N16Life Winter 2017

STORIES
New Broom
TIMEA KARLIK
CLEANER-MUSIC PRODUCER
I’m from Hungary. I came
to London in 2011. I learnt
English in Australia. When
I was 15 years old my father
went to Australia to work. He
was on the other side of the
world. One of his colleagues
said, “Why don't you bring
your family here?” So, we
moved to Australia and I went
to high school there. It wasn't
easy starting school in another
WORKING AS A
CLEANER IS NOT
EASY SOMETIMES.
PEOPLE REFLECT
THEIR ANGER
TO US, BUT IT IS
ACTUALLY NOT
RELATED TO US.
country as a teenager. Other
students bullied me. After
they changed the immigration
laws, we left Australia in
2008. I was happy about the
experience: life is about what
you are learning and studying,
isn't it?
When I was 18 years old I
was nervous that my family
would have to look after me
if I didn't work and become
independent. I didn't want
my parents worrying about
me, so I wanted to move to
London and study something.
When I came here, I didn't
know how expensive London
was. I wanted to study graphic
design, but it was very
expensive. It was not possible
to study while I worked to pay
my bills. I could afford to do an
electronic music production
course for one year in West
London. I learnt how to
compose music and devices
they make music with. When
I save some money, I’d like to
study sound engineering. I
make music at home and do
recordings for radio stations.
I do music outside of work. It
makes me happy.
I have worked as a cleaner
in Clissold Leisure Centre
since 2013. I like working
for them. They allow you
to develop skills and move
to other departments. I
know some people used to
be cleaners, now they are
lifeguards or working in the
gym, sales, on reception or
as a manager. I am still going
to do cleaning job; I will start
to do a reception job as well.
This might allow me to play
my music somewhere at
weekends.
Working as a cleaner is
not easy sometimes. People
reflect their anger to us, but
it is actually not related to us.
In wintertime people are more
rude to me.
I am on a zero-hour
contract. We are not paid for
our holidays. Holiday pay is in
the wage. If they have financial
problems, they cut my hours
because I am a casual worker.
They might say we don't have
enough jobs, we don't need
you, we don't have shoes for
you. If this happens to me I'll
go back home. I can speak
English, I love my music,
maybe I can do something else.
After Brexit people around
me are not happy because they
don't know what the future
is going to bring. A lot of
people I know have gone back
to their countries since the
Brexit vote and a lot of people
are planning to go back. I
don't know what to expect.
It is uncertain. They are still
making plans and don't know
what to do with EU people.
I miss my family. I have a
boyfriend here. I met him on
a dance floor: we had a drink
and exchanged numbers.
Now we have been together
for three years, we love each
other. I don't want to leave him
because of Brexit.
I do radio podcasts for
online radios. I do different
podcasts for different shows.
I am hoping one day to play
at clubs. I also would like to
start my own record label.
That’s why I have done the
production course. I want
to play at parties and make
people dance and be happy
with my music. I don't want to
be a superstar or famous. I just
want to do it for love of music.
I believe that with music we
can change the world. A lot of
musicians believe that music
brings peace to the world.
Bespoke wedding and birthday cakes
made to order - Viennoiseries -
- French bread - Chocolates -
- Macaroons
Newington boutique
N16
020 7249 2222
www.belleepoque.co.uk
Islington boutique
N1
020 8001 8295
Selfridges
W1
BELLE_EPOQUE.indd 1 19/05/2017 15:10
17