What I’ve Learned in London: My Experiences

So many legendary bands come from London that you are practically “marinated” in music history. That gave me the feeling early on that I could do anything. Although I’m actually a very shy person, I came out of my shell in London. You just swim in a big swarm of creative people here – that makes it easier.   

I had my musical awakening at the age of 14 in Hank’s Guitar Shop on Denmark Street. I was trying out a new guitar and singing along when the owner of the shop asked me if I wanted to play next door at the 12 Bar Club, a legendary London venue, where Adele and the Libertines used to play. I pretended to be 16 and got the gig. When I was on stage, I felt like part of a big family of musicians. As a teenager, you don’t have that kind of opportunity in every city. Sadly, the club no longer exists. 

You can tell I’m from London by my sense of humor. Jokes and little quips are part of every conversation, even when you are talking about something serious. The humor of Londoners is very dark and full of sarcasm, but at the same time no one takes themselves too seriously. I find this very charming, especially for a global metropolis. 

London is a beautiful mess. I love the completely chaotic, unplanned atmosphere of the city, where skyscrapers are built next to old churches. London is always trying to give itself a facelift, but it just never works. Great! London will never be smooth.   

The jam nights at Ain’t Nothin’ But in Soho are legendary. I used to sneak in here as a teenager to see concerts. Amy Winehouse played here early in her career. If you love Asian cuisine, you should visit Rasa Sayang in Chinatown, which serves delicacies from Singapore and Malaysia. On Brick Lane in Shoreditch, it’s worth waiting in line at Beigel Bake. The bagels, biscuits, and croissants are truly fantastic! The best curry in London is nearby at Dishoom, an Indian restaurant. I like to go to concerts at the Green Note, Omeara, Windmill Brixton, or the Moth Club – small venues where you can see newcomers before they play the big festival stages. Take a guided tour of Highgate Cemetery and hear all kinds of crazy stories about the famous people buried there, some with very eccentric headstones. London’s history comes to life – in a graveyard, of all places!

Sarah Reema Müller-Westernhagen was born in London and grew up with her mother in Twickenham, where she came into contact with the London music scene at an early age. Performing under the name "Reema" she blends folk with chamber music and has released two EPs, with another coming out in autumn this year. On tour in Germany, she plays Karlsruhe, Nürnberg und München from October 10 till October 12.