Music & Me with … Lily Amis

- 01 Aug 2021 -

Image: Lily Amis, Children & YA Author, Blogger, Illustrator, Voice4Refugees!

When were you first introduced to music?

I was introduced to music from a very young age. But I always enjoyed singing more than playing instruments. Even as a kid I listened carefully to the lyrics. My grandfather, my mother’s father was a musician. He was a teacher at the Persian music conservatory in Tehran (the capital city of Iran). He played the piano, the violin, and sitar. If I had to name my favorite instrument of all, it would be the violin. It is the most beautiful sound.

Tell me about your favourite teachers

Back in my home country Iran, I had lovely teachers. When we left Tehran because of war and came to Switzerland, I was ten years old. I had lovely but also lousy teachers. But my favorite teacher is my life teacher, my mother and best friend Sima. Everything I know and everything I am is thanks to my mother’s encouragement, knowledge and wide field of interests, difficult life experiences, and her incredible love and support.

What are your fondest musical memories?

Music is healing in difficult times and my teen years were extremely challenging as an unwanted refugee in Switzerland. I was suffering because I wasn’t allowed to do anything. No education, no employment. It was very hard. Also, I never grew up with the love of a father. My dad left us when I was just five. After that, I never had a male role model in my life. So when I was thirteen I “created” a father figure.I remember how I adored and admired the American Actor and singer David Hasselhoff (The Hoff), best known for American TV series such as The Night Rider and Baywatch. What many people don’t know is that David was extremely successful in the 90es as a singer in the German-speaking part of Europe. He released many albums and gave live concerts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. And my highlight every year was visiting his live concert in Zurich. My mother didn’t make it easy on me though. For her education is always important, so she encouraged me to speak and write my mother language Farsi. And when David was coming to town, it was time for Persian dictates and essays, before she got us the concert tickets. Seeing my idol live was therapy for my soul. David was also the person, who encouraged me to finish my memoir. How? Well, I wrote about it in my blogger magazine Read My Mind. And to this date, my favorite song is “Flying on the Wings of Tenderness (1989)”. I just love David’s deep and strong voice.

What is your favourite TV theme tune and/or film soundtrack?

Oh wow, this is a difficult question. I’m very sorry, but I can’t name only one. You will surely agree that music brings back memories. In fact, I have a full list of the songs on my website, which were part of my life. You can see them here. In my lovely childhood in Tehran, my very first film soundtracks were The Sound of Music (1965) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). I watched the two movies, listened, and sang along the songs over and over again. In my difficult teenage years in Switzerland My Fair Lady (1964), Mannequin (1987), Ghost (1990), Robin Hood (1991) and The Bodyguard (1992), and later of course The Titanic (1997), Moulin Rouge (2001), The Phantom to the Opera (2004) and finally The Greatest Show Man (2017).

What was the last music download/ CD that you bought?

I got a CD from an Italian street musician, who gave a free garden/balcony concert for over an hour in front of our house. He made people happy during Lockdown.

Imagine you have been given €300 to spend on anything music-related. How will you spend it?

My mother and I, both LOVE and enjoy musicals. As soon as the Corona madness is over, we would fly to our favorite European city London and watch the original productions at West Ends’ beautiful theaters. OMG, we can’t wait.

How do you balance music with your other obligations?

Music is part of my life. There are times where I don’t listen to music at all and then there are times where I listen to it daily.

Happiness is … living in safety, peace, and harmony without fear of existence and anxiety. Happiness is feeling loved and supported by the people you love.

Happiness is also finding joy in the little things in daily life and being grateful for every single day.