Eastern Mirror (EM): After 8 albums and more than 11 million in album sales, the band is still around. What was the biggest factor that shaped the direction of band musically?
Michael Learns To Rock (MLTR): We grew up in the 1970’s and 80’s so all the pop and rock music from that time has been our biggest inspiration of our musical direction. During the years we have also been influenced by present music but always held on to the classic pop genre that we feel is where we belong.
EM: Initially, the band struggled to crack the US and UK markets. But MLTR’s biggest fan base remains Asia, then and now. Does it mean the band’s brand of pop wasn’t esoteric enough for fussy America?
MLTR: I guess there a number of reasons for us not breaking into the US and UK that has nothing to do with our style of music but more seems to be results of the randomness that exists in the music business. Having said that we have learned that our style of music fits perfectly into the Asian markets and that have been our luck in the long run since Asian fans are the most loyal fans in the world.
EM: Soren Madsen was one of the musical pieces that gave MLTR’s soft and distinctively dulcet style of pop rock. What was the impact of his departure on the band’s music?
MLTR: Soren leaving the band had a big impact on band and the whole working process had to be changed and it took a few years for us to adjust to the new situation. Now I see his departure as a natural development and feel that it has not had a big impact to the way we make music these days.
EM: ‘Colors’ was the breakthrough album that introduced MLTR to the world and the US. Musically, what according to you is the difference between ‘Colors’ and ‘Scandinavia’?
MLTR: Actually when we recorded Scandinavia we did take a lot of inspiration from our early albums such as Colors and Played on Pepper. To me the difference is mainly the natural diversity that will always be on two albums recorded almost 20 years apart from each other.
EM: The band has been said as being “as good (if not better).” For instance,’ Played on pepper’ was hugely-radio friendly but ‘Eternity’ was basically a foray into a nostalgic tribute to the old days. Has musical ambition interfered with the sound of MLTR?
MLTR: We are always very ambitious when recording an album but never go into the studio with a certain strategy of how the album is going to sound. It just comes when recording the songs and to us the final result is just the result of the three of us working together. I feel that our sound has never been something we have deliberately created but just the way we sound – 20 years ago and today.
EM: MLTR is a household name in Asia. What new things can fans in Nagaland expect from the band because they have been listening to you for years now? And what do you expect from the land?
MLTR: When going to a place for the first time were we know we have a big following we feel that playing the songs people know is a must, simply out of respect for our audience. In addition to that we will also play some newer tracks including our brand new single I’ll Wait For You. We hope to see a lot of happy people coming to party with us as our Indian audience use to do.
EM: It’s now almost 29 years of recording and touring for the band. What are the chief reasons that you are still together performing?
MLTR: Without our fans we would not be around anymore so they are the main reason for us staying together. Whenever we have had a hard time we tried to focus on all the love and support we get from our fans around the world and that encouraged us to keep working with the band and get back on the road.
EM: Was staging in Nagaland listed in your Asia ‘tour map’ or ‘Nagaland’ just got lucky through the tour organizers? When was the first time you came across the state ‘Nagaland’?
MLTR: I guess it is due to the local organizers that we are able to come to Nagaland. Honestly we don’t know much about the North East of India except for Shillong where we played before. So it is going to be very exciting to see that part of India and to meet our fans there.
