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MLTR: It’s about the music

Think Danish Pop Idol – the 1988 version. That could be a way to describe how a high school band consisting of 4 20-something guys from Aarhus, Denmark, started their international award-winning musical careers.

Since then, Jascha Ritcher (lead vocals), Mikkel Lentz (guitars), Kåre Wanscher (drums) and Søren Madsen (bass), have gone multi platinum all over Asia and other parts of the world.

With six albums and number 1 hits since the early 90s, Michael Learns To Rock, otherwise known as MLTR, is still going on strong since their debut in the international music market in 1991.

Importance of music
Fitting into the new pop industry
Changing band dynamics
‘Take Me To Your Heart’ is ‘Goodbye Kiss’ MLTR style
Naming the band Michael Learns To Rock

Importance of music

After the press conference for Euphoria 2004, Tiger Beer’s birthday party on October 9th, at the headquarters of Asia Pacific Breweries, Urbanwire sat down with MLTR who share that their formula for longevity- focussing on their music instead of their image.

MLTR: It’s about the music
MLTR: It’s about the music

Kåre commented, “It’s like people forget that it’s about the music really and tend to make the image much more important than anything. You see many artistes that are nothing but image, which absolutely only goes for 1 season and then the artiste will be gone. Our image is our music and that’s why we have stayed in the business for so long because the music can do the job. We never had an image that we had to change every year.”

Mikkel added, “Well, it’s always important to be shown on TV, MTV and all that, but for us we can walk around unrecognised, which is kind of nice. So, it’s (image) important these days, but music is more important.

Fitting into the new pop industry

As the last act of Euphoria 2004, MLTR went on stage with no fancy gear (the lead singer, Jascha, was only wearing an Adidas tee and jeans) but just with their musical talents and vocal abilities. For more than an hour, MLTR somehow managed to capture the attention of the crowd and enchanted them by the thousands. However, MLTR confessed that they would never be assimilated into the current pop industry.

MLTR: It’s about the music
MLTR: It’s about the music

“We never fit in,” joked Mikkel, “we never will.” Kåre agreed, “When we started playing pop music like we do many years ago, it was not a popular thing to do. It was not a trendy thing to do or anything like that. But then… all these trends they come and go and we’re kind of on the side, just doing what we’re doing… we know pop music will always be popular [and] good to sing along to its melody and stuff like that. We never thought of fitting into the music scene in anyway. We only do what we thought was our music.”

Doesn’t that make MLTR a boring band and unworthy of a headline? “Yeah, I think so!” Mikkel joked, causing the trio to burst out laughing before Kåre continued, “We’re not a very edgy band. We don’t go crazy [and] you don’t read about it in the news. We just focus on the music and that may be a bit boring if you want to make headlines, but that is what we do… concentrate on the music and trying to behave.”

Changing band dynamics

Unfortunately, through their process of growing up as a band, they suffered the loss of their bassist, Søren, who decided to pursue a solo career instead. MLTR admitted that it changed their band dynamics in certain aspects but they still decided to continue and came up with hit after hit, drawing in fans of all ages in their own unique way.

“It did change our dynamics because we have different roles and we had to find new roles. We had to find another bass player. We don’t have a bass player now but for live concerts we hired a girl called Ida (Ida Christine Nelsen). It did change some things but it was not difficult… I think we got used to it and now it’s working very well,” said Mikkel.

MLTR: It’s about the music
MLTR: It’s about the music

The trio have been making music together for over a decade now and being part of MLTR is like being part of a brotherhood. “If you want to annoy each other you know exactly what to say and we also know what you don’t say… When we fight it’s because we have different ideas about music points. But in the end we always agree on the best solution. And that’s pretty much they way we work,” explained Mikkel.

Unlike the expectation of the masses, Jascha declines the role as leader of MLTR as he feels that the responsibility is shared among all of them.

“It’s very democratic. We come from a very democratic country and… we’re a bunch of people that will try to do something together. Everybody’s opinions have to be heard and we discuss how to do things and stuff. I’m not a band leader… I’m a lead singer,” he said as Kåre affirms his support for Jascha’s talents, “We’re (him and Mikkel) big fans of Jascha. We like his songs. He’s [the] creative source.”

‘Take Me To Your Heart’ is ‘Goodbye Kiss’ MLTR style

This creative lyricist has written countless number of songs on MLTR’s albums and among them a rewritten MLTR version of Hong Kong God of Songs Jacky Cheung’s ‘Wen Bie (Goodbye Kiss)’, entitled ‘Take Me to Your Heart’.

MLTR: It’s about the music
MLTR: It’s about the music

“We heard the song, the Jacky Cheung version of it, and we thought it was a beautiful song. [We made changes] only to the lyrics and a little bit of changes here and there but mostly we just recorded the way that Michael Learns To Rock would have done that song… we’re very happy to put it on the album,” said Kåre.

MLTR: It’s about the music
MLTR: It’s about the music

If you think MLTR is going to stop here, then you’re wrong. MLTR’s latest album is expected to be in local music stores in January. Before attending Euphoria 2004, MLTR recorded their Christmas single back in Denmark entitled ‘A Part of Christmas Night’ which they performed at the Padang, getting the crowd all excited. When asked about their Christmas single, the trio lit up in excitement too. “It’s brand new,” chirped Mikkel, “That’s a Christmas present from us to you, the fans.”

Naming the band Michael Learns To Rock

Finally a burning question that many MLTR fans are dying to know… why the name Michael Learns To Rock when no one in the band is actually called Michael? Mikkel and Kåre throw the question at Jascha, who calmly explained, “We had no better idea and it was the best that we could come up with… but it works… [it’s] memorable. People remember the name because it is a sentence and it looks great on the sign (points to Euphoria 2004’s banner with their name on top of the list) Michael Learns To Rock, you will never forget that name.”

If you think Michael Learns To Rock is old school and a boring bunch of guys, here’s Urbanwire’s favourite funniest takes from the guys of MLTR:

An English lesson with MLTR to describe Michael Learns To Rock in 5 words

Jascha: (counts with his fingers) “Michael… Learns… To… Rock!”
Mikkel: That’s 4 words.
Jascha: (counts again) “Michael Learns To Pop Rock! (sheepish smile) Nah… we’re just playing the music that our lives are [part of].”
Mikkel: That’s more than 5 words! I got it… Classical, honest, romantic…
Kåre: …harmonic and music-loving!

MLTR discusses how it feels being away from family

Mikkel: (almost instantly) “Nice…” (Kåre laughs along and Jascha gives a wry smile)
Kåre: “It’s ok… of course we miss them but since we’ve done this for 12 to 15 years, we’re used to it. It’s kinda [like] a lifestyle, so we have it in us. We like to get away and our wives, girlfriends and kids, they know that. It’s always been like that. It’s ok.”

MLTR shares their favourite movie… and a try at a joke

Mikkel: Independence Day is one of my favourites. I [also] like Charlie Chaplin movies and a lot of horror movies.
Kåre: Super Size Me watched that movie… scary… [it’s] a real horror movie.
(Everyone looks at Jascha who is very quiet)
Jascha: “I… I don’t watch movies, so I don’t know what to say.”

UW: So what do you do during your free time, Jascha?
Jascha: “I go for a walk… writing songs.”

UW: Where do you get the inspiration for your songs then?
Jascha (with a straight face): “I get inspiration for my songs from the movies! (Everyone at the table starts laughing) “No… [I get inspiration] from travelling. It’s quite inspiring to see the world, travel, meet people and stuff like that. It’s inspiring.”

MLTR shares their band’s and personal goals for the future

As a band:
Kåre: “Write the official anthem for the Olympics in China! That’ll be our official goal… or just make good music.”
Mikkel teased, “It’ll be a landmark musical record!”

Personal goals:
Kåre: “Do more yoga.”
Mikkel: “(lifts up mug of beer and smirks) Drink more Tiger Beer!”
Jascha: “I think maybe the world to be more globalised and a reason for everybody to be more peaceful to each other.” (UW: so politically correct, Jascha!)

MLTR rekindling travel memories…

Kåre: “We didn’t know we were that big [in Hanoi or Thailand]. It was suppose to be 400 people [but] 4,000 people turned up. They went crazy. We had to stop the concert because the floor… it could crack because there were too many people in the house.

“There were also some crazy stuff that happened in Hanoi. Too many tickets sold. They made fake tickets, so many people want to come and see our show that there were twice as many people with the tickets in their hands than that could been in the house… they start to climb in through the windows, the ceiling, through the doors and it was quite scary but also interesting to see how much people really want to hear the music.”

MLTR vs. the “Idol” frenzy

Kåre: “The first time I thought it was fun because [a] few were so bad you can sit there and laugh. I mean what’s the point about that? Young kids crying their hearts out and people are sitting in front of the TV laughing. I don’t really like that but it can be a good chance for some to have a chance. There’s no music at all you know. The last winner of Idol in Demark, there hasn’t been a record out because they just want to have a TV show with lots of viewers. There’s no album, there’s no artiste to come out of it. What’s the point?”
Mikkel: “It’s so commercial. It’s all about money and fame. In my opinion, I miss the musical part of it. [For them] the music is secondary. It’s [no longer] the main thing.”

 

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Suruchi Lohani
Suruchi Lohani
suruchi lohani is a content editor who love playing with words to make stories come alive. Besides editing the content she loves reading books and writing.
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