From our special correspondent in Malmö (Sweden)
“It’s Marko you have in front of you. Baby Lasagna only appears on stage,” he warns us when we meet him this Friday morning at his hotel northwest of Malmö. The 28-year-old Croatian artist created his artistic alter ego a year ago. As the Eurovision final approaches, which will take place on May 11, he is the favorite to win the trophy, according to bookmakers. It must be said that with his song Rim Tim Tagi Dim, it does not go unnoticed. The piece is cheerful, almost a caricature of the barred proposals that the competition regularly reserves. However, the lyrics talk about leaving one’s home, one’s country, in search of a better life… Meeting with an author, composer and performer who has chosen to mix humor with seriousness, including in his answers.
Initially, you were not included in the casting of the Croatian selection for Eurovision. You were drafted after a candidate withdrew. Do you believe in destiny?
I believe that things that are meant to happen happen. I’m glad I wasn’t on the first list. Being drafted from the waiting list adds a dimension to my story, that of the outsider that people become attached to. When I found out I was on the reserve list I thought I had no chance because no one ever gives up. And then someone pulled out and they called me. But when I received the phone call, I was far from imagining winning the selection. And now I’m told that winning Eurovision is possible. It’s crazy ! I believe in destiny, there are too many signs for it to be just a coincidence. So many little things happened.
For example ?
Before being on the waiting list, I applied for a job. I had resigned myself to the fact that music wouldn’t pay my bills or give me the means to start a family. I needed a job and I knew finding it would be the beginning of the end. It was for a good position, I got far in the recruiting process. And then, I was called for the Eurovision selection, I asked the recruiters if it was possible to wait. They gave me a month. I won the Croatian selection. They reminded me, “Congratulations, maybe we’ll collaborate in the future but for now, good luck in your music career.” » I love telling this story, it reminds us that sometimes, even if you think it’s over, it’s not really. I was ready to give up music. I saw everyone moving forward and I was still at the same point as when I was in high school. Most of my friends had a job, a car, an apartment and I didn’t have any of that, I was broke. I didn’t even have a bike because I invested all my time and money in music. I wondered why I was doing this, if I wasn’t crazy. I hope my story inspires some people not to give up.
How was Baby Lasagna born?
I wrote for other groups and, each time, I had to respond to a specific request: the song had to talk about a certain subject, be at a certain tempo, create a certain atmosphere, etc. I felt the need to create something for myself, the music I wanted, and that’s how Baby Lasagna was born a year ago.
Why this name?
There is no particular reason, no stunning story. These were not my grandfather’s last words on his deathbed (laughter). I was at the seaside with my fiancée and I was looking for a place to buy water because I had a migraine and wanted to take some medicine. This inspired a song and I needed a name for this project, Baby Lasagna popped into my head, it was completely random and funny at the same time, it suited me.
When did you start making music?
When I was 9, my parents bought me a guitar for my birthday. My father is a musician, so it was quite natural for me, I saw him playing all the time. I created my first group at the same time. I still have the first song I wrote at that age. Her name is Song of Love, it’s annoying but I was young, please be indulgent. My father also wrote quite a few books, I always saw him create. This perhaps sparked this need in me to create in my turn. I write books too, at least I try.
What do you write? What style of novels?
Novel seems like a big word to me so I try to write short stories. I am a beginner. It’s mostly dialogues, two people discussing, it’s the psychological aspect that inspires me, a bit like Dostoyevsky, not that I compare myself to him, of course (laughs). But that’s what speaks to me.
How do you create your songs? Do melodies come to mind spontaneously?
My phone is full of voice notes, I’m constantly creating, but I think that’s normal for a musician. To be honest, since it all started with the Croatian Eurovision selection at the beginning of the year, what I miss the most is sitting in my room and writing songs.
“Rim Tim Tagi Dim” also came from a voice note?
Almost. I put down the melody “tag-da-taga-da-dag-dag” (he hums), it sounded very cool. When I write a song, every fifteen minutes I take a break. So I got myself a coffee and continued singing, telling myself that there was something to do.
The text is more serious than the orchestration gives the impression…
I like to mix sad things with serious things. The humor at South Park, which I watched when I was younger, it speaks to me. There is a criticism of society through valves, I love that, I love doing that. If I didn’t put humor into what I do, I would have the impression of preaching, of giving lessons. To only use humor is to remain superficial. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but I can’t confine myself to humor in music. Humor mixed with seriousness, that’s Baby Lasagna.
Proof of your second degree, you sing that those who will miss you the most, more than your loved ones, are your cats…
I wanted to incorporate that into my song since it’s something that is close to me. I’ve been crazy about cats over the last three or four years, it’s embarrassing how much I love them. My fiancée loves them even more. A few days ago I was here at the hotel and I told him that I was starting to miss the cats, that I wanted to find them. I felt a physical need for it.
You are, as we do this interview, [vendredi 3 mai] the bookmakers’ favorite to win Eurovision. What does this mean to you?
My state of mind is, as Kobe Bryant said: “ What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished “. [ « De quoi devrait-on se réjouir ? On n’a pas fini le boulot. »]. We are first among the bookmakers, but as long as nothing is done, we are not happy. We can always finish last.
Is this favorite position a pressure? A motivation ?
Both. It’s a motivation in the sense that now people expect me to be the best, so I have to give my best. But, more broadly, my motivation comes from the Croats. We have never won Eurovision and, at the moment, it is the most talked about subject in my country, which is unprecedented. So I have to do my best and come what may.
Have you made friends with other artists competing this year?
To be honest, I’m an introvert so it’s difficult for me to reach out to others. I am also very shy. Some came to me. I had great discussions with Isaac, the German representative. I love her so much. I’ve talked to everyone a little, but there’s no real friendship. For now we are people who know each other, but I hope that by the end of the week I will have at least one friend.