a woman and her roots

She' s back in town.
(foto: ©jukka okanen)

She,
Winner of the European Blues Award for Best Guitarist 2017 is coming from here.
Alan White:

What were your first musical memories growing up in the fucking small town of ... is it, Kuopio in Finland?

Erja Lyytinen: 

Yes, Kuopio.  I remember that we always had music at our house.  My father used to play a lot of guitar, he still does, just for fun in the house.  I remember when I was very small, perhaps 4, I used to sing about my father’s chord progressions and I came up with my own lyrics and melody and my Daddy later said that he was amazed at my improvisation at that age.  It just came naturally.  I remember that I really liked it and I ran around the room and singing at the same time.  It was something that I had inside me.  My mother plays bass and sings and she and my father had a Finnish traditional band together in the 60s so it was very easy. 

(ed. note. my friend was her first quitar teacker)

Growing up in that sort of musical environment I don’t think there was much choice.

Alan:

So did you feel that you always wanted to become a musician?

Erja: 

Yes, although there was a tiny phase in my teenage years when I thought that I wouldn’t do music, but it didn’t last long.