Mike Tramp

Michael Trempenau, better known as Mike Tramp, is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands, White Lion and Freak of Nature.
Yes I know to some stuck in the 80’s Mike Tramp will always be the voice of White Lion, but as someone who has followed him and his music over the years there is so much more to his solo material that you need to hear. He has a new album out in May and in my opinion it is Mike Tramp at his very best. As Mike says: “The songs on “Second Time Around” are some of my favorite compositions, and for many years I have gone around with a feeling that they were never given a real chance. I have missed them in my live shows and I have missed singing them. So when I made the decision to rebuild and resurrect this bunch of songs, it was truly a chance to go for a ‘Second Time Around’.” We caught up with Mike amidst the ‘corona-craziness’ at home in Denmark.

Mark: Hi, Mike, thank you for talking to us again.
Mike: Hi Mark, how are you doing buddy?
Mark: I’m fine thanks Mike, it’s been a while since we last spoke, longer than usual. How are things in Denmark?
Mike: I think it may be better than in America!
Mark: Of course we’re speaking to you from your ex home, here in Australia.
Mike: Oh, man, I was speaking to someone in Melbourne who was keeping me updated of the situation there.
Mark: It’s pretty crazy!
Mike: It is, but we’re just going to have to sit it out for a while and hope for the better.
Mark: It’s incredible how much it affects the music business especially with all the tours being cancelled everywhere.
Mike: It’s sad, but it’s the only way, everyone has to stay at home!
Mark: Definitely. I think so too! One of the things I think is going to get us through all of this is music, and one of the albums I love at the moment is yours!
Mike: I appreciate that.
Mark: We first heard “The Road” the single, which is great, and there’s a further nine tracks for us to enjoy on “Second Time Around”. You worked with Soren Anderson; it’s a really cool sounding record!
Mike: Well to this from 1996 when I did my first solo album and through all of my twelve solo albums I’ve been trying to produce something new and I think I get closer and closer to it without ever really feeling that I’ve departed. I want every album to sort of sound the same and feel the same but just get better, I’m not going to be ground-breaking so I’m just carrying on you know, telling the story of my life. I always feel it’s a long-ass way to get down the highway. And every album becomes like an exit where you pull off and you look at your life and you look back and you look at the moment where you are, then you look at where you’re going. And you live that moment for a while and then you carry on and the next chapter will be the next exit and the next album. It’s all part of next journey.
Mark: And it’s been a fantastic journey so far, I remember buying ‘Capricorn’ when that came out and it’s great as a fan of your music to have been along for the ride with you.
Mike: I really appreciate that Mark, there are many rewards, there are a lot of people who get a Grammy there are a lot of people who fill their walls with platinum albums and they are great things to have but the true reward is when you feel that someone is getting the point of the artist. And it’s not that it’s a very complicated point it’s just that this is my life and when I did ‘Capricorn’ and I finished with the two bands that I’d been part of I wanted my own albums to be about me in the way that when I sing it’s me I’m representing, there’s no fantasy in these songs. They’re pain and they’re anger, they’re happiness and joy and all that comes between.
Mark: And all that comes out in the words and that rawness that you bring. I know that some people always hanker after the past and it’s great for fans that you do on occasion step back and revisit the White Lion songs that hold memories for so many, but it’s the passion and your belief in your new music that gives it that extra dimension. So many artists take the easy route for whatever reasons, but you’re still out there creating great original music.
Mike: Thank you.