Thorbjørn Risager: "Emotion is more important than showmanship."

For more than two decades, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have been setting stages around the world on fire with their unique blend of blues, rock, soul, and funk. Founded in 2002 by the charismatic Danish singer and guitarist Thorbjørn Risager, the band has built a solid reputation through outstanding live performances and a rich discography of nine studio albums.

As they gear up for their highly anticipated concert at the New Morning in Paris on March 19, 2025, and their French tour, we had the chance to chat with Thorbjørn Risager. He shares insights into the creation of House of Sticks, the band’s evolution, and their special connection with the French audience…

Thorbjørn Risager: The Exclusive Interview🎙️

Hello Thorbjørn, it’s a pleasure to catch up with you again! One of the last times we met was during a memorable Blues Party in 2016. That concert is still etched in my memory—the energy and chemistry on stage were simply incredible. Eight years later, your band continues to push the boundaries of blues-rock with House of Sticks, an album that blends swamp rock, blues, and funk. What musical direction did you want to take from the very beginning?

Hello Cedric. I don’t think we had a precise plan about the musical direction from the start. We make it up as we go along. It ususally ends up with the same result, a blend of blues, rock, soul and funk. Just the way we like it.

Did you approach the recording process differently compared to your previous albums, particularly in terms of production and arrangements?

This is our 9th studio album, so we have developed a way of doing it that we like. Compared to the early albums, we now spend a lot more time on the whole process – except for one thing: we don’t rehearse as much with the whole band as we used to. Søren, our bass player and main producer, and I make demos of the songs before rehearsing them with the full band. That way, we have fewer discussions in the rehearsal room about how to arrange the songs. Then we book a studio and record for about 15 days, and finally, Søren mixes the album, et voilà.

You mentioned that your writing process requires deep focus. Can you tell us more about what inspires you and how you transform a raw idea into a finished song?

Inspiration can come from many different places. Often, I hear some music that inspires me. Sometimes a melody just appears out of nowhere. I don’t really have trouble finding musical ideas; it’s more the lyrics that require deep focus. So I usually start with the music – creating the chords and the melody – and then I begin with the lyrics. The musical part usually doesn’t take more than a few hours, but the lyric part usually takes a couple of days.

The song Inner Light is about growing older and seeing things differently. Is this a recurring theme on the album?

I think there are probably two themes on the album: breaking up and growing older. Like many others, as you get a little older, you don’t feel such a strong need to show off. Maybe you realize that feeling is more important than showing off.

Your sound is sometimes compared to bands like The Black Keys or a modern version of JJ Cale. Are there any particular artists or influences that have shaped this album?

No, I think that over the years we have developed our own sound. I also find that it is usually very difficult to try to copy other people’s music or sound.

Your voice is a key element of the band. Do you have a specific approach to maintaining its intensity and unique tone, whether in the studio or on stage?

I’m very lucky that my voice is pretty strong. It never really fails me, so I don’t do much to keep it in shape. However, I do make sure to keep my whole body in shape; there’s no way around that if I want to play a hundred shows per year.

The album House of Sticks is available on all streaming platforms, on CD, and on vinyl.

You’re on tour almost ten months a year. How do you keep your energy on stage, and how does this nomadic lifestyle influence the dynamics of the band?

It can be tiring to be on the road, but once you’re standing in front of the audience, the energy always comes. You don’t want to let your audience down. What I really love is when the audience carries you through the whole show – it’s such a blessing. On the other hand, sometimes you have an audience that seems to think they’re watching a television program, and then it’s hard to keep the energy up.

You’ll be back on the road soon, with several dates planned in France. Are you excited to reconnect with your French audience for this new tour?

We love touring in France. The French audience respects culture and music, and you can feel that all the time. And of course, it’s wonderful when you’re touring a lot to come to a country that makes such fine food and wine – we always look forward to that. Vive la France!