Nemo (singer)
Nemo | |
---|---|
![]() Nemo in 2024 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Nemo Mettler |
Born | Biel/Bienne, Canton of Bern, Switzerland | 3 August 1999
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments |
|
Labels | Bakara Music[1] |
Website | nemothings |
Nemo Mettler (born 3 August 1999) is a Swiss musician and singer-rapper who plays the violin, piano and drums.[2] They[a] were the first non-binary act to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "The Code", which they went on to win. Nemo's win is the only by a non-binary artist and Switzerland's third (after 1956 and 1988).[3][4]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Nemo_PreparyES_02.jpg/220px-Nemo_PreparyES_02.jpg)
Nemo began their interest in music at the age of three, learning to play the violin, piano and drum machine. They studied opera singing from age 9 to 13.[5] At 13, Nemo began rapping, competing in Swiss contests, performing songs they independently wrote.[6] Nemo found early success in battle rap as a teenager.[7]
In 2015, they released their first EP Clownfisch, which reached number 95 in the Swiss charts.[8]
In 2017, Nemo released a single "Du",[9] which reached number 4 in Switzerland[10] won the SRF 3 Best Talent prize.[11] In the same year they studied solo singing in jazz and pop at Zurich University of the Arts,[6][12] and later settled in Berlin to pursue their music career.[13]
In 2018, Nemo won four Swiss Music Prizes, including best song of the year for Du and best concert performance of the year.[11]
After staying in Los Angeles in 2020, Nemo decided to switch from singing in Swiss German to English.[14][15]
On the second season of The Masked Singer Switzerland in 2021, Nemo was unmasked as a panda and finished in fifth place.[16]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Nemo_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024_Final_Malm%C3%B6_dress_rehearsal_semi_2_06_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Nemo_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024_Final_Malm%C3%B6_dress_rehearsal_semi_2_06_%28cropped%29.jpg)
On 29 February 2024, Nemo was announced as the Swiss representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "The Code", and performed in the second semi-final of the contest, on 9 May.[17] Nemo won the Eurovision final on 11 May with 591 points, becoming the first non-binary performer to win the contest.[18][19]
Personal life
Nemo Mettler was born in Biel/Bienne in the canton of Bern.[20] Their father is Markus Mettler, an entrepreneur and inventor, and their mother is Nadja Schnetzler, a journalist,[21] who gave a TEDx talk on freedom of the press in Zürich in 2017.[22] They have a sister named Ella, a photographer who designed the vaccination campaigns of the Federal Office of Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic,[23] who collaborates with Nemo in the artistic direction of their projects.[24] Nemo's first name means "no one" in Latin. During a mission for the Swiss Red Cross in El Salvador in 2018, they said "my parents thought that if I was no-one, I could become anyone."[25][26]
In November 2023, Nemo came out as non-binary in an article in the SonntagsZeitung,[27] after being closeted since around 2021.[7] In the article, Nemo also stated that they prefer to be referred to by their given name instead of pronouns in German,[27] and use they/them pronouns in English.[28] During Eurovision, the EBU had told Nemo not to bring in a non-binary flag, but they "smuggled" one in and brought it on stage.[29] The Eurovision Twitter later posted a photo of Nemo with the flag, which was deemed hypocritical by some fans.[29]
In 2022, Nemo came out as pansexual to their partner, who was also the first person they came out to as non-binary.[30]
Nemo currently lives in Berlin.[31]
Discography
Extended plays
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
SWI [10] | |||
Clownfisch |
|
95 | |
Momänt-Kids |
|
— | |
Fundbüro |
|
— | |
Whatever Feels Right |
|
— | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Singles
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album or EP | |
---|---|---|---|---|
SWI [10] |
LTU [36] | |||
"Himalaya" | 2016 | 27 | * | Momänt-Kids |
"Style" (with Marc Amacher) |
2017 | — | Non-album single | |
"Du" | 4 | Fundbüro | ||
"Usserirdisch" | 64 | |||
"Crush uf di" | 2018 | 77 | — | Non-album singles |
"5i uf de Uhr" | 2019 | 31 | — | |
"365" | — | — | ||
"Girl us mire City" | — | — | ||
"Dance With Me" | 2020 | — | — | |
"Video Games" | — | — | ||
"Hailey" (with Chelan) |
2021 | — | — | Orange & Blue |
"Certified Pop Queen" | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Chleiderchäschtli" (with KT Gorique ) |
— | — | ||
"Lonely Af" | 2022 | — | — | Whatever Feels Right |
"Own Sh¡t" | — | — | ||
"F*ck Love" (with Anthony de la Torre) |
— | — | ||
"Be like You" | — | — | ||
"This Body" | 2023 | — | — | Non-album singles |
"Falling Again" | 2024 | — | — | |
"The Code" | 22 | 45 | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. "*" denotes the chart did not exist at that time. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Album or EP |
---|---|---|
"Sheriff" (Visu featuring Nemo) |
2016 | Sex & Röschti |
"Singer" (Dodo featuring Nemo) |
2017 | Pfingstweid |
"Legend" (Stress featuring Nemo) |
2019 | Sincèrement |
Other charted songs
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album or EP |
---|---|---|---|
SWI [10] | |||
"Ke bock" | 2017 | 31 | Momänt-Kids |
"Kunstwärch" | 90 | Fundbüro |
Awards and achievements
Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy Star Night | 2017 | Energy Music Award | Themself | Won | [37] |
Prix Walo | Best Newcomer | Won | [38] | ||
Swiss Music Awards | Best Talent | Won | [39] | ||
2018 | Best Male Solo Act | Won | [40][41] | ||
Best Breaking Act | Won | ||||
Best Live Act | Won | ||||
Best Hit | "Du" | Won | |||
OUTmusic Award | 2024 | Eurovision Song of the Year | The Code | Won | [42] |
Eurostory Award | Best Lyrics | Won | [43] |
Notes
- ^ Nemo is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.
References
- ^ Tuchschmid, Benno (14 October 2016). "Dieser 17-jährige Zahnspangenträger wird der nächste Mundart-Rap-Star". Aargauer Zeitung (in Swiss High German). Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- ^ Vallicotti, Simona (2 February 2016). "Nemo: Ein 16-Jähriger trocknet die Schweizer Rapszene ab" (in Swiss High German). SRG SSR. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Fox, Hilary (8 May 2024). "Nemo, among the favorites at Eurovision, is finding acceptance onstage and off". AP News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Switzerland wins Eurovision as chaos engulfs iconic song contest". Sky News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Marzi, Mattia (12 May 2024). "Nemo, chi è la star non binaria che ha vinto l'Eurovision". Rockol (in Italian). Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Nemo gewinnt Eurovision Song Contest 2024". ZHdK (in German). Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b Marshall, Alex (11 May 2024). "Will Nemo, from Switzerland, be Eurovision's first nonbinary star?". The New York Times. ProQuest 3053575322. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Switzerland: It's Nemo for Eurovision 2024 with the song 'The Code'". www.eurofansradio.com. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ O'Connor, Roisin (11 May 2024). "Meet Nemo, Switzerland's Eurovision 2024 entry". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Nemo". hitparade.ch (in Swiss High German). Swiss Hitparade. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b "ESC 2024: Nemo ist ein alter Musik-Hase". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Künste, ZHdK-Zürcher Hochschule der. "Nemo Mettler «Best Talent 2017» | ZHdK.ch". ZHdK (in German). Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Feller, Michael (2 March 2024). "Vor «Sing meinen Song» und dem ESC – Was erhoffen Sie sich, Nemo? Den Sieg?". Der Bund (in German). Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Nemo outet sich als non-binär – «Weder Frau noch Mann»". Schweizer Illustrierte (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "ESC 2024: Nemo ist ein alter Musik-Hase". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 29 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Ascione, Arianna (11 May 2024). "Chi è Nemo, il concorrente svizzero vincitore di Eurovision 2024". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Nemo will perform 'The Code' in Malmö for Switzerland". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Oltermann, Philip (11 May 2024). "Switzerland wins Eurovision song contest after controversial grand final". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Brady, Kate (12 May 2024). "Switzerland wins politically-charged 2024 Eurovision Song Contest". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Pascoli, Andrea (11 May 2024). "Chi è Nemo, la popstar della Svizzera icona della comunità Lgbtq+. Sul palco con la bandiera del genere non binario". La Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Hopf-Sulc, Adrian (8 May 2024). "Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten". Der Bund (in German). Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Nadja Schnetzler. Reclaiming Journalism for Readers – the Story of a Renaissance, TED (conference) at Zürich, November 2017
- ^ "Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten". Der Bund (in German). 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Martino, Gaia (12 May 2024). "Chi è Nemo, cantante della Svizzera e prima persona non binaria a vincere l'Eurovision Song Contest". Fanpage.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten". Der Bund (in German). 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Nemo: Der Bieler Sänger auf SRK-Mission in El Salvador". Schweizer Illustrierte (in German). Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b Fischer, Martin (11 November 2023). "Nemo im Interview – «Ich fühle mich weder als Mann noch als Frau»". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (12 May 2024). "Nemo's winning song The Code is a Eurovision rarity – it's actually great". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b Veitch, Milly (13 May 2024). "Eurovision winner Nemo gets hero's welcome as they land in Switzerland". Mail Online. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Brügger, Nadine A. (14 May 2024). "Nemo macht, was Nemo will". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Nemo outet sich als non-binär – «Weder Frau noch Mann»". Schweizer Illustrierte (in German). Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Clownfisch EP - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Momänt-Kids - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Fundbüro - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Whatever Feels Right - EP by Nemo". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "2024 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Das war die Energy Star Night 2017" [That was Energy Star Night 2017]. energy.ch (in Swiss High German). NRJ. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "44. Prix Walo". prixwalo.ch (in Swiss High German). Prix Walo. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Stein um Stein: Die Gewinner der Swiss Music Awards 2017" [Stone by stone: The winners of the Swiss Music Awards 2017]. srf.ch (in Swiss High German). SRG SSR. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Swiss Music Awards 2018 - The Showacts and Nominees". loadsofmusic.com. 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Swiss Music Awards 2018: alle Highlights, alle Gewinner" [Swiss Music Awards 2018: all highlights, all winners]. srf.ch (in Swiss High German). SRG SSR. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Nemo wins the 2024 OUTmusic Award". OutTV. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Switzerland wins our Eurostory Best Lyrics Award 2024". eurostory.nl. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
External links
- Christof Gertsch: Nemo's Triumph. In: Tages-Anzeiger/Das Magazin, 9 May 2024 (engl.) (+ German version).
- Living people
- 1999 births
- 21st-century Swiss LGBT people
- 21st-century Swiss singers
- English-language singers from Switzerland
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Switzerland
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2024
- Eurovision Song Contest winners
- German-language singers of Switzerland
- Masked Singer
- Non-binary rappers
- Non-binary singers
- Pansexual musicians
- Non-binary pansexual people
- People from Biel/Bienne
- Swiss-German people
- Swiss people of German descent
- Swiss LGBT musicians
- Swiss non-binary people
- Swiss pop musicians
- Swiss rappers