Spinning Into Vertigo: Shiraz Lane on Ten Years of Rock, Legendary Festivals, and Their Bold New Era

Spinning Into Vertigo: Shiraz Lane on Ten Years of Rock, Legendary Festivals, and Their Bold New Era

✍️ Introduction

Few bands embody the spirit of modern hard rock quite like Shiraz Lane. Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, the group has spent the past decade carving out their place in the global rock scene — from muddy fields at Wacken to the high seas of the Monsters of Rock Cruise. With their latest release, In Vertigo (Frontiers Music Srl), Shiraz Lane delivers a whirlwind of catchy riffs, soaring hooks, and unapologetic energy that proves rock and roll is alive and thriving.

In this exclusive conversation, guitarist Jani Laine and drummer Ana Vilkkumaa reflect on their journey — from the raw beginnings of For Crying Out Loud to the polished power of In Vertigo. They share stories of storm-soaked festivals, the influence of Finnish legends like Michael Monroe, and their dreams of finally bringing Shiraz Lane’s electrifying live show to U.S. stages.

Introduce yourselves and tell me what you do in the band.
Jani: I’m Jani, the lead guitar player of Shiraz Lane.

Ana: My name is Ana, and I play the drums for Shiraz Lane.

Where are you based, and what is the music scene like there?
Ana: We’re based in Helsinki, Finland. The music scene is pretty active considering Finland is a small country with only about five million inhabitants. Rock is alive here, even if it’s not the biggest genre.

Jani: Yeah, especially the metal scene. Pop and rap have taken a lot of space in the mainstream, but Finland still has plenty of rock and metal bands, venues, and small local bars. There are lots of up-and-coming bands too. We’ve been playing for about ten years now, so we’re kind of veterans in the scene. It’s definitely changed a lot over that time.

Ana: Unfortunately, I wouldn’t say it’s dying, but it has dimmed a bit over the past 10–15 years. It used to be bigger and more active. Still, we have hope — there are rock and roll bands, electric guitars, and cool bars where you can perform.

Jani: Exactly. When we started, bands like Reckless Love and Santa Cruz were big. We played with them, but now both are gone. The scene has shifted a lot since then.

Your new album In Vertigo — is there an overall story or concept behind the title?
Jani: The concept was simply to make really catchy Shiraz Lane songs — a strong rock record. The title reflects that: it’s a mix of our style with songs that keep you spinning while listening. The phrase In Vertigo actually comes from the lyrics of the third track, The Ray of Light. We felt those words captured the essence of the album perfectly.

Let’s talk about a few songs. You open with Stone Cold Lover. What’s the background on that track?
Jani: It started with Miki’s idea — he came up with the riff and chord structure. I added my parts to his demo, and it already had a great groove. We simplified it a bit and changed the verses during rehearsals. We worked on it a lot as a band, especially the C part. The vocal hooks came later — Hannes wrote the chorus after a long demo session at my place. At first, it didn’t feel right, but then suddenly he nailed it. It turned into a great opener with a strong groove.

Ana: Yeah, it’s groovy and heavy with a real rock and roll punch. Even in the early versions, we jammed it in the rehearsal room and vibed with it. We’re all really happy with how it turned out, and it fits perfectly as the opening track.

Jani: And it works great live. We knew from the start it would be a song to get the audience pumped up.

Speaking of getting audiences pumped up, you released a track called Bullshit. Have you had any pushback on that song? Has it been played on the radio?
Jani: Not really. I know the title could cause issues with censorship online, but the label just asked us to use a symbol in the word when posting so it wouldn’t get blocked.

Ana: It’s actually a wonderful song. It’s older — originally written by our producer.

Jani: Yeah, he introduced the idea and we developed it together.

Ana: We first heard the demo three or four years ago, but the timing wasn’t right back then. Now it was, and we’re super stoked about how it turned out.

Let’s talk about Dangerous. Tell me about that one.
Jani: I think that was the first song where we really felt, “Okay, this is definitely going to be on the album.” It even ended up being the first single. It captured the vibe we wanted — catchy and groovy. Again, it started with Miki’s riff and idea. He sent us the demo, and I tweaked the drums and bass. The rest of the song came together pretty easily.

Ana: Yeah, that was the first track finished for the album, and it really set the tone for the style we wanted to pursue.

And then Plastic Heart — tell me about that one.
Jani: That was my idea — a riff and chord structure I showed to Hannes. He immediately felt the emotion behind it and asked me to put on the microphone so he could start singing. The lyrical theme came quickly too. It’s about those “snake-type” people, you know, the ones who aren’t genuine. Musically, it’s a classic Shiraz Lane track: fast, rocking, and leaning more toward hard rock. It works great live, especially as an opening song.

Ana: Yeah, that one came together pretty early in the project, right after Dangerous.

Jani: It’s super catchy. Out of all the singles, I think Plastic Heart has received some of the most positive feedback. It’s straightforward rock, and maybe that’s why people connect with it so much.

What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming shows? I believe you have one on New Year’s Eve?
Ana: Yes, we do — it’s our traditional Helsinki New Year’s Eve party. We’ve done it three times before, so this will be the fourth. For me, the most exciting part is playing the new songs live. We haven’t performed them yet, and we’re really proud of them. Honestly, we feel this is the best Shiraz Lane material we’ve ever made, so it’s thrilling to bring it to the stage. And the songs work really well live.

Jani: It’s great to have a fresh setlist. We still play the old classics, but now we can mix in the new tracks. We’ve already performed six out of the ten songs from the album live, and eventually we’ll test them all. I think our fans will really enjoy the variety.

Ana: We’ve also added some new production elements. I’m using a sampling pad now, which lets us bring in extra sounds. It’s a modern touch, but it makes the show bigger and better every year. With this album and tour, we’re stepping things up.

What has it been like playing legendary festivals such as Wacken and Summer Breeze?
Jani: Wacken was one of our very first gigs outside of Finland, so it was a crazy experience. It’s such a legendary, massive festival, and we were so young and full of energy. That’s probably how we survived the whole trip! Summer Breeze came a little later, and by then we had more experience, so that show felt more confident and polished. At Wacken, though, it was just pure energy. It was only our second or third show abroad, and suddenly we were on this huge stage. The setlist was short — I can’t even remember much of it — but the feeling was unforgettable.

Ana: Yeah, it was about 30 minutes. Wacken is legendary not just for the music but also for the weather — storms, mud, and chaos. When we arrived, the field was covered in mud and it was pouring rain. We didn’t have a hotel, just a tent in the camping area, and trying to set it up in that storm was insane. It felt like a Spinal Tap moment, just trying to survive the muddy fields.

Jani: The next day we played in the afternoon, and despite the weather and lack of sleep, it went pretty well. Wacken was amazing — we spent time in the VIP area, met lots of great musicians, and hung out with bands we admired. Summer Breeze was also fantastic. I remember meeting the guys from Battle Beast there.

Ana: Both shows were super exciting. Playing festivals with big audiences is always special. At Wacken, we were on the smallest stage, but even that had 5,000 people — which was huge for us.

Has Shiraz Lane ever played in the United States, or is that something you’d like to do in the future?
Ana: Definitely! Playing in the States is on our bucket list. We haven’t performed there yet, but we’ve played three times on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, which departs from Florida — Orlando and Miami. So technically we’ve stepped on U.S. soil, but we haven’t played an actual show in the States. Hopefully soon!

Jani: The cruises have been amazing. We got to see Miami and Orlando, meet fans from the U.S., and hang out with them. It would be great to play proper shows there someday. The cruises are easier logistically because you don’t have to deal with visas in the same way, but we’d love to make a U.S. tour happen.

It would be great to see Shiraz Lane in Los Angeles at the Whisky. We’ve had bands like Eclipse and Crazy Lixx play there — you guys should come.
Ana: Absolutely, we need to make that happen.

Jani: I think it will happen eventually. It just needs the right plan — maybe tying it in with the cruise or organizing a few gigs around it. It has to make sense logistically, but it’s definitely something we want to do.

The 10-year anniversary of For Crying Out Loud is coming up. Looking back, what do you think of that album now in retrospect?
Ana: We still play some of those songs live from time to time. It was an important part of our journey, and a lot of the tracks are still great. But in retrospect, there are definitely things we would do differently. We made mistakes, and of course you learn from them later in life. None of us are 100% satisfied with it, but it was a valuable learning process and a milestone for us.

Jani: It was a good starting point, and it gained us a lot of attention. We’ve played those songs live so many times, and they’re full of energy. We were young, just going for it without overthinking. In a way, the album is a snapshot of that time and how we sounded then. It’s an important part of our journey, and it kept us moving forward.

Ana: It’s an honest version of Shiraz Lane.

Jani: Totally. I haven’t listened to it in years, but maybe next year we should revisit it.

A Finnish artist who’s been out here a few times is Michael Monroe. Were you into Michael Monroe and Hanoi Rocks?
Ana: Big time — especially me and Miki. We were huge fans when we were about 14 or 15. Hannes too. They had their second coming around the year 2000 and were active for about eight years.

Jani: They were massive in Finland at that point — one of the biggest bands in the country.

Ana: Definitely. They had a major influence on me and Miki, and really on all of us. Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy are basically the only true rock and roll legends from Finland — the real deal. As Finnish rock musicians, you look up to them and idolize them in many ways.

Jani: After Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe’s solo career has also been very successful in Finland. This year we played the Monsters of Rock Cruise and actually met him briefly on the ship. Then at the airport flying back to Finland, we got to hang out with him more. He told us great stories and gave us advice — like “keep going, do your own thing, and be proud of it.” It was inspiring.

Are either of you involved with projects outside of Shiraz Lane?
Ana: I play as a session drummer for Tommi Läntinen, a Finnish artist who writes in Finnish. I always describe him as the Bryan Adams of Finland. He’s old school — been around since the ’80s with Boycott, and then his solo career since the ’90s. He’s a veteran, and I work with him when I can, playing gigs and recording albums. I also teach drums, so I have students. Music keeps me busy in many ways.

Jani: I don’t have any proper side projects, but sometimes friends ask me to play guitar parts on their songs. It’s refreshing because I don’t have to think about it in terms of Shiraz Lane — I just play whatever fits. It’s fun, but nothing serious. Just small projects. Nowadays it’s so easy to record music, so it happens naturally.

What do you hope the New Year brings for Shiraz Lane?
Jani: Touring would be great — ideally as a support act for a bigger band, which would help us reach new fans. We also plan to release a couple of new music videos and grow our fan base through social media. Hopefully more people discover our music, and maybe we’ll start writing new material too.

Ana: Yes, spreading the message of Shiraz Lane and reaching new audiences. The U.S. is still a bucket list goal for us. It would be amazing to finally make that happen.

Jani: We already have shows lined up in Finland and abroad that we’ll announce soon, so fans can expect to hear the new songs live.

Any message for Shiraz Lane fans in the United States?
Ana: Be patient — we hope to come as soon as possible to meet you all. In the meantime, check out In Vertigo. We truly appreciate the support you’re already giving us. Blast our music loud, spread the word, and enjoy the ride!

🎤 Outro

From storm-soaked festival fields in Germany to the anticipation of cracking the U.S. market, Shiraz Lane’s journey has been anything but ordinary. With In Vertigo, the band proves they’re not just survivors of a changing rock landscape — they’re innovators, veterans, and torchbearers for the next generation of hard rock.

As Jani and Ana reflect on ten years of growth, lessons, and unforgettable shows, one thing is clear: Shiraz Lane is only gaining momentum. Whether it’s a packed club in Helsinki, a cruise ship rocking across the Atlantic, or a dream gig at the Whisky in Los Angeles, the band’s message remains the same — keep the faith, blast the music, and let the vertigo spin you into their world.

Rock and roll may ebb and flow, but Shiraz Lane is proof that the spirit is alive, loud, and ready for the next decade.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Line Up:
Hannes Kett – Vocals
Jani Laine – Guitar
Miki Kalske – Guitar
Joel Alex – Bass
Ana Vilkkumaa – Drums

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