For the past 15 years MARKO has been the resident DJ for the legendary “La Rocca on Sunday “nights, aquite remarkable achievement. He’s been called a specialist by some and middleof the road by others..but everyone agrees : this guy’s got real talent and isa true professional . For years his name has appeared in the top 10 of the influential dance-musicmagazine “Outsoon” readers poll ( Belgian DJ’s ) , and in 2004 he was also voted Best Belgian Progressive DJ . His main source of energy comesdirectly from the dance-floor..it’s feedback drives him on – he’s a past masterat picking-up on it’s vibe and guiding it . Of course it helps that he has anamazing selection of vinyl, which he uses (like a master-chef uses his ingredients in the kitchen) to create an incredible atmosphere on thedance-floor.
Biography :
Marko’s career begins in the late eighties, playing at first forprivate/exclusive parties. Then in 1990 he gets into “house” and becomes aregular DJ at” The Vaudeville “(a major club in Brussels). His weekly sets give him the feelfor playing to a young and flourishing underground movement. As more and moregigs come his way, his reputation grows and he soon becomes established as animportant figure in the vibrant Belgian dance-music scene.
Sensing the winds of change and thanks to Eric Beysens ( AKA Eric Powa B ) , the legendary Belgian club “ LaRocca “ in Lier give Marko a musical ‘ carte blanche ‘ when they ask him to take-over their important Sunday night slot in 1992 . It was the beginning of an ongoing love-affair between Marko and an everexpanding dance-floor of devotees ; these open-ended sessions giving him thespace and opportunity to play long sets evolving through different styles and sonic textures …… what an end to the week-end ! There are many world-class guest DJ’s that have appeared along side Marko on these Sunday nights , such as : Michel De Hey ,Charles Schillings , Blake Baxter , Andre Nalin , Trevor Rockcliffe , Sander Kleinenberg , David Morales , Oliver Moldan , Marcello , David Guetta , Felix Da Housecat , Dee-Nice , Sasha , Armin Van Buuren , Polo Modjo , Criss Source ,Dr Kucho , Tiestö – besides all the top DJ’s from the Belgian scene .
But his career has not just revolved aroundhis celebrated “La Rocca “Sunday sessions. Residencies at top clubs such as “The Villa “ ( 94-96 ) and “ The Fuse “ ( 96-97 ) , made Marko a ‘ major player‘ in Belgium’s clubbing scene . Not only that, he was getting involved with making tracks and mixing compilations (see discography). With his tireless enthusiasm and his obviously natural ability to DJ, Marko became greatly respected both as a human-being and as a DJ byprofessionals and public alike.
Along the way he’s DJ’d at many massive eventssuch as “ Rave Explosion , I love Techno , Impulz , Extrema , City Parade “besides playing regularly at the major Belgian clubs ( eg Cherry Moon , Caféd'Anvers , l’Extrême , Who’s Who’s Land , the Katsu ) . Not only that , he’sbeen playing frequently outside of Belgium ( eg Chemistry/Amsterdam ,Pacha/Ibiza , K5/Ibiza , Space/Ibiza+Gran Canaria , Queen/Paris , 287/Paris ,La Rocca Special/Manhattan , etc ) .
Within the format of a UK club – Progressive (at the Tour & Taxisite in Brussels)he was brought in to play alongside DJ’s such as Lucien Foort , Danny Howells ,Ian Ossia from Renaissance , Cass and Lee Burridge in 1999 . In that same yearhe headlined at the La Rocca 10th anniversary party , playing to 10,000 revellers at the Sports Paleis in Antwerp ( an experience never to be forgotten) – and when La Rocca went back there to celebrate the new Millenium heheadlined in front of an ecstatic audience that had virtually doubled to 18,000.
His passion for dance-music means that he’sone of the most ‘in-demand ‘DJ’s, regularly playing alongside top stars such as Carl Cox (in Warsaw Poland). Since 2000 he’s played gigs all over the European continent including the Folies Pigalle , Red Light and Montana clubs in France ; the very first Creamfields on the Baltic coast ; the Solar Festival ( Extrema ) ; theHeineken Dance Parade in Rotterdam ; Nature One .
Back in Belgium,Marko has often featured in important line-ups at gigs such as the HouseTorhout festival in 2001 and 2002, the Dance-a-Delic festival (several years),the White Sensation event at Antwerpand the Cruises to Pleasure boat parties. It is also worth mentioning his appearances at the huge City Parade on his very own trailer/float (in front ofmore than 180,000 dance fanatics) in 2001/2002/2003/2004 but especially in 2005,when he wound up the whole proceedings playing on the final trailer/float –then ending up on an awaiting City Parade stage to an incredible reception……what a buzz!
In terms of releases, Marko has put together many compilations released on diverse labels of which 8 have been devoted to LaRocca. In the 90’s he remixed lots of tracks for labels such as: NEWS,Mackenzie, Bonzai and Tripomatic. In 2001 he produced “ Guitar Overload “ withTon TB on Massive Drive Recordings and worked together with Pole Folder onseveral remixes including “ Inner Turmoil “ ( released by Bedrock Records ) .More recently he’s worked with Franky Jones ( Enterprise Records ) and releaseda self-penned track “ Dark Orgy “ and a re-working of “ Indian Preach “ . Hislatest release is titled “4.5 “and is a “Marko on Sundays “remix.
Marko is not particularly bothered about being ‘fashionable ‘or ‘trendy ‘. It’s not simply by chance that his career has flourished and that his following has grown almost beyond belief over the last 14 years. Marko’s obvious passion for Dj’ing is derived from the vibe he gets from the dance-floor as well as thevibe he gets from the music he plays: Marko plays from the heart!
