Up-And-Coming Guitarist Torben Enevoldsen

Guitarist Torben Enevoldsen took some time back in December 2000 to answer some questions about his influences, his gear, his songwriting process, and his latest album, Heavy Persuasion, which is available on Lion Music.

House of Shred: How old were you when you first picked up a guitar? What or who inspired you to play?
Torben Enevoldsen: I started playing the guitar at 14, but I didn't really get serious about it until I turned 23 or so. I have always loved music ever since I was a little kid, so I guess I just got inspired by a lot of great music and a lot of great players!

HoS: Who were your main influences then, and who influences your music today?
TE: My main influences in the beginning were Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi and Edward Van Halen. Later on though, it was players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore etc. who truly inspired me to become serious about it! Today I'm influenced by a lot of different players like Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Al Di Meola, John Petrucci, Michael Romeo and the list just pretty much goes on and on...

HoS: Tell us the inspiration for Heavy Persuasion.
TE: Well, that's a big question but for me to be able to answer it briefly, I'll have to say the power to create. One of the most rewarding things about playing music to me, is the ability to create something out of nothing so to speak. I find that whole concept truly inspiring!

HoS: What is your favorite song on that CD and why?
TE: A tough question as I love them all but since you are making me pick, I have to say the title song "Heavy Persuasion". Just before I went into the studio I made a subtle change regarding the chords I play on the clean guitars and I think that improved the song tremendously!

HoS: How did you get hooked up with Lion Music?
TE: Via the internet actually. I knew about Lars Eric Mattsson and Lion Music and simply visited the web site. Then I sent him an e-mail, telling him that I was looking for a label. He responded and I sent him a tape. He liked my music and we made the actual deal exchanging e-mails back and forth and here we are... :)

HoS: Any touring plans? Where can we get info?
TE: No, but I'm actually looking for a decent booking agency right now, so hopefully a tour can be arranged in the near future! Info on touring, recording and what not, is available at my web siTE: http://www.torbenenevoldsen.com

HoS: How much of the CD was recorded "live" in the studio, or do you prefer to layer tracks?
TE: Being a true perfectionist, I prefer to layer tracks because this enables me to redo parts until' they're just right. We recorded the entire album in 10 days, so we had to do things as efficiently as possible and to me, that means getting the drums and bass right before adding the guitar parts. I did however play along when we recorded the drums and bass, in order to get the feeling and energy just right.

HoS: As a guitar player, you have your own "sound." Tell me a little about your sound. What kind of equipment do you prefer to use? Is there one particular piece that you can't live without?
TE: I'm glad that you think so, thanks! I recorded the album with my main guitar, an Ibanez RG-620 which I have customized a bit, replacing the stock pick-ups with DiMarzio's "Humbucker From Hell" for the neck and "The Tone Zone" for the bridge. I string my guitar with Dean Markley's "Blue Steel" (.009 - .042) and I use a Marshall 9200 power amp and Marshall cabs (4x12" speakers). But I guess my most important piece of equipment is my pre-amp! The Soldano X-99 is amazing and I definitely consider it the heart of my set-up!

HoS: How many guitars do you own? Name a few of your favorites.
TE: Right now I only have 3 electric and 2 acoustic guitars. My favourites are of course my main guitar, the Ibanez RG-620 I mentioned before and my most recently addition, an Ibanez RG-7 with DiMarzio pick-ups, which is a 7-string guitar.

HoS: If you could add ANY guitar to your collection, what would it be?
TE: I'm actually getting the Ibanez RG-3120 with DiMarzio's "PAF Pro" (for the neck) and "The Tone Zone" (for the bridge) some time this month, so I'm pretty content! But given the opportunity, I would love to have a guitar build from scratch following my instructions, since there's always some little thing I would like to change on the guitars I buy.

HoS: As a musician and songwriter, what inspires you?
TE: As I mentioned earlier regarding song writing, I'm greatly inspired by creating but I'm also hugely inspired by listening to other composers and musicians. I love to challenge myself and playing music is a great way to challenge oneselve. There is always something to learn, always a new goal to achieve!

HoS: Do you write your solos after the rest of the song is completed or do you build songs or passages within a song around a solo?
TE: I always start off with a melody. Then I will automatically start working on the arrangement. I build my songs in the same way a vocal band would do you know, with a verse, chorus, bridge and a solo. So to answer your question, I will say that I normally do the solo last, after the actual song is completed.

HoS: There seems to be a lack of musicality, musical virtuosity and melody in the current mainstream rock acts. What's your opinion on that? What do you attest that to?
TE: I know what you mean and I for one think it's sad, but I firmly believe that great musicianship and melody will survive! Getting good at your instrument takes a lot of hard work and dedication and maybe that determination and will is what's missing? I really don't know, but that has to be my only suggestion as to why there's a lack of these important factors in the current mainstream rock acts.

HoS: Who would you like to work with in the future?
TE: I would love to work with the Swedish keyboard wiz Jens Johansson some day. It would also be great to do a project with one of these great vocalists some day: Andy Engberg (Lion's Share), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Glenn Hughes, Tony Harnell (TNT, Westworld) and the list continues...

HoS: What lies ahead for Torben Enevoldsen?
TE: In the middle of January 2001, I will be going to Lars Eric Mattsson's studio in Finland to record two tracks. The tracks are called "Zantac" and "Altitudes" and will be released on two different albums. In the beginning of next year, my label Lion Music will re-release my debut album from 1998 "Guitarisma", and this re-release will feature the bonus track called "Zantac". I am also going to participate on the upcoming Jason Becker tribute album, so I have some what rewritten Jason's song "Altitudes" off of his debut album "Perpetual Burn" to fit my style of playing. Apart from that I hope to be able to go on the road and do some live gigs...

HoS: According to Torben Enevoldsen, where do you see Torben Enevoldsen in 10 years?
TE: Hopefully I will be playing to larger audiences and perhaps even make a living doing so. Whatever's in store, I just hope I'm happy doing whatever I'm doing at that point!

HoS: If we were to look in your CD player right now, what would we find?
TE: Symphony X: 5 "The Mythology Suite"

HoS: What other kind of stuff are you listening to these days?
TE: I'm listening to a lot of different bands and artists, but to name a few favourites I will have to mention: Symphony X, Dream Theater, Tony MacAlpine, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Al Di Meola, Liquid Tension Experiment, SAGA, Eric Johnson etc.

HoS: And the hardest question, the one that we ALWAYS ask (resistance is futile). If you were stranded on a desert Island, and could only have 5 CD's to listen to for the rest of eternity, what would they be?
TE: Another tough question, but I'd say Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U., Dream Theater - Images And Words, Boston - Boston (1), SAGA - Worlds Apart and finally Symphony X - Twilight In Olympus.

The House of Shred would like to thank Torben Enevoldsen for this interview.

Visit Torben Enevoldsen's website at www.torbenenevoldsen.com.

Check out the Lion Music Website.