raising a child is to raise yourself

– The latest, fourth, solo album is called « Inspired ». It is accompanied by a concert tour throughout Lithuania. Does the name also relate to your nephew?

– Interestingly, the name can be accented in two ways – it can be both the verb’s co -owner and a participant. Because of its meaning, you are right – it is the news of the arrival of a son to the world in me revived some of the feelings of hibernation. The feeling was similar to that in one film, when actor Robin Williams, who escaped from prison, broke through all kinds of underground tunnels, plumbing pipes, ultimately falls into freedom and inspires a breath of pure air. I think when I heard the message about a son, I experienced something similar. I inspired the fresh, fresh air and could write this album, which I believe in listening, people will also be inspired by noble feelings and deeds.

– Did your nearly four -year -old son draw a drawing for this album specifically?

– Definitely not. When a new album is born, I always find it the hardest to decide who will be on its cover, because that visual message is very important. Unexpectedly after various attempts, one designer asked me if I had no drawings of my son. Immediately I remembered one of his drawings drawn maybe a year ago. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to get back. After taking a picture, I sent it to the designer and here’s a great cover!

What is his message? It was drawn by a man who has not yet been restricted by rules and norms. Emanuel painted what was most important to him at that moment – he did not limit himself to someone’s expectations. This is his personal unsolicited expression, maybe that’s why it seems so alive.

– I’m guessing that the concept of the music you create is the same at the moment – you are not hitting the audience, but you are creating what is struck from the very depths of the heart?

– Apparently yes. That first instinct when I create a song is exactly that. I have no control over the process, that is, what it should be: fun, sad, slow, fast … The song decides for it, and then I start to decorate it in the studio.

– Concert tour, I believe, successfully continues, but let’s talk about the people who meet you back after the concert home…

– Who meets me? Walls (laughs) because I come back late and my family: wife Vismantė, nephew Emanuel – usually sleeps.

– What is the home for you? Really not the walls you jokingly mention?

– Of course, the home is much more. It is a sense of fullness, security that encompasses you. This is an oasis where you are welcome, understandable, loved. There is a song by the band « U2 » that sounds that the house does not create a home – they are created by our emotions and their relationship with the people living there.

Frankly, I have a lot of home: this is the childhood home in Vilnius, where I grew up and the current ones I live with with my family. Home where my wife Vismantė grew. I call my home all Samogitia because my heart sings while driving there. I don’t even know why because I really love and often travel with concerts all over Lithuania.

Dedication: The fourth solo album of K. Likša, « Inspire », is adorned with a drawing by his son Emanul, and all the songs are for his son. / Photo by K. Likša Personal Archive

– If I asked to remember the very first concert that ignited the fire of a musician, performer, creator burning with hot fire so far…

– It was still at school because my musical path, admittedly, was still very timid, I started at the age of fifteen. I tried to play the guitar – to make music, songs, participate in events. Eventually I noticed that I was doing well. I will always remember one event at Vilnius Mykolas Biržiškė Gymnasium, which was called « art in unexpected places ». Then I played during a long break at the teachers’ room, where maybe several hundred people gathered. When the call sounded, no one wanted to divide: everyone asked the teachers to allow me to play further. Maybe then I realized that the scene, the focus I like, and I had something to say.

As soon as I finished school, I participated in the competition « Heat Andrew Mamontov » 1 thousand. in a concert tour. I performed my songs at Andrew’s three concerts. I quickly brought together musicians with whom we later started a joint musical activity with a band Karma. We played until 2015. It will be a decade, as I went out of Karma and started the soloist.

– Let’s go back home where Vismantė and Emanuel are waiting for you. You mentioned that you are inner flair everywhere and always in your life. Did she also raise her son’s name? Translated from Hebrew, Emmanuel means « God with us ».

– In fact, the wife offered this name. I didn’t even go into its meaning. The sound itself was intrigued. We still thought we would be able to call him emi, which immediately caused me a smile and approval.

What does he care at the moment? Oh, a lot. In June, Emanuel will be four. Together we make puzzles, build LEGO castles, draw pencils, watercolor. The son is very fond of listening to music, dancing according to it. We even shook the last few nights with The Beatles album. Emanuel is a very active, emotional, vibrant and fun child.

Home is a sense of fullness, security. This is an oasis where you are welcome, understandable, loved.

– When you started to name your activities together, I immediately remembered the movie « Nanny » with actor Vin Diesel and all the duties of his nanny. You know what I’m talking about?

– I guess (laughs). But staying alone with Emanuel is no excitement for me. Often we stay for one two days, we have been a week. Difficulties are not because of the child, but because they have to do everything: take them to kindergarten, then bring them, go to the store food, prepare dinner, etc. However, after rejecting all those jobs, the joy still takes over – one smile of Emanuel, one hug.

– What does Vismantant work that men sometimes have to stay alone at home?

– You can say, she is a businesswoman. Works in the field of tourism, has a team of their employees. There is a lot of responsibility, so sometimes we have to spend time without it. On the other hand, probably the days when moms alone raised children. We are a cohesive team with Vismante and we negotiate our work schedules. It is certainly not the case to make any work more important.

We met Vismante at the university, where we both studied cultural history and anthropology. We started friends in the first year in 2010 and celebrated the wedding in 2017.

What fascinated me in it? As always, I did what my heart told me – I guided the sentiment, and she said it was good to be together, it was easy to communicate and that it could grow into a serious relationship in the future.

Have fun: when one two remains, men build Lego Castle, put on puzzles, incarnate in cartoon characters. / Photo by K. Likša’s personal archive

– TV3 TV started showing a fun show « Star Stars », through which parents learn a lot about themselves from their children’s lips. If the presenter Marijonas Mikutavičius asked Emanuel, is his dad being able to get angry?

– During my concerts, I often tell people fun stories from communicating with Emanuel. So, one evening, I sleep my son, and he looks at me with such big children’s eyes and asks, « Dad, and why are you driving so much everywhere, perform? » I explain to him that such is Dad’s job. Emmanuel thinks in a minute and cools, « Dad, it’s not a job here. The job is to come to work and wash the dishes. » (Laughs.)

This example, obviously, not about an angry dad, but about our connection, conversations in general. Are I angry? I am, like all parents, when they are tired. Raising a child is to raise yourself as well. In fact, when you are very tired, you have a hard time controlling yourself, emotions can quickly take the top. Then, because of this, you survive a lot, promise to abstain the next time, to remind yourself that a child is a growing organism and everything we know is going to happen a thousand times more strongly. He is just trying to get to know all his emotions: both joyful, anger, sadness, frustration. Sometimes the latter take the top and it becomes impossible to arrest them. However, I think that those emotions that sometimes break in public places talk are not about bad behavior, but about knowing that the child of his parents feels safe next to his parents. Therefore, they should not be punished or otherwise sensitive to them.

It is important to me that Emanuel is empathetic. To have the desire to listen to another, it would be curious: he should have a desire to know, learn, explore the world.

– You speak as if you were well acquainted with children’s psychology. Do you read books or guide personal practice?

– And yes and otherwise (smiles). My wife and I share what we find interesting on this topic. We read, discuss. We have also ordered a variety of courses at a distance where we learn, what the behavior of one child means, how we, our parents, should behave in certain situations.

It is human to make mistakes, but you have to be able to accept your mistakes and learn from them. I’m talking about parents’ reactions.

– You were intrigued by saying that you are often alone at home with your son. I wonder what Dad, who has a apron, makes for lunch?

– Making food is my secret hobby and great meditation. Therefore, I often produce all three. Last week I was just invited to a culinary show and I made a dish there that I made specifically for Emanuel. Nothing magical: just creamy thick white vegetable soup. Its ingredients: potatoes, celery stalks, roots, onions, cauliflower, garlic. Emanuel always eats her with pleasure.

– What would you most like to instill for a son because, as we know, the first seven years are the most important for the child’s personality and the sense of responsibility?

– It is important to me that Emanuel is empathetic. To have the desire to listen to another, it would be curious: he should have a desire to know, learn, explore the world.

-You shared on social networks that you met in Mexico 2025. Is it easy to go so far with a young child?

– Probably dependent on the child, as well as the parents’ point of view. It is fun for us to see our child on travel. Emanuel has been traveling with us since three months. In the list of joint travel, Crete, England, Scotland, Spain; Our Baltic neighbors; America – the NEW, California, Arizona State, and the last month of the month was in winter in Mexico.

I am very pleased that the son sees different cultures, different worlds while traveling. It does not feel that we are all human beings and that dialogue can be done everywhere, to be friendship, understanding, empathy and love.

He may not seem to remember those trips, but many, I know, will remain in his memory. Emanuel still tells us an event as a huge whale jumped up in front of his eyes.

Another thing that travel gives is a closer relationship between our three. That common experience is invaluable. Of course, you are addicted to the child’s regime that needs to be followed, but the connection pays off. And relationships in the couple are improving. We are certainly not a hotel by the pool all the time. We rent a car, try to see as many cities as possible, interesting places, beaches and the world’s knowledge of our own knowledge.

– Do you shorten the long travel hours that your child wakes up with your phone?

– I will not deny, sometimes I really have to. Especially during a short plane flight. However, we dose at home screens because we have noticed that the phone or tablet is the biggest stimuli of emotion. There is never enough, and footage causes so much emotion to the son that he becomes very sensitive to the environment. Our priority is to communicate live and be together.

Photo by K. Likša’s personal archive

– Do you see in your dreams the day you sing with your son on stage?

– I’d like to, but it all will depend on it. If Emanuel wants, I’m always ready. At the moment, I see that my son is receptive to music, and if you want it in the future, I will help. Let love for music come from its inside naturally, not to influence on parents.

– If you imagined that the happiness of your family on your strong backs is three elephants…

– The main elephant would probably be our relationship – listening to each other and understanding, a pillar, if it is difficult for one. This is the essential thing. Yet? Not to think that one is more important in the family and the other is less important.

In a word, our elephants are teamwork, listening to each other and being nearby. Of course, there is when emotions take the top through work and fatigue. But this is the life like endless roller coaster.

Fortunately, I think there is no constant or a homogeneous curve rising upwards. Even when you are at the lowest point, happiness is still there. Only in the heart must be aware that the difficulties will pass and that you are not single at that difficult stage – with you, your loved ones who believe in you who want to help.