Matteo Mancuso, the Italian guitar virtuoso from Sicily, has dropped his new single Solar Wind, featuring Steve Vai. The track comes from Matteo Mancuso’s upcoming new studio album “Route 96”, which lands on April 24 via Music Theories Recordings.
The single, released on 2/27/2026, first came with an official visualizer, and now it’s got an official music video too. Check it out below.
Mancuso had already shared the single Isla Feliz, which features jazz guitarist Antoine Boyer as a special guest. You can check it out below.
Mancuso first grabbed international attention in 2023 with his debut “The Journey”. His technical chops and songwriting talent didn’t go unnoticed, earning him glowing praise from some of the world’s top guitar virtuosos, including Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), Al Di Meola, Dweezil Zappa and, of course, Steve Vai. The debut opened the door for the young guitarist to his first international tour, where he sold out shows across both Europe and the US.
According to Mancuso, “Route 96” is an even more confident effort, and making it was far more focused and detailed than the debut. While “The Journey” was largely arranged during rehearsals, the new album boasts more deliberate, carefully conducted songwriting. Joining Mancuso on “Route 96” are Riccardo Oliva on bass and Gianluca Pellerito on drums. The album was recorded at Fico D’India Studios in Casteldaccia, Italy, and produced by Mancuso together with his father, Vincenzo Mancuso.
You can already pre-order “Route 96”.
Mancuso is heading out on a run of European shows in April. The closest he’ll get to Slovenia is on 4/19/2026, when he plays Padova, Italy (venue: Hall).
“Route 96” tracklist:
1. Solar Wind (feat Steve Vai)
2. Fire And Harmony
3. Isla Feliz (feat. Antoine Boyer)
4. L.A. Blues One
5. The Great Wall
6. Warm Sunset
7. Black Centurion
8. In The Morning Light
9. The Chicken (feat. Valeriy Stepanov) (Bonus Track)
