HomeTown - ZekisWorld (German)

Erinnert ihr euch an meinen Blogbeitrag über die Inspiration für meinen Songtext „HomeTown“?

Es war im November 2023, als wir den ehemaligen Arbeitskollegen meiner Mutter nach 30 Jahren in einem italienischen Restaurant in der Nähe wieder trafen. Wir fühlten uns sehr unwohl und fehl am Platz und wünschten, wir könnten wegfliegen. Aber alles geschieht aus einem bestimmten Grund und dank dieses Nachmittagstees wurde mein 12. Track geboren: HomeTown, Lily Amis feat. Thir13een.

Diese Woche, fast sechs Monate später, besuchten wir dasselbe Restaurant, weil es einen neuen Besitzer hat. Es ist kein italienisches Restaurant mehr, sondern ein Kebab & More-Laden im Besitz von Zeki Bulgurcu, einem erfolgreichen Unternehmer, Rapper, preisgekrönten Social-Media-Influencer, Entertainer und Komiker aus der Schweiz.

Wir LIEBEN Kebab und als wir hörten, dass Zeki der Besitzer ist und sein allererstes Restaurant in unserer Nachbarschaft eröffnet, mussten wir es auf jeden Fall besuchen und diesen vielseitig begabten türkischen Mann unterstützen.

Wir gingen 10 Tage nach der grossen Eröffnung zum Mittagessen. Wie bereits erwartet, gab es eine lange Schlange hungriger Menschen aller Nationalitäten und Generationen, die ungeduldig darauf warteten, DEN BESTEN DÖNER DER STADT zu probieren.

Ehrlich gesagt könnte die Atmosphäre im Restaurant nicht unterschiedlicher sein als in den vergangenen Jahren. Es war freundlich, einladend und positiv, trotz der grossen Anzahl an Gästen. Das Essen war köstlich und von hoher Qualität. Sie bieten auch traditionelle türkische Süssigkeiten und Desserts an. Es ist also auch ein grossartiger Ort, um für eine Tee- oder Kaffeepause vorbeizuschauen.

Während wir unseren Döner genossen, war Zeki ebenfalls in seinem Restaurant und ass mit seinem Team zu Mittag. Viele junge Gäste erkannten ihn und baten ihn um Fotos. Er war der perfekte freundliche Gentleman und Gastgeber, sprach mit jedem und schoss Selfies. 

Zeki war sehr grosszügig und lud mich sogar zu einem Ayran ein (ein erfrischendes türkisches Getränk aus drei Zutaten: Joghurt, Salz und Wasser), das mich direkt in meine Kindheit in meiner Geburtsstadt Teheran zurückversetzte.

Wie bewerten wir unser Mittagessen bei Zekis World?

Nun, es kommt nicht auf den Standort an, sondern auf die Leute, die ein Restaurant betreiben und seine Gäste. Monate zuvor war ich nach unserem Nachmittagstee in diesem Restaurant so traurig und deprimiert, aber dank dieses jungen Mannes wurde mir klar, dass die Musik nicht die einzige grossartige Sache ist, die Menschen aller Generationen und Nationalitäten vereint, sondern auch köstliches Essen in einer schönen Atmosphäre an einem beliebten Ort.

Zeki ist eine Inspiration für alle jungen und älteren Ausländer in der Schweiz, die aufgrund ihres Namens, Aussehens, ihrer Religion, ihres Geburtsorts, ihres sozialen Status und ihres Bildungsniveaus seit Ewigkeiten mit Hindernissen, Bürokratie, Diskriminierung, Rassismus und Mobbing konfrontiert sind. Er hat alles erreicht, wovon Ausländer in einem engstirnigen Land mit all seinen Vorurteilen und Ungerechtigkeiten gegenüber Ausländern träumen.

Es ist wirklich eine Freude und eine grossartige Erfahrung, „Erfolg“ in seiner besten Form zu erleben! Träume werden wahr, wenn man an sich und seine Ziele glaubt und diese NIEMALS aufgibt und sich von NIEMANDEM zurückhalten lässt, ungeachtet aller Gesetze und Diskriminierung!

Wir geben Zekis World 5 von 5 Sternen! 

Wir haben endlich einen Ort gefunden, an dem wir uns wie zu Hause fühlen!

SOURCE PICTURES: ZEKISWORLD FACEBOOK

HomeTown - ZekisWorld!

Do you remember my blog post about the inspiration for writing my song lyric “HomeTown”? 

It was back in November 2023 when we met my mum's old working colleague after 30 years at an Italian restaurant nearby. We felt very uncomfortable and misplaced, and we wished we could fly away right away. But everything happens for a reason and thanks to this afternoon, my 12th track was born: HomeTown, Lily Amis feat. Thir13een.

This week, almost six months later, we visited the same restaurant because it has a new owner. It is no longer an Italian restaurant but a Kebab & More shop owned by Zeki Bulgurcu, a successful entrepreneur, rapper, Award-winning social media influencer, entertainer, and comedian in Switzerland.

We LOVE Kebab and when we heard that Zeki is the owner and opening his very first restaurant in our neighbourhood, we thought we would surely give it a try and support this multi-talented Turkish man.

We went 10 days after the Grand opening for lunch. As already expected, there was a long line of hungry people from every nationality and generation waiting impatiently to try out THE BEST KEBAB IN TOWN.

Honestly, the restaurant atmosphere couldn’t be more different than it was in years. It was friendly, welcoming, and positive despite the huge number of guests. The food was delicious with high quality. They also offer traditional Turkish sweets and desserts. So it is a great place to stop by for a tea or coffee break as well.

While we were enjoying our Kebab, Zeki was at his restaurant having lunch with his team as well. Many young guests recognized him and asked him for pictures. He was the perfect friendly gentleman and host, spoke to everyone, and took pictures. Zeki was very generous and even invited me to an Ayran (A refreshing Turkish drink made from three ingredients: yogurt, salt, and water) which took me right back to my childhood in my birth town Teheran.

What is our takeaway from our lunch at Zekis World?  

Well, it is not the location that matters, but the people who run and visit a restaurant. Months earlier I felt so sad and depressed after our afternoon tea at this same restaurant but thanks to this young man, I realized that music is not the only great thing that unites people from all generations and nationalities but also great food in a nice atmosphere at a popular location.

Zeki is an inspiration for all the young and older foreigners in Switzerland who have had to face obstacles, bureaucracy, discrimination, racism, and bullying for ages because of their name, look, religion, birthplace, social status, and level of education. He has achieved everything that foreigner’s dream of in a narrow-minded country with all its prejudice and injustice towards foreigners in general.

It truly is a pleasure and a great experience to witness “Success” at its best! Dreams do come true when you believe in yourself and your goals and don’t give up and allow anyone to hold you back, regardless of any law and discrimination!

We give Zekis World 5 stars out of 5! 

We finally have found a place where we feel like home!  

SOURCE PICTURES: ZEKISWORLD FACEBOOK

HomeTown Search – A Day in St. Gallen!

This month we have been busy researching and discovering new places only an hour away by train from our city, Zurich. We are looking for a new home town after 30 decades!

We have been in St. Gallen only once, back in the winter of 2001. It wasn’t an easy time for us to survive life alone in Lucerne with all the obstacles and challenges. We couldn't enjoy our stay. It is all written in my memoir The Stolen Years in Zurich, so I’m not going to say more.

Now, it was time to visit this interesting town and seriously consider it as our new home, because of the great location. What we loved the most, is the abbey right in the heart of the town. It is huge and beautiful from inside and outside. Really magnificent architecture and definitely worth a visit.

However, after doing more research, we realized that the city doesn’t offer the benefits that we have in Zurich. So unfortunately, our search for a new hometown continues…

Like in Solothurn, you find all kinds of national and international brands and can book tourist activities at the Tourism office.

We give St.Gallen 4 stars out of 5!

HomeTown Search – A Day in Solothurn!

This month we have been busy researching and discovering new places only an hour away by train from our city, Zurich. We are looking for a new home town after 30 decades!

I can’t believe that we never visited this gorgeous little baroque town before. It really is like a fairytale and definitely worth a visit. The most impressive buildings are the two churches in the heart of the little downtown. The St. Ursen Cathedral and The Jesuit Church, thought to be one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Switzerland. 

We can picture how gorgeous this place looks in winter with Christmas lighting and the smell of Christmas cookies, sweets, and hot chocolate in all the little coffee shops and restaurants. You also find all kinds of national brands despite the small size of the downtown.

We really enjoyed our day trip and could imagine living there if this town wasn’t on the top list of crime statistics in Switzerland. This is unfortunately a deal-breaker!

But if you visit Switzerland and love Baroque as much as we do, take the direct train from Zurich Main station and dive into a little fairytale for a day while enjoying ice cream in the summer next to the lake and hot chocolate in one of the many little coffee shops in winter!

We give Solothurn 5 stars out of 5 despite the criminal numbers!

Amuse.io - The damages are beyond disgusting!

SIGN THE PETITION!

Disgusting treatment! Corrupt company policy! Wasting artists time! 

SHAMEFUL! 
HANDS AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!

Artists as you know by now, my previous distributor AMUSE has caused me a lot of damage in the previous months by closing my artist account from one day to another without informing me WHY for weeks!

The more time goes by, the more I see the damages they have created by denying me access to my account and taking down my tracks. It is beyond upsetting. 

I don’t understand how people allow themselves to treat other people like shit and just go away with it! Such unkind, cruel, unprofessional, and unacceptable, disgusting treatment should have consequences! 

Not only was I accused of false allegations, but now I see that so much time and effort that I have put into my music promotion was thrown into the toilet! Disgusting!

One example is adding my song lyrics to my song releases through Musicmatch. Hours of work just gone because of the most corrupt distribution company on earth that I’ve trusted blindly for 2 years!

While my songs are released again (only in selected stores for now!), the lyrics are no longer available on social media like Instagram and in stores such as Spotify.

Well, I'm not gone invest more time in adding lyrics when they can be removed that easily! I’m glad that I have released my album Legacy4Humanity on Bandcamp.com. And I’m grateful to know the song, the cover, and the lyrics are all safe and sound in one place and can only be removed by me, the copyright holder!

#RespectIndieArtistsWork - My Take Downs!

After two years, I finally have an insight into the streaming numbers and store payments according to my previous corrupt distributor amuse.io statement. I don’t trust them, and therefore I can’t say if any of it is legit and 100% reliable. However, the numbers have been eye-opening and a wake-up call! 

Let me make something clear. I have never ever started the journey as an indie writer and lyricist to make a profit, even though I like anyone else need to make an income while living in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

My main goal from the start with writing and publishing books and writing and releasing music has been raising awareness about delicate topics close to my heart. If I were a fortune & fame hunter, I should have stopped writing, publishing, and releasing already after my first book (my memoir DESTINATION FREEDOM back in 2014) and my first song release “80 Million People, Lily Amis feat. Thir13een" back in 2022.

But I’m an artist, and most artists survive this corrupt world, unpleasant reality and disgusting society by being creative in their field of interest. We do it because we love it despite the outcome and respond. 

Knowing that we won’t see any profit, the least we can expect is at least some respect and dignity! After my recent awful and unlawful experience and disgusting treatment by the Swedish distribution company amuse.io based in Stockholm, I have started the online petition #RespectIndieArtistsWork to warn other indie artists before they have to go through the same BS treatment as I have after two years of “partnership” with a company whose policy is to disrespect, insult and accuse indie-artists!

My takeaway from this BS treatment: I have taken down my music from Amazon Music, Apple/iTunes, Audiomack, and SoundCloud for NOW! I am considering taking down my tracks from more stores in the upcoming months! I have too much self-respect for myself as a human being and for my wonderful tracks to allow anyone to disrespect me and my work ever again.

Why these stores? I tell you why. 

Amazon Music for Artists is the most user-unfriendly platform of all. You can't contact anyone and get a proper answer.

Apple and iTunes are also difficult to contact and show zero respect toward artists' requests. 

Audiomack, because I had to write several emails until they finally did their job.

SoundCloud was the only store that did what I asked for without hesitation, but because of the lack of numbers and followers, I chose to close my account once and for all.

I no longer plant flowers in people’s gardens who don’t water them 

= 

I no longer make my music available in stores that don’t appreciate them

Why should I continue to bring traffic to websites/platforms with nothing in return? Why?

Music is healing. Unfortunately, the music business side is exhausting and disgusting because of the lack of respect, honesty, and transparency! 

I hope you never have to experience what I have in the recent weeks and can continue your journey with joy, positive vibes, and hopes as this journey should be! Keep up the great work!