A Star Is Born: Mark Bless Turns 18

In October, Mark Bless celebrated his 18th birthday with a special evening at the Gloriette Schönbrunn in Vienna. The celebration, symbolically titled “A Star Is Born”, brought together family, friends and collaborators who shared this special moment with Mark and stepped with him into a new chapter of his life.

One of the biggest surprises of the evening was a film prepared especially for Mark and his guests. Through photographs, recordings and memories, the film followed his journey from early childhood to the present day, showing how he has developed not only as a musician and actor, but also as a person.

Teachers, collaborators and friends who have been part of different stages of Mark’s life also appeared in the film, sharing their memories and speaking about the Mark they have come to know through music, school, theatre and years of working together.

For Mark, watching his own story unfold on screen while surrounded by people who had been part of that journey was an emotional moment.

“It was strange and beautiful at the same time to see so many years of my life in one film. Some moments I remembered immediately, while others I had almost forgotten. What touched me most was hearing people who have known me at different stages of my life talk about the time we spent together.”

But the evening was not only about looking back.

Mark also performed his new original song “Love of My Life” live for the first time, giving his guests the opportunity to be the first to hear a song that marks another step forward in his work as a songwriter and musician.

“Love of My Life” was also submitted for consideration for Austria’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. For Mark, submitting his own song was an opportunity to take another step forward and present his music on a new level.

“I have been writing songs for years, but every new song still feels like a new beginning. Performing ‘Love of My Life’ for the first time on such a special evening made it even more personal. And submitting my music for Eurovision was something I simply wanted to try. Sometimes you have to give an idea a chance and see where it takes you.”

Turning eighteen marked an important personal milestone, but the evening also reflected where Mark finds himself as an artist today: grateful for everything that has shaped him so far and curious about everything that is still ahead.