HENRIK FREISCHLADER - ROAD TO BUDAPEST ON FIRST CLASS BLUES TRAIN

EARLIER THIS YEAR I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CONDUCT A CONVERSATION WITH GERMAN BLUES GREAT HENRIK FREISCHLADER. ENJOY!

YOUR BRAND NEW ALBUM IS CALLED „NIGHT TRAIN TO BUDAPEST". DOES THIS TITLE REFER TO YOUR GROWING HUNGARIAN POPULARITY?

The songs of this album indeed came into being on the night train to Budapest. My anticipation of seeing you guys and your beautiful city clearly motivated me :-) And my popularity in Hungary I owe to you!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHAT MIGHT BE THE SECRET BEHIND YOUR HUNGARIAN SUCCESS?

The secret has a name – Mr. Csillag Zoltán, and of course the people who are interested in my music! We had already been in touch long before my first show in Budapest, because he has managed the World Wide Gary Moore Fanclub very lovingly and for many years. When I was 17 years old, Zoli’s website about our mutual hero was THE web address for me to stay up-to-date. We wrote each other every once in a while, exchanged rare concert recordings of Gary’s, and at some point, Zoli visited me in Vienna at one of my shows, and despite his high standards, he must have liked my music. After Gary’s death, we directly got in touch and as usual, Zoli was the first one to organize something to honor Gary: The Gary Moore Memorial Night! He invited me to play with Gary’s band in Gary’s stead. I was very nervous, but all the kind people in Budapest and this inviting, magnificent city provided me with the calm necessary for it. I was so delighted by your capacity of enthusiasm and your musical feeling that I definitely wanted to play a show with my band in Budapest. This first show has remained unforgotten until today.

HOW IS YOUR MUSICAL POSITION IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WHICH ARE THE STRONGEST TERRITORIES FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO TOUR?

Germany is in first place, for sure – here, we have simply played for many years and most of our fans are from here. Austria and Switzerland are in second place, and in the UK, we’ve already had a few successful tours as well.

ALTHOUGH YOU’RE EUROPEAN, YOUR MUSIC GOT AMERICAN HEAVY BLUES ROOTS. WHO ARE YOUR MAJOR INFLUENCES WHO’S GOT THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR STYLE SO FAR?

Gary Moore had and still has the biggest influence on my playing – his feeling is and will remain unsurpassed, it’s something you can’t learn, but only try to get as close to as possible :-) But Peter Green, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and BB King have also very much influenced me.

WHAT KIND OF BLUES DO YOU LIKE THE MOST – CHICAGO, TEXAS, OR MISSISSIPPI DELTA?

I actually like all styles if they’re played well, because this is what matters. A badly played Texas shuffle doesn’t have anything to do with Texas Blues - the same is true of the other styles. This is why I actually listen to the groove and the expression of each musical style.

HOW DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF – A BLUES GUY WHOSE HEART IS POUNDING FOR ROCK AS WELL OR A ROCKER WHO HAS HUGE BLUES BACKGROUND?

In my heart, I’m more of a Blues guy and my heart is pounding for the Blues, still, I sometimes like to play a bit harder. Maybe this will change once I get older, haha.

CAN WE SAY THAT YOUR CONTEMPORARIES ARE KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD AND JOE BONAMASSA?

To be honest, I don’t see myself in the same league – both of them already have a much bigger fan base than me. But we all work to keep the Blues alive and so, I would answer your question with a YES :-)

AS FAR AS YOUR NEWEST EFFORT S CONCERNED, PLEASE TELL US WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES TO YOUR PREVIOUS WORKS IN YOUR OPINION?

I would say that the songs on my new album are a bit more complex than the ones on its predecessors. The mix with other musical styles like Soul, Funk, Rock, and Jazz music has remained the same.

WHEN IT COMES TO SONGWRITING, WHAT KIND OF THINGS MOVE YOUR MIND THE MOST?

Somehow, my mind is always moved by misunderstandings, by emotions. People that don’t understand each other, developments that are not understood, etc.

HOW WAS THE STUDIO PROCESS?

It took quite a long time because we always had shows in between and so it was difficult to always again focus on recording. Once you get back into the studio, you somehow get going. The situation motivates you. Still, there’s a chance that you get stuck and need a day off!

I’VE SEEN YOU ON STAGE WITH BOTH FENDERS AND GIBSONS. DOES YOUR CHOICE OF GUITAR DEPEND ON WHAT KIND OF TONE THE ACTUAL SONG REQUIRES?

Yes, it definitely does – every song demands a certain guitar even though you could play every song effortlessly on every guitar. But a particular guitar can add a special touch to a song. At least, that’s what I desire.

AS A GUITARIST/VOCALIST, ISN’T IT DIFFICULT TO SHARE YOUR ATTENTION BETWEEN SINGING AND PLAYING IN THE SAME TIME?

This somehow worked out quite automatically – by now, I’m so used to it that it’s not difficult to me anymore. Maybe this is also connected to me having played the drums for many years beforehand. A good timing helps you with making good use of both at the same time.

SO FAR YOUR STAGE SETUP, ARE YOU A MARSHALL PLEXI GUY?

Back in the day, I used to be one, but by now, I’ve played REALTONE Amps, which a good friend of mine manufactures, for about 10 years. They sound very natural and dynamic without many gimmicks – above all, you hear the character of the guitar. I don’t miss anything and that’s why I don’t try out anything else anymore.

USUALLY HOW DID YOU PRODUCE THAT RAW OVERDRIVEN TONE? WHAT KIND OF STOMPBOXES ARE IN YOUR PEDAL BOARD?

The amps themselves are mostly responsible for everything. I always turn them up very loud so their natural tube sound gets slightly crunchy. In addition to this, I prefer using boosters (Xotic Effects RC-Boosters) instead of distortion pedals because most distortion pedals sound rather unnatural and thin. A small hint of an amp signal does it for me. And then, I have an old Vox Wah, a Deja Vibe, and Lehle switch boxes for my amps.

MOST BLUES PLAYERS SWEAR TO REALLY HEAVY STRINGS, .012 OR .013 GAUGES. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I play 10-52 strings – they’re strong enough and still give ample scope for an Albert King bending ;-)

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNGER BLUESMEN WHO WANT TO PUT THEIR CHOPS TOGETHER?

Of course, I would recommend to them to go all in. I myself didn’t do it any different from that. It’s not a secure and, particularly, not a steady job, and you don’t have the time and freedom everyone always imagines you to have. On the contrary, you work a lot and you work hard. And then there isn’t even a guarantee of financial success. But there is a guarantee of very real, profound, and happy moments. I believe that everyone who follows his or her vocation – regardless of what it is – knows this feeling of oneness. If you’re already lucky enough to have found your vocation, you should follow it.

http://www.henrikfreischlader.de/

Photos by Császár Márta (www.kifra.hu)