path” in 2020 was featured on the prestigious Candyrat Records Youtube Channel which has over 700k subscribers and is known for many famous international guitar players.

In May of 2021, John collaborated with Indiana-based singer/songwriter Stephanie Heitz to release the single “Any Other Way” with the rising star. Buzz Music LA writes that "Creating a lifelike narrative that practically leaps out to your ears, "Any Other Way" provides all the emotion you need.”

John McLaren's debut, self-titled album in 2023 was mixed by himself in his home studio, and mastered by the legendary guitarist Antoine Dufour. 

The official music video for "Innocence", off his first album was released through Candyrat Records which makes this his second video release by them.

He has received praise by many professional guitarists in the industry including, two time Grammy nominated jazz guitarist Raul Midon who commented on one of John's Instagram reels by saying "Awesome! Cool!"

He has also written music for the upcoming international documentary film, "Pilgrimage to Enlightenment" directed by Luke Chadwick Jones. The movie has been nominated for best documentary at The 2024 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival.

John continues to perform his original compositions on a regular basis throughout Eastern Canada.

His second album "John McLaren Part II" is set for a November 1st, 2024 release.