What I’ve learned in Munich: My Experiences

My new album "Blessings" has a strong connection to Munich, because the city is an absolute blessing for me. Here I have learned what it means to be a father. I can retreat here between shoots, tours, red carpets, to find peace and be completely myself.

Munich is not as stuffy as I thought. I find that the people are success-oriented. They consciously invest their time in tasks that nourish and support their lives. I notice how colorful and diverse the city is every time I walk along the Isar River and am approached by people from different cultures.

I discovered nature in Munich. I often take a trip to the Tegernsee lake and hire an e-boat with friends. We take it to the center of the lake, switch off the engine and let ourselves drift. The silence there is amazing. The feeling of being away from everything for a moment is something I’ve never experienced in Berlin.

I am a Berliner and I won’t let Bavaria take that away from me. You’ll never see me here in a pressed shirt and smart shoes. Not even when I go to chic places like Schumann’s bar or the restaurant Theresa Grill. My jogging pants stay on!

I learned how to dress properly for the Oktoberfest from an Oktoberfest showman. Maximilan Fesenmayer from the Teufelsrad amusement ride took me to the traditional shop Lodenfrey. Now I know that a real Bavarian would never combine a checked shirt with his lederhosen. Instead, he wears a white shirt with a stand-up collar, as well as a “charivari” – a massive silver jewelry chain – over the waistband of his lederhosen.

The actor and singer Emilio Sakraya moved from Berlin to Munich two years ago. He played the lead role in Fatih Akin's film "Rheingold", can be seen as the main actor in the Netflix series "60 Minuten" and will be on tour with his album "Blessings" in May.