Finnish blues lady takes it up a notch
Erja Lyytinen is pleased to announce the release of her 10th studio album “Stolen Hearts” – released by Tuohi Records on Friday 7th April, 2017. Stolen Hearts is the first album to be released since 2015’s “Live In London”, and the first studio album to be release since 2014’s Elmore James tribute “The Sky Is Crying.”
The new album coincides with Erja’s “Stolen Hearts” April 2017 Tour which kicks off atSquare & Compass in Ilminster on Sunday 9th April.
The new album was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki. Erja’s vocals were recorded at State of the Ark Studios in London by multi-platinum selling engineer and producer Chris Kimsey, known for his contributions to classic Rolling Stones albums Sticky Fingers and Some Girls. Kimsey also mixed the album.
In fact, Stolen Hearts was mixed on the very same EMI console Kimsey had often used with the Stones. Says Erja, “Chris said it was like meeting an old girlfriend after many years. He sat in front of the desk and his magic started to happen.”
Mastering was completed at Air Studios (part of the world-famous Air Studios started by Beatles producer George Martin) by Ray Staff, whose credits include iconic rock albums including David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust (1972) and Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes (1972).
Stolen Hearts comes at a time when Erja Lyytinen is broadening her horizons. During the past year, she has played a sold-out tour of Finland with her compatriot Heikki Silvennoinen and made her first-ever concert appearances in India.
She describes the process of making her newest album “purifying” – the product of difficult times of “heartbreak, frustration, disappointment, fear of loss and yet, at the same time, the deepest love.” As an artist, Erja has always been open to change, and with Stolen Hearts, she wants to offer her audience something totally new. “I had the feeling that I had the ingredients in my hands to make something truly extraordinary and different.”
“Erja’s interpretation of the blues takes the genre to another level that I have never experienced before,” says Kimsey.
Stolen Hearts sees Erja spreading her wings into different musical genres whilst retaining her blues roots. Influences of country, Americana, funk, folk, prog, R&B, jazz and rock, are intertwined with Erja’s trademark slide guitar blues stamp, which makes Stolen Hearts her most stylistically accomplished and sonically adventurous release to date.
“Working with Erja was a revelation,” says Kimsey. “She has the ability to perform and write so many different kinds of songs, and her vocals and lyrics are powerful and they connect with listeners.”
Says Erja, “For this album, I wanted to break out of Helsinki by working with an established British engineer who could take my vocals further. When Chris Kimsey was recommended, I checked out his credentials, and realized that he had worked on some of the greatest rock records recorded by the Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton, INXS, Marillion, Bad Company, to name but a few.
Continues Erja, “Working at State of the Ark with Chris was amazing because we mixed the album and recorded my vocals on the same desk the Rolling Stones used at Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris, where they recorded all their classic albums. The desk is analogue, and the microphones were vintage, enabling us to capture an authentic and fuller sound. I’m really pleased with the results, and I hope my fans will be, too. Production-wise, Stolen Hearts is the best sounding album of my career.”
“STOLEN HEARTS” – TRACK LISTING
1. Stolen Hearts (4:42)
2. Rocking Chair (3:50)
3. Love Laboratory (4:15)
4. 24 Angels (3:57)
5. Black Ocean (7:15)
6. Slowly Burning (4:14)
7. Lover’s Novels (3:32)
8. Silver Stones (4:44)
9. Awakening (4:01)
10. City Of Angels (5:22)
11. Broken Eyes (4:55)
ERJA LYYTINEN – “STOLEN HEARTS” – APRIL 2017 UK TOUR
Square & Compass, Ilminster Sunday 9 April 2017
The 100 Club, London – Record Release Party Tuesday 11 April 2017
Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion Wednesday 12 April
Durham Gala Theatre, Durham – with Chantel McGregor Thursday 13 April 2017
Hard Rock Hell – Blues Festival @ Sheffield O2 Academy Saturday 15 April 2017