The Rest of the World Loves Stromae...and Soon You Will, Too

Hellin Kay

Photo: Courtesy of Republic Records

It's possible you haven't heard of Stromae… yet. But consider this: The Belgian superstar has sold over 3 million albums worldwide, went straight to #1 with his breakout single
"Papaoutai" in 16 countries (it was top 5 in 31 more), all without singing one word in English. Now he's set his sights on conquering the US: He just made his TV debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers and just played a sold-out show at the Best Buy theater in NYC. (He'll be back in NYC to play Terminal 5 on September 19th and 20th.) Here, we chat with the most famous pop star you've never heard of about his name, fame, and what's next.

Let's talk about your name. Your birth name is Paul Van Haver, when you first began performing you went by Opmaestro, and now you go by Stromae.

I guess when you are a real rapper, you have to choose a name, so I asked a friend to help me and he said Opmaestro and I said "Yeah, it's perfect."

But why maestro? What makes you a maestro?

I'm a composer like every maestro on this earth. I'm a little bit pretentious but modest at the same time, so maybe that's the reason why I decided to switch the word [Stromae is maestro with mae and stro reversed], because it's so ridiculous to call yourself a maestro when you compose with two fingers, you know what I mean? That's why I decided, yeah, maestro even if it's without an orchestra, without composing on the tables, but it's a composition.

At 11 years old you began studying music and playing drums. Was there a defining moment when realized that you wanted to be a musician?

I wasn't wondering this question, it was just obvious, like okay, this is the only thing that I can concentrate my brain on.

Was there a particular artist that made you want to study music?

Actually, at the time I learned drums, I wanted to be the drummer of Hanson. I wanted to be this guy because he was so young and he was already drumming in the band, you know, so I just wanted to be like him. And later I discovered hip-hop music at boarding school.

You went to boarding school?

Yeah. That was the threat of my mother, like "If you miss school, I'll send you to boarding school," and I missed it.

So who are you as an artist? Who is Stromae?

Actually, I prefer the word "musician," I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word "artist." I don't know if it's the same in English, but words like "artist" and "star" put people on a pedestal, which is not really good for my brain. I prefer just to consider it as work, which is useless compared to a baker or a farmer or something like that, a real job [laughs]. But of course, I try to just be creative here, but I'm a perfectionist and I just want to do my best.

Your new album is named Racine Carrée, which means square root. Can you tell me about it?

I was influenced by [the Dutch graphic artist] M.C. Escher. Also, when I was young and we would have family parties, we used to listen to Congolese rumba, old salsa, and stuff, people that you don't like when you're young because that's your parents' music and this album is influenced by those musical roots.

So what do you want to accomplish with this album and your first foray into the United States? Are you scared and excited?

It's a special feeling because people used to say, "No, it's not possible because you don't sing in English," so of course, it's like a double pressure. I know that it's going to be difficult, but not impossible. We are all human and we are all able to listen to music that we cannot understand. I used to listen to English music like Notorious B.I.G. and I didn't know what he's talking about in all of his tracks, but I'm a fan. It's rhythm and a groove that makes me dance so I'm convinced that my music can work in the U.S.

Can you tell me about your single "Papaoutai" (Dad, where are you?). Is it a personal song? [Stromae's father was absent for much of his life. He was of Rwandan descent and tragically killed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide].

Maybe the beginning, the first version of the track was totally personal. But then I wanted to have more objectivity. The [third] version was more aggressive, a teenager vision, like, okay I hate my father because he wasn't there for me and I decided just to grow up and say, okay, actually the real question is, "What's a father?" because you're almost 30 and you have to become a father as soon as possible.

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You're telling yourself this?

Yeah. [Laughs]

You're looking for a wife? You're trying to make babies? I'm sure there are a few ladies that wouldn't mind.

It's pretty late to have a baby at 30, no?

Women get told that all the time, but for some reason guys can have a child when they're 70. Is your mom telling you to settle down and get a wife and have kids?

Not as soon as possible, but it's time, actually… I have to make a lot of babies [laughs].

Speaking of your mom, what does she think of her son becoming a successful musician? Because she sent you to boarding school for missing class...

My teachers used to say "He's not really dumb. No… just never concentrated and looked at the sky all the time." I didn't get good grades.

So what does she think about you now?

She wasn't against this kind of job because she decided to put me in music school, so it was her idea. Thanks to her, I do music today.

So what did she say to you the first time you had a hit and made money?

She was proud. Actually, it's difficult. You never ask, "What do you think, mama?"

My mom cuts out every single article I write. I'm sure your mom does the same with your interviews.

You're right. She does exactly the same. Which is enough to understand that she's proud.

Let's talk about the music video for my favorite song "Tous Les Mêmes" ([They are] All the Same), you're playing the role of a male and female. What is the actual meaning of this video?

I just tried to show the roles of both man and woman. Just a simple love story, but not a cliché love story, like a charming prince and a princess. I wanted to show that a relationship is not always perfect and beautiful, men and women can mistreat each other too.

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Who would you love to collaborate with?

People alive, or…

Preferably alive…

It would be Cesaria Evora. Do you know Cesaria Evora? [Cesaria]

Yes, she's one of my all-time favorite artists, but she's no longer with us. Anyone who is still walking this earth?

I don't know… Adele, Because it's the most impossible collaboration that can happen.

A few fun questions… Do you have a hidden talent?

I can play basketball, but I'm not so good.

What is the first thing on your mind when you wake up.

Horrible, but my breakfast is e-mails.

Finish this sentence, I cannot go to bed unless I've…

Again, checked e-mails… Part of this life.

Do you have a style icon?

It's difficult… can I choose a style? It's between the (dandyism) of England and (sapeur) of the Africanism [Sapeur - in a poor city, country, or continent, there is a group of people with a singular purpose: to look good].

If you could have dinner with anyone famous dead or alive, who would it be?

Ibrahim Ferrer, the singer of Buena Vista Social Club [Ibrahim was a popular Afro-Cuban singer and musician in Cuba]. I'm just discovering the groove of Brazil, but I know salsa music for a long time.

What superhero power would you most want to have?

Flying.

What is your go-to song at karaoke?

"Pump Up The Jam" by Technotronic. That's the only hook I know in English, actually.

Hellin Kay

Photo: Courtesy of Republic Records

Stromae's incredibly catchy single "Papaoutai" and new album 'Racine Carrée' are both available on iTunes.

You were born in Brussels, Belgium. Many world-famous musicians came from Belgium (Jacques Brel, 2 Unlimited, Lara Fabian, Hooverphonic, and everyone's favorite dance group Technotronic). Did any of these musicians influence who you are as an artist?

Belgium is separated between the Flemish and the French. And we used to just match things that cannot match normally, that's where two artists that you mentioned, Jacques Brel and Technotronic come in. They are icons for me and my music is a mix of eurodance and chanson. I'm taking different styles and genres and making them into one.

Why was your first album called Cheese? As in food?

No, when you take a picture you say cheese and smile. It's not named after food. [laughs].