We met Erja Lyytinen also known as Queen Of The Slide Guitar, one of the leading blues-rock guitarists on the international touring circuit. During a recording career spanning 21 years, she has released 12 studio albums as well as several live albums. Lyytinen’s musical pallet is vast, encompassing the very best of contemporary blues-rock whilst inspired and influenced by the blues greats of yore. The artist’s last studio album “Waiting for the Daylight” was released in 2022, and at the end of March 2025 the new album “Smell The Rose” will be released. Erja made history by being the first Finnish artist nominated at Canada´s Maple Blues Awards in the B.B. King International Artist of the Year category. Erja Lyytinen’s sound has evolved over the years. Beginning with her traditional blues roots, Lyytinen has been simultaneously pushing forward with a hard rock-orientated style of play whilst always keeping that blues sound at the core of everything she does. “My sound has changed since the last live recording. My playing has more of a hard-rock element and edge,” confirms the guitarist.
We took the chance to ask her some questions about her music, especially in relation to the release of her new single, “The Ring”, just so close to March 8th, International Women’s Day.
How and when you decided that music would be your main activity?
I knew it very early age. I felt so much of joy when I was singing or playing the violin as a kid. I can still remember that bubbly feel. When I became a teenager, I found the electric guitar. It was such a cool instrument, and I decided that someday I would master the instrument and play solos.
How is the music scene in Finland, especially for women?
Finns love music, especially Finnish tango and metal music. We got a few of folk-metal bands too, and of course many rock bands, who tour internationally. The country is full of festivals during the summertime and during the winter the concert houses and clubs are being very active. So, the music scene is pretty vibrant in Finland. Finnish women are strong and independent, and there´s a lot of female artists doing their own thing. There´s a lot of unique artists, who don´t necessarily work on a mainstream field, but follow their own heart and passion. Even if it means stepping outside of a “popular” path of music.
What is your experience as a musician and as a woman in the music business?
I was born into a musical family. My dad plays guitar and my mom plays bass and they both sing. So, for me it was a natural thing to be a woman operating in a music business. But for the media a woman being a guitarist was very interesting. I do remember my first interview, when I was playing in a rock band. I was just seventeen years old, the only girl in the band. The journalist, who happened to be a woman, kept asking “serious” questions from the male musicians, and finally turned at me and asked me “so, who´s girlfriend you are?” This was mid-90´s, and let´s put it this way, nobody has ever asked me that question again..! But I was just starting out, and the whole music business was so male dominated back then. I didn´t mind that though, as I was always hanging out with boys and grew up with two brothers. I always had both girls and boys as friends. I love playing the electric guitar, and I enjoy what I´m doing very much. For me the sex doesn´t really matter, but it´s delightful to see that nowadays the number of women operating in the music business is increasing. And there are not just instrumentalists, but also managers, light – and sound technicians who are women working in the music field.
Erja Lyytinen – Foto di Ville Juurikkala
What is your musical inspiration? Are there some women in the blues or rock world that inspired your music?
My early musical inspiration have of course been my Mom and Dad. I owe so much for them. I joined their band when I was fifteen years old. I learned, that you need to be on stage for the people, for the listeners. And entertain! In the age of sixteen I discovered Aretha Franklin. She made a huge impression to me with her soulful voice. You could hear she lived through her songs. Aretha was a big thing for me back then. When I was starting out to play the slide guitar, my friend brought me an album, that featured a woman who played a slide guitar, wrote her songs and sang with a perfect voice. The artist was Bonnie Raitt and I instantly became a huge fan of hers! It was amazing when I finally got to meet Bonnie Raitt at Järvenpää Puistoblues in 2003, where I also released my first solo album. I got to chat with Bonnie at her backstage and she was so lovely. Also, one other huge favorite of mine, Koko Taylor, played on that festival that day too. Unfortunately, I didn´t get to talk to her, but she sounded amazing that day. Just like on her albums. Few years ago I discovered Lzzy Hale from Halestorm. I´m very impressed of her skills and voice and performance. There are many amazing talented women in the music business and it´s delightful to see more women playing electric guitar too. It´s very important to encourage the young women and girls to take a guitar, drums or bass as their instrument. The music scene has always been very male dominated, so it´s only fruitful make it more versatile.
Your new CD called “Smell The Roses” will be out very soon, you said that is heavier than the previous ones, what exactly do you mean?
Compared to my older albums, the songs on “Smell the Roses” are heavier sound wisely. The band instrumentation is very rock orientated, like back in the 60´s and 70´s and that was the sound I was going after. There´s bass, drums, Hammond, electric guitar and vocals, nothing more, nothing extra. No keyboards, no layers, nothing fancy happening on the tracks. Just a solid rock band feel throughout the album. I wanted the album to be very organic, straightforward and rough. When I played the guitar solos, I didn´t use much of pedals, but plugged straight into my Mesa Boogie F-30 head for the distortion. Stylistically the album is hard-rock, blues rock, and some songs like “Stoney Creek” has a bit of an americano vibe too. The album has definitely a new approach compared to my previous album “Waiting for the Daylight”. I´m very proud how this album turned out to be and I´m sure the songs will be a lot of fun to play live!
Women in Music: do you think that there is equality in the music business or still some battles to fight to avoid any kind of sexism/racism?
We still have to work a lot generally in the world to gain the equality and to avoid sexism and racism. There are still plenty of injustice in the world. Fortunately, I haven´t seen so much of injustice on the field where I´ve had a pleasure of working lately, but twenty years ago times were different. It´s good to see the change and things improving. I feel that everyone should have a right to carry out their dreams, regardless of their gender or ethnicity.
interview by Davide Grandi
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