Mikkel Lentz on why Michael learns to rock songs stand test of time

Michael Learns To Rock (MLTR) has recently released the single, A Life To Remember. The latter is a welcome addition to the legendary Danish band’s collection of hits and classics.

A piece of information given to The STAR describes the latest track as “heartfelt and soulful,” capturing “the essence of cherishing life’s moments and creating lasting memories.”

The band’s lead vocalist-songwriter-keyboardist Jascha Richter, guitarist Mikkel Lentz, and drummer Kåre Wanscher, on the other hand, also commence their “Take Us To Your Heart” tour in Bali, Indonesia, today, and conclude it in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Nov. 17.

Come Nov. 5, Michael Learns To Rock goes to Manila to touch base and reconnect with Pinoy fans.

With a recording and performing career that spans for more than three decades, MLTR is definitely a success story.

Adding to that is the fact that they have sold over 30 million records worldwide, captivating “audiences with their unique blend of soft rock and pop, delivering timeless songs that have won them legions of fans across the globe.”

In a brief chat with Mikkel, this paper inquired: “Where does the band attribute its success?”

The Michael Learns To Rock artist-member gave his two cents’ worth by saying, “A lot of people ask us that, ‘Where does success come from?’ And I mean, you can’t plan success. It’s completely blowing in the wind. I mean, you can’t plan success.”

“I mean, we’ve been extremely lucky, I guess that when we came out, there was this little space for our songs,” added he. “Because we speak Danish, we don’t speak English here in Denmark, so I guess the lyrics are simple and easy to understand, and I also guess the melodies of the songs are easy to learn and they’re very melodic. I guess maybe it’s a combination of simple lyrics and the (easy-to-learn) melodies.”

That also sounds and serves as a piece of advice to aspiring songwriters and musicians on how to make and produce tunes with universal appeal, aside from telling relatable narratives set in music that MLTR is also known for.

“Maybe people just like to sing. You know (in) some parts of Asia, karaoke is very famous. It’s a big thing,” shared Mikkel. “So, we experienced that people really like to sing along, and also that maybe they like the romantic songs because all of our famous songs are pretty slow and romantic. We guess people like that.”

Nowadays, it seems a trend among music artists to release a single first before producing an EP or a full album.

Mikkel compared making an album, which consists of 10 songs, to like having 10 babies, “and you care about all of them,” said he. “And then maybe if you’re lucky, one of them becomes like very successful, a hit single.”

Among MLTR’s hits that their Pinoy fans know by heart are The Actor, 25 Minutes, Take Me To Your Heart, That’s Why You Go Away, Sleeping Child and Paint My Love.

Following his train of thought, one could glean that he doesn’t play favorites between the group’s popular tunes and the lesser-known ones. He simply adores every song the band has created.

“We always spend as much time and love on the lesser-known songs. So, we’re just very happy that we have these famous songs,” shared he, who also prefers to listen to a full album. “I like to listen to all the songs that are not necessarily big hits.”

As for the “Take Us To Your Heart” tour in Manila, Mikkel, Jascha, and Kåre are excited to meet their Filipino fans again.

“I look forward to looking our fans in the eye and playing in front of them and interacting and singing with them,” said Mikkel. “I mean, that’s our fuel… The energy from the audience is very important to us. I mean, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”

In a statement, the guitarist shared that the band has always had “a special connection with our fans in Southeast Asia. The energy and warmth we feel every time we perform there is something truly magical. We’re looking forward to returning to the region and sharing both our classic hits and new music live.”

(Tickets for the ‘Take Us To Your Heart’ tour are now available through official outlets, while the song, A Life To Remember, can now be streamed on all major platforms. For details on the tour and new music, pleasevisit www.mltr.dk.)