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We had an exclusive video-interview with Electric Guitars: Søren Andersen & Mika Vandborg, a duo of guitar virtuosos and great friends bringing their rock to the stages of Copenhagen.
Søren is the guitarist for Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Kick the Kangaroo, a producer at Medley Studios, a songwriter, solo artist, ambassador for TC-Electronics and Yamaha Guitars; he has collaborated with artists like Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Tommy Aldrige (Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), and Mike Tramp (White Lion).
Mika is the guitarist for Gnags, Love Shop, Claus Hempler, Kasper Winding, Ida Nielsen e Dicte, besides being a solo artist and songwriter.
We attended their concerts and interviewed them for HevyMetalWebzine.it, discussing their current projects and their friendship.
The Interview
It’s raining, there’s a freezing wind, and it’s impossible not to end up miserably soaked. I struggle against the wind on my bike through the streets of the northern outskirts of Copenhagen. I enter the industrial district and search among the small buildings of a logistics company the small room where Electric Guitars’ rehearsals are taking place.
I arrive for lunch break; the group is packing up the instruments, and I’m offered some hot coffee—damn yes!
After defeating hypothermia, I’m ready to sit down with Mika and Søren for our interview.
The complete interview is available on our YouTube channel.
Below, we provide a breakdown with notes of the main parts.
The Guitar Heroes
Søren
We break the ice by referring to Søren’s recent encounter with our editor Davide at Copenhell 2023: the famous drunken interview mentioned at 0:40 in the video.
Among the artists mentioned in this interview, we find Clutch, Def Leppard, and Metallica, as well as the Danish band Night Fever, whom we interviewed at this LINK. This group has recently released their second single, “Lone Wolf” and the new album is expected between January and February 2024 – a release not to be missed!
Søren returned a few days ago from a massive tour in Europe and America with the legend Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple for the 50th-anniversary celebration of the legendary album “Stormbringer“.
In this tour, Søren fit into the big shoes of Ritchie Blackmore but he didn’t hesitate when asked to showcase his technique by playing solos with his Fender (minute 18:30).
Mika
Now it’s time to warm up Mika’s engine (3:00) by discussing his recent solo tour and with Love Shop.
Love Shop is a very famous pop band in Denmark after winning a Danish Grammy in the ’90s and returned in 2023 with a new album, “Blues Europa”. This album maintains an introspective and bluesy sound, creating a perfect backdrop for the songwriter skills of frontman Jens Unmack.
This tour was a great success, with 7 sold-out dates in Copenhagen alone and enthusiastic reviews; we attended their third date.
The concert took advantage of the intimate atmosphere of the retro-style gathering hall at Hotel Cecíl to immerse the audience in a magical and dreamy atmosphere. Mika’s guitar and stage presence seamlessly integrated into this mood, and at minute 18:15, we asked him to comment on his feelings.
Søren e Mika, gli Electric Guitars
We get to the heart of this duo by introducing their Electric Guitars project, which we’ll discuss from minute 20:50. Today, Søren and Mika are rehearsing for the band’s tenth-anniversary tour and have invited us to attend their rehearsal (minute 38.80). In the next hour I could attend them, the band rehearsed the setlist 2-3 songs at a time, working on transitions between songs and final touches, focusing on synchronicity by limiting guitar and melody swaps.
Of course, we also attended the Electric Guitars concert on December 5, 2023, at an almost sold-out AmagerBio. Like for Love Shop, this concert received top marks from the local critics and a great audience response.
Søren is the usual stage animal we saw with Glenn Hughes, but Mika was transformed compared to Love Shop and his solo project. A pedalboard full to the last slot, a reckless collection of Gibsons, his Napoleonic-style uniform with high cavalery boots. He exudes adrenaline, he sings and plays with confidence, and he doesn’t waste a minute to show off how to handle an electric guitar.
Mika, the holy water of Love Shop, now tastes like danish aquavit.
Søren delights us in changing Fender and Gibson guitars like socks, but the most special moment is when both wield their old (and battered) Stratocasters (with which they started playing as kids) to tune “Baby I love you”, one of their first songs. Mika show us during the act his beloved Gibsons collection, betraying them only for this song and a final surprise.
A very particular and unexpected song in this live is “The Thinner The Eyebrow The Crazier The Woman”. This live-performed song gives a glimpse into Mika’s storytelling ability, creating a link with his solo career, which we discuss at minute 11:30.
They announce a guest to play “Headless Chicken,” a song sung for them by Jesper Binzer of D-A-D Disneyland After Dark; neither of the two guitarists has the voice for this piece. On stage is Michael Bastholm, the unforgettable voice of Artillery, cheeky and rock, bringing out a raspy and dirty voice that infuses Trash Metal into the hard rock of Electric Guitars.
We’re at the final break, Mika and Søren abandon any sign of musical modesty and wield two Santana twin-guitars. They do their worst, shattering the esteem for aspiring guitarists. Like kids in the playground, they compete until the last solo; the guitar masters hold nothing back. Maniacs.
If you’re a guitar enthusiast, book a ticket for Electric Guitars; you’ll come out drooling!
The show closes with the Electric Guitars Xmas song, after all we are in Decmber, and we do the same:
Guilty Pleasures: Søren Andersen’s Solo Project
Back to the interview, the first album selected by HevyMetalWebzine.it is “Guilty Pleasures” by Søren Andersen (4:45). This record is very American in form and content (2019, label: Target Group), it’s often passed off as a tribute to Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for the LA rock style, but this album is much more.
As we’re told, it’s the result of years of experimentation for TC-Electronics, condensed and recorded into a unique and experimental album, both in techniques and equipment used. This album is also the showcase of Søren’s commitment as a product developer and independent producer.
Much of the guitarist’s life is infused in these tracks: the passion for guitar legends during his training, the American dream, being a guy in the ’80s and ’90s.
“Skybar” is bold in integrating synth-pop sounds into virtuoso guitar. “Beirut,” perhaps my favorite, brings world music to the Depeche Mode keyboards simulated by Søren’s guitar. The beautiful ballad “Satori” is explained by Søren himself; no other words are needed.
If any electric guitar enthusiast would listens to this album, please leave a comment on the technical peculiarities that I, in my musical mediocrity, can’t discern. I’ll be grateful.
Den Evige Toer:Mika Vandborg’s Solo Project
We pass the ball to Mika (11:30) with his second solo album “Den Evige Toer” (2023).
This album drove me crazy, hard to find and in my opinion better than the previous “Den Danske” (2022, already in its second reprint). In the end, I had to call Mika to bring me a copy; he promised he’d print more.
Like his previous solo album, it’s in Danish and played with an acoustic guitar, a novelty for one of the country’s best guitarists. But what struck me the most is Mika’s new role as a storyteller.
The expressiveness of the voice accompanying singer-songwriter lyrics is 100% Mika; we got a taste of it in Electric Guitars in “The Thinner The Eyebrow The Crazier The Woman” but now his singing and writing are unaltered by the rock guitar and only supported by the melody.
In sounds, it may recall Mika’s past with Gnags, Love Shop, and Claus Hempler; but the carefree and sincere mood is absolutely personal, unique.
Do you remember the Faroes and smoky bars between beers and Fernet? These bars in Denmark are called Bodega and still resonate with this old-time mood: a pool table, a jukebox, the smoke of many cigarettes, beer bottles served with the empty flask to return, and the usual old customers who have always spent their evenings here. Danish rock from the ’70s and ’80s still sounds with Gasolin’, uninterrupted.
Just listening this album, and I feel the same enveloping sensation. After this interview, I understand why; Mika let the lyrics be spontaneous and natural, as if out of his mind. His Danish identity resonates pure and uncontaminated by artifacts and post-productions.
Listening to it is immersing yourself in the most traditional Denmark, outside the shopping street, in the streets of the old working-class neighborhoods.
Rock´n´Roll Radio: The Friendship between Mika & Søren
Now let’s move on to one of the albums by the Electric Guitars duo, “Rock´n´Roll Radio” (2017), at the 20:50 mark.
Produced by Jacob “Cobber” Binzer of DAD (Disneyland After Dark) and featuring a collaboration with Jesper (DAD), this might be the first album to showcase the duo’s leap in quality with a highly cohesive work.
Many of its songs have become fan favorites, including tracks like “Rock´n´Roll Radio”, “False Flag Operation”, “Headless Chicken”, and “Swagman”, perhaps the most irreverent. The track “Lucy Glow” has gained significant success on independent radio stations in the country and is arguably one of the cleanest in their repertoire.
Nevertheless, this is a passionate and almost underground job. In contrast to the track “Hero of Mine“from the album “Electric Guitar” (2013), discussed at the 35:00 mark, which boasts the contributions of Denmark’s greatest guitarists (Per Møller, Poul Halberg , Billy Cross, Jacob Binzer, Tim Christensen, Franz Beckerlee, Uffe Steen , Jens Runge, Aske Jacoby), attracting media attention; Rock’n’Roll radio remains true to the rock of Electric Guitars, without any additional special effects.
Therefore, for us, it was the perfect launching pad to discuss their friendship spanning over three decades and the passion for the guitar that unites them (minute 24:00).
Among other local artists mentioned in this segment, we find Sanne Salmonsen, Franz Beckerlee the historic guitarist of Gasolin’ (the Danish “Beatles”), Tim Christensen (Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, solo artist), and the supergroup of Danish psychedelic rock legends, Dream City (also known as Dream City Burning, featuring Claus Pedersen, Peter Ingemann, Søren Berlev – the drummer of Gasolin’). Let’s not forget Kick the Kangaroo, the first successful pop group in which Søren played.
From minute 28:00 onward, the stage is all theirs, and we let the conversation develop naturally, talking about their ideas, influences, and advices for the new “guitar hero” who is now learning to play a Stratocaster.
Forget about television, commercial radio, and everything else. The music is in their fingers, and people notice when they hear something great!
