MLTR No 1 in Singapore

SINGAPORE — When we spoke to MLTR, aka Michael Learns To Rock, earlier this year, drummer Kare Wansher was wistful about the band’s longevity.

“We actually have tried to stop because we felt it was about time. It only lasted until the next day when an offer for a show came up — then we got back together. So we just keep going as long as our fans are there,” he said.

“What really keeps us going is our fantastic fans. Without them, we would not be here … the fact that we love music and that we have the chance to travel the world playing for a lot of wonderful happy people, is what keeps us wanting more.”

MLTR ought to be pretty happy about the love they’re getting from the wonderful happy people in this part of the world, then. The band’s latest album, the compilation simply titled 25, is No 1 on Singapore’s industry retail charts, which measures retail sales. Yes, they outsold the Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga collaboration, Cheek To Cheek, U2’s Songs Of Innocence, Maroon 5’s V and Singapore’s own award-winning singer Wiltay. It also debuted at No 1 on the iTunes Singapore charts, and took top spot around the region in Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“Without great fans we would be nothing,” Wansher had said. “As long as we can walk, I think we will be touring and performing. That’s not something we’ve discussed, but we’ve got a lot of years left in us.”

And a lot of fans too, it seems.