Serge Van Laeken, alias Marka, is approaching his 60th birthday and affirms that “it does not matter (him)”. No doubt because the succession is assured with a brilliant offspring, namely Romeo Elvis and Angèle. And also because he always liked to play with his marital status. “I have aged a year for a long time, probably out of coquetry, just to hear people say: But you are not your age! “The blow of the blues, he rather felt it two decades ago.” I was in the middle of my life; I was wondering. Was I going to continue to be a singer? Do something else ? The parenthesis, I had known it earlier. I had stopped the stage, sold musical instruments, pushed other people’s amps, composed for friends. Before starting over and not stopping again. “
“Good evening over”
In a group or solo, Marka has participated in several musical adventures. He released about fifteen albums in Belgium, of which only a few have reached us. This is the case with the last one, “Finished good evening”, the title of which should not be taken literally. “It’s a Belgian expression that means you’re a little pissed off and want to move on. It’s like No maybe, which means yes. I hadn’t released anything for over 5 years, which my kids did for me! “
Marka willingly talks about her family of artists, aware of the curiosity she arouses (read in box). Which incites to be interested in his, that of the origins, in the sixties. “I was not born in this environment at all. Dad drove a garbage truck and mum was a factory worker. Music is a path that I found myself on my own, totally self-taught. I started with bass and I I gradually switched to the guitar. The chords and finger positions that I practice are not found in any book! “
The click, Marka knows it during a Clash concert in Brussels, at the Ancienne Belgique, the Olympia there. “They touched the teenager I was so much! Joe Strummer told the audience: You too can get into the music – the next day I bought a guitar. “The Clash will remain a major influence of the Belgian singer until” Finished good evening “, which alternates rock and ballads, with a hint of reggae and South American influences (oh! La beautiful Mexican trumpet!) “It’s like cooking: I don’t always like to eat the same thing… and yet my fries are excellent! The Clashes are the perfect group to illustrate eclecticism, the interest in different cultures. They were the first white people to rap with The Magnificient Seven, to dare a reggae with Police & Thieves. Anyway, in a small country like ours, we have to open up to others. “
Marka cites the example of Stromae, “a young Belgian who has exploded all over the world and uninhibited so many artists from our country”. Yes but, the singer stopped everything, right? “Possibly his success has surpassed him. But I have no doubt that he will do an album again and that it will be very strong again.” From Stromae to Brel, there is only one step, that of a moving tribute that Marka does not share. “Of course, Do not leave me is a fantastic song. But I don’t want to listen to Brel. We have eaten so much in Belgium. When I started, I was presented as the new Brel. All because I had a song about the hospice! While that’s not my thing. I much prefer Jacques Dutronc. “
Dutronc, of whom we find in Marka a pronounced taste for the second degree and ironic vocalizations. “One of my bands was called Les Cactus and it’s not by chance. I’m a fan of Dutronc and I’ve always loved his way of singing. He made fun of the crooners who were always flirting, eyeing the girls, leaning on the bar. I picked up on the idea. “
Angela and Romeo
In her album, Marka has a song called “Before I Be Me” (… “I am the husband, the daddy”). Dad especially, in recent years with the remarkable success of Romeo Elvis and the incredible triumph of Angela. “I lived there a completely exceptional situation, confides Marka. Being an artist and having children who succeed to this point, it is very rare. Romeo and Angèle tackled the ground of the father and with what brilliance! J At first I wavered, I asked myself lots of questions. The experience shook me before I could speak of it with hindsight and lightness. Concerns for my children, I had, like all parents. That being said, we have to put things into perspective. We are just normal people, a family like any other. With a message that has not changed with regard to our children: if people call you awesome, let them say but don’t Above all, don’t believe them. Because tomorrow the same people will say that you are shit, assholes. Stick to the only valid course of action: do things right, seize the moment, keep your feet on the ground. “
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