Linda

Linda Mertens (born in Wilrijk on 20 July 1978) is the lead singer of the Flemish dance group Milk Inc.

During secondary school she attended an arts high school. After graduating, she trained as a hairdresser and worked in a salon shortly before joining Milk Inc.. She later started training as a psychology assistant at Lessius University College in Antwerp, but could not complete it because her busy schedule with the band prevented her from taking exams.

She took her first steps as a singer in the group Secret Fantasy, without breaking through. Her career shifted when she met Regi Penxten at the Illusion nightclub. Penxten, a composer for Milk Inc. and producer for other artists, was looking for a singer. As Ann Vervoort, the band’s singer at the time, was moving permanently to Ibiza, Milk Inc. needed a new vocalist. After several auditions, Linda Mertens became the new singer of Milk Inc. at the end of 2000.

At the end of 2001 she appeared on the Christmas song Oh baby I, in collaboration with Kate Ryan, Pascale Feront (Absolom), Maaike Moens (The Quest) and Esther Sels. At the end of 2007 she released Getting out as a duet with singer Jessy.

In November 2014 she became the mother of a daughter, who died in April 2017. Due to her pregnancy in 2014, planned Sportpaleis concerts were postponed and Milk Inc. was put on hold temporarily. After her daughter’s death in April 2017, the group entered an indefinite hiatus.

In October 2022, Linda returned to the stage after more than six years away, first performing at a dance event in England (Blackpool) alongside several Belgian dance artists. In the months that followed, she also took part in similar events in Northern Ireland (Belfast) and Spain (Bigastro and Barcelona). On 27 October 2023, she appeared for the first time alongside Regi at the “Le Retour” concert at the Sportpaleis.