Leonie Lipburger:

“I’m simply in good hands with my family”

Leonie Lipburger lives in the Bregenzerwald. She is a family person through and through.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

What drives young people, how do they look at the world? In his series "We're not like that!", Robert Schneider seeks to talk to young people - as he did recently with Leonie Lipburger.

She comes from a family of musicians, he says, which is why she is pre-disposed to music, because her grandpa and dad already made music. She would like to study sound engineering or sound engineering after her A-levels. It's a huge, broad field with lots of opportunities. Leonie Lipburger, the young woman sitting opposite me, radiates a certain calm and also something profound. Both are rather atypical for young people her age. She listens very carefully, seems thoughtful when she answers my questions and yet is warm at the same time. Her silver earrings dance when she nods or denies something, and her fawn-colored, shadowed eyes suggest a person who thinks a lot about herself and the world.

Robert Schneider: Your father is the well-known musician Kurt Lipburger from "Zündstoff", who has worked with cabaret artist Gabi Fleisch, among others, but also works abroad a lot. Did you ever get to see him as a child? A freelance artist is often on the road. 
Leonie Lipburger: It's not that bad. We did a lot together as a family. He is also a music teacher at the Bregenzerwald music school and I often accompanied him to his performances. I still love doing that. Helping with the set-up, the sound check. It's really interesting because every gig, every evening is different.

Does your mom also work? 
She works at reception in a hotel in Balderschwang.

Do you have any siblings? 
I am on my own.

So I'm a princess. 
Exactly.

Of special value: these two porcelain horses remind Leonie Lipburger of her grandfather.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

And you live with your parents in Langenegg. What's it like with public transport? You have to get away somehow as a young person. 
That's terrible. They'll have to think of something. On the other hand, I really like being at home. My family means a lot to me. They really give me support. I just feel safe there.

It hasn't been that long. What comes to mind when you think of your earliest childhood? 
The "monkey mountain" comes to mind quite spontaneously. It was a zoo enclosure in Salem, in the middle of the forest. The children were given popcorn and were allowed to feed the little monkeys that were running around everywhere. That is a very strong childhood memory.

Your generation takes the use of digital media for granted. How do you really form an opinion? Keyword fake news. 
That's a really difficult question. I'm now fundamentally skeptical of all media, whether it's newspapers or the Internet. If I really want to know something in detail, I consult a lot of sources at the same time. Unfortunately, I've lost the feeling that I trust this or that source completely. I rely on my gut feeling. You can tell immediately on YouTube whether the content creator has done something to himself, how much time he has invested.

Do you take your cell phone to bed with you to fall asleep? 
Yes, unfortunately. I've started setting myself a timer - half an hour of TikTok, half an hour of Instagram a day, but if I'm not careful, I won't stick to it. I know that's not good.

I really enjoy it. It's a great way to hang out. 
That's true. But it is said that the blue light on your cell phone is harmful because the light spectrum makes it harder to fall asleep, which means that melatonin is released.

It is also said that your generation in particular is going gaga over cell phones. However, I cannot confirm this claim. When I think back to when I was your age, I feel really stupid. 
Thank you for saying that. I rarely hear that. The prejudice really does exist.

You probably have nothing to do with books. 
I really enjoy reading when I have the time. I was very influenced by my mother. I particularly enjoy reading books in English, which is what I'm doing at the moment.

Are you a politically minded person? 
Unfortunately, politics doesn't play such a big role in my life.

Why unfortunately? 
I would like to know more. There are some elections coming up this year and I haven't really thought about it yet. On the other hand, I am a voter and should actually know about it. I almost don't dare to say it: when I look at the world and see what's going on everywhere, I feel world-weariness. It hurts me, but there's nothing I can do about it. Then I just have to protect myself. It's a kind of self-protection. I admit that quite openly.

Are you concerned about the climate debate? 
Yes, of course. But I'm not someone who sticks to the streets. I think that's the wrong approach. What I really like are the little things in everyday life. Shopping, for example. I hardly buy anything that's wrapped in plastic. Today, every cucumber is wrapped in plastic. Bread that still hasn't gone moldy after four weeks... You don't even want to think about how many chemicals have been added.

I almost don't dare to say it: when I look at the world and see what's going on everywhere, I feel world-weariness. It hurts me, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Leonie Lipburger

Does religion play a role in your life? 
Not really. But at the moment I go to church with my grandma almost every Sunday because my grandpa died.

So just for her sake? 
Yes, for her too. I do it for her, but also for myself and my family in general. We still have the tradition that when a relative dies, the bereaved family goes to church together for the next four Sundays. I think that's a very nice tradition.

You brought me something that means a lot to you. A porcelain figurine with two brown horses. Can you tell me what it's all about? 
My grandfather gave it to me when I was about eight years old. He in turn got them from his mother. They're still on my bedside table today. I always took them very carefully in my hands and looked after them. It's just a great joy to look at the little horses because I know that they meant so much to my grandpa. And that's what makes this piece so special to me.