"Blues can excist if there are interesting and engaging artists. Always."

Tim Lothar: Blues Stories from Life

Tim Lothar was born in Denmark and started his musical career as a drummer. After 25 years behind his drum kit, he began developing his singing and taught himself to play acoustic guitar in order to explore classic American Delta Blues. With an indisputable talent and great musical insight, Lothar began a whole new career as a solo performer, and very quickly issued his debut-CD, Cut To The Bone, in 2006. The CD received enthusiastic reviews at home and abroad.

His next release, In It For The Ride (2008), won the award for "Best Danish Blues Album" at Danish Music Awards. Later that year he was also handed another major Danish award: "Blues Artist of the Year". Tim's touring schedule increased, playing festivals and venues all over Europe.

His cd, Stories is, as with all self-written material, a very personal album, with tales from real life. This album shows a confident, mature songwriter who has found his own style. On stage, his way of becoming “one with the music” keeps fascinating his growing audience. Not to mention gifted storytelling, an astonishing voice, amazing guitar skills, along with clever songwriting. British magazine Blues Matters wrote this: “Tim Lothar’s own songwriting is so good, you have to read the credits to discover whether a song is an original or yet another from Sleepy John Estes or Charley Patton”.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

Blues, and music, means everything to me. I feel in love with the blues early in life, before I started to play music.

I started playing drums when I was thirteen, I think, and have played all kinds of music, but blues was always what I loved playing the most. Ten years ago I was presented to the old delta blues. When I heard this music I just had to buy a guitar and learn how to play this. Fortunately I am now able to make a living of what I love to do, with the music I love.

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD BLUESMAN and SONGWRITER?

Good bluesman? I love the music, I live the music. I am poor. I just barely get by. But I cannot do anything else. This music and love for it is a blessing and a curse. But I keep on doing it because I love it so much. I have to, to survive mentally. If I cannot play music my life would not be whole. Songwriter? I write from my heart. I write what I feel, see, what I think. It just comes out. I cannot help it. It is not something I chose to do - it is something I could not stop doing. It just came.

"You can hear footstompin' very early in the blues. It is rhythm. It is heartbet. It is very clear on Charley Patton's recording, already back then."

How do you describe your sound and progress, what characterize your music philosophy?

My sound; they say it is very melancholic, like crying. It just comes out that way, in my singing and my playing. I do not force it, I do not act. My music philosophy; be true and honest to your music.

Which is the most interesting period in your life? Which was the best and worst moment of your career?

Most interesting? Right now is interesting, in good and bad. I cannot tell you why, this is very personal.

As a musician, interesting; hmm... it is always interesting. I am trying to be better and do more all the time.

Best moment of career? Maybe the IBC 2014 in Memphis, USA.

The worst? When people will not listen, when they shout at a musician because they think a musician is a jukebox.

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had?

The best jam was last year in Hungary. It was amazing. Tizsavirak Fesztival.

Most memorable? Eutin Festival, Germany. Notodden Festival, Norway. Cognac Blues Passions, France. Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, Canada.

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? 

Meeting James Harman was big. I have listened so much to his music, for years, before I met him.

"This music and love for it is a blessing and a curse. But I keep on doing it because I love it so much. I have to, to survive mentally."

Are there any memories from recording and show time which you’d like to share with us?

Åmål Blues Festival with James Harman some years ago was amazing. It all just went into magic.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Miss? Honesty. For me blues has to come from the heart. My hopes are that I can survive. My fears are that I can't survive.

Which memory from Muddy Waters Jr., Big Joe Louis, Steve James and James Harman makes you smile?

We played one gig with James in a place that did not care about the music. They danced but did not clap or anything. James is fantastic with words. He started singing about the people in the room, made stories. In the lyrics. Not talking bad, just made up stories. The audience did not notice, but we musicians did.

James is a genious with words.

Make an account of the case of the blues in Denmark. Which is the most interesting period in local blues scene?

The most interesting period is right now. So many young new fantastic musicians, so much good music.

When we talk about Blues usually refer past moments. Do you believe in the existence of real blues nowadays?

Yes. Blues can excist if there are interesting and engaging artists. Always.

Do you know why the foot-stompin and resonator guitar is connected to the blues? What are the secrets of?

You can hear footstompin' very early in the blues. It is rhythm. It is heartbet. It is very clear on Charley Patton's recording, already back then. Resonator guitar is a loud instrument, and sturdy. It sings with a slide. It was good to have in a time when you played on the street, or played in a joint somewhere. No amplifying back then. You could be heard. But it was expensive. Many artists could not afford it back then.

"My music philosophy; be true and honest to your music."

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

To see Charley Patton, Son House, Willie Brown and others meet, play on the street. To see how it all looked, the surroundings. Feel the weather. See, feel, taste. The atmosphere.

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Because it is honest.

Tim Lothar - official website