Mads Langer’s newly fuelled international ambition

The sing/songwriter Mads Langer, has already performed once at Spot, which was last night, together with the electronic artist Mike Sheridan. It was a surprise act, and a newly establish collaboration that has resulted in a new single, which is to be released shortly. Today he’s performing with his own band, and promoting his new album, which is simply titled ‘Mads Langer’.

Mads has performed three times previously at the Spot festival, and even though he wasn’t on the programme last years, he still turned up as a guest, because as he put it: - It’s a great window display of different music, and varying artist, so I came to hear the bands and have a good time.

During 2005 the then only 21-year-old artist, played Spot and managed to establish contact with the American booker Sat Bita, who specializes in importing European bands to the USA. Mads himself called the venture ‘a failed project’ but it wasn’t because of the lacking opportunities, but he felt things where going to raidly, and he was being pull into something, that he didn’t feel comfortable with. - Everything was just going to fast, and the idea of expensive hotel rooms and champagne was very alluring, but I just had to hit the brakes, and give myself some space, it was to much, to fast!

New fuel
Despite the hard learned experience abroad, his ambitions are still high, so renewed energy, combined with creative collaboration with talented songwriters from England, he’s packing his bags and on his way to start a new life in London, after this years summer and autumn tour. - I want to establish and slowly build up a new base in England, we have different plans on the table with bookers and labels, but nothing is signed yet. I feel more certain of what I want to do now. And Spot festival definitely had a finger to play in the fact, that I have met so many international artists that I can work with.

I asked him what advice he would give to other artists, that want to break through on the music scene, especially here in Denmark. - It’s basically very simple, since Denmark is so small. If your music is good enough, there’s a good chance that it will be heard. But another important thing is, ‘who you work with’. It’s very important that you feel secure and have good personal connection with the people who you play, perform, with, work with good people. Patience is another factor, and of course the music, it’s all about the music.

He’s looking forward to his performance later today, and is anxious to see what kind of audience will show. - Spot is great in the way that it’s a shopping mall for the audience; people who otherwise wouldn’t pay to hear me at (as an example) Voxhall or Vega can drop in and have a listen, to see if it’s anything for them. So it’s not only a festival for the business but also for the audience, who get to experience so many different things.

Mads Langer is performing in the Grand Hall today at 18.20.