Jimmy Westerlund steps into a new tier of recognition. After more than 25 years shaping records as a guitarist, producer and songwriter, the Finnish musician is now featured by Guitar Player, one of the most respected voices in the instrument’s world. The magazine not only highlights his playing but brings him into its masterclass series, placing him directly in front of a global audience.
“When Jason Sidwell called me, I first thought it was a prank call,” Westerlund says. “There’s no way Guitar Player would call me.” The call was real, and so is the momentum behind it. His work now sits in direct conversation with the legacy of melodic rock guitar.
Westerlund’s rise has been building for years through collaborations tied to Warner Music and Sony. He now holds a key role in the current lineup of Giant, contributing as guitarist, producer and songwriter on ‘Stand and Deliver’, stepping into the space once held by Dann Huff. It’s a position that demands precision, tone and authority, and Westerlund delivers.
“This is the music I’ve lived and breathed since I was a kid,” he says. “I don’t think I would’ve been ready for this ten years ago.” That foundation runs deep, and Guitar Player’s feature places him alongside names like Steve Lukather and Neal Schon, reinforcing his place within that lineage.
His catalog stretches far beyond rock. Westerlund co-wrote “Game On” with Pitbull for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, part of a project that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart and included Shakira’s “Waka Waka.” With more than 200 million streams tied to his work, the reach is undeniable.
“It feels like a huge recognition to be acknowledged by such an institution in the guitar world,” Westerlund says. Now stepping forward as a solo artist while continuing his production work, he frames this moment clearly. “I feel this is a clear turning point in my career… creating my own music with my own voice is both a risk and exactly what I need to stay inspired.”