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Nemo (singer)

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This article is about the Swiss singer. For the German rapper, see Nimo (rapper).

Nemo
Nemo in 2024
Nemo in 2024
Background information
Birth nameNemo Mettler
Born (1999-08-03) 3 August 1999 (age 25)
Biel, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • violin
  • piano
  • drums
LabelsBakara Music[1]
Websitenemothings.com

Nemo Mettler (Swiss Standard German: [ˈneːmo ˈmɛtlər]; born 3 August 1999), known mononymously as Nemo, is a Swiss musician and singer-rapper who plays the violin, piano and drums.[2] They were the first openly non-binary act to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest, and later won the 2024 contest with the song "The Code". They were the first openly non-binary musician to win the contest, and the third winner representing Switzerland (following the 1956 and 1988 competitions).[3][4]

Career

Nemo at the press conference following their Eurovision win in 2024

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 nine to thirteen.[5] At the age of ten, they joined the Biel children's opera and performed in Mozart's The Magic Flute[6] which was later used as inspiration for "The Code".[7] At thirteen, they performed in the musical I've never been to New York.[8] They also began rapping at this age, competing in Swiss contests and performing songs they independently wrote.[9] They found early success in battle rap as a teenager[10] and performed on season three of the Swiss television show Die grössten Schweizer Talente [de], receiving praise from the judges.[11]

In 2015, Nemo released their first EP Clownfisch, under the name Nemo (CH), which peaked at number 95 in the Swiss charts.[12][13] In 2016, when they were seventeen, Nemo's single "Cypher" went viral.[8] In 2017, Nemo released the EPs Momänt-Kids[14] and Fundbüro under the name Nemo (CH).[15] Fundbüro contained the single "Du",[16] which reached number 4 in Switzerland.[17] "Ke Bock" and "Himalaya" also charted.[8] In the same year they studied solo singing in jazz and pop at Zurich University of the Arts,[9][18] won the SRF 3 Best Talent prize,[8] and later settled in Berlin to pursue their music career.[19] In 2018, Nemo won four Swiss Music Prizes, including best song of the year for Du and best concert performance of the year.[8]

After staying in Los Angeles in 2020, Nemo decided to switch from singing in Swiss German to English.[20][8] On the second season of The Masked Singer Switzerland in 2021, they were unmasked as a panda and finished in fifth place.[21] In 2022, they released their EP Whatever Feels Right, this time under the name Nemo.[22] On 29 February 2024, they were 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.[23] They won the Eurovision final on 11 May with 591 points, becoming the first openly non-binary performer to win the contest; they also finished with the fourth highest amount of points in the final in the competition's history.[24][25]

Personal life

Nemo at Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Nemo Mettler was born in Biel/Bienne in the canton of Bern.[26] Their father, Markus Mettler, is an entrepreneur and inventor, and mother, Nadja Schnetzler, a journalist.[27] Nemo's sister, Ella, is a photographer.[28] She collaborates with Nemo in the artistic direction of their projects.[29] 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."[30][31]

In 2022, Nemo came out as pansexual via an Instagram story,[32] and as of 2024, they have been in a five-year relationship with their girlfriend, who was the first person they came out to (as non-binary).[33]

In November 2023, Nemo came out as non-binary in an article in the SonntagsZeitung,[34] after being closeted since around 2021.[10] In the article, Nemo also stated that they prefer to be referred to by their given name instead of pronouns in German,[34] and use they/them pronouns in English.[35][36][37]

Nemo currently lives in Berlin.[38]

Activism

Following their Eurovision win, Nemo called on the Swiss government to legally recognise a third gender, after this proposal was rejected in 2022.[39] When asked in an interview who they would call first after their win, they responded with Beat Jans, Switzerland's justice minister, stating that "we need to have the representation in our politics". A spokesperson for Jans later stated that the minister had responded and was willing to meet Nemo to discuss the rights of non-binary people in Switzerland.[40] In response to the topic, Green Party member of the National Council Sibel Arslan wrote on social media that "a non-binary person who officially doesn't exist in Switzerland has won Eurovision 2024", and that the matter was "more relevant than ever", urging the Federal Council to act.[41]

Discography

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
SWI
[17]
Clownfisch 95
Momänt-Kids
  • Released: 21 October 2017[14]
  • Label: Bakara Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —
Fundbüro
  • Released: 17 November 2017[15]
  • Label: Bakara Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —
Whatever Feels Right
  • Released: 9 September 2022[22]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album or EP
SWI
[17] 		FIN
[42] 		GER
[43] 		IRE
[44] 		ITA
[45] 		NLD
[46] 		NOR
[47] 		SWE
[48] 		UK
[49] 		WW
[50]
"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 [fr]) 		— — — — — — — — — —
"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" 1 3 14 5 61 13 13 5 18 52
"Eurostar" 54 — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Album or EP
"Sheriff"
(Visu featuring Nemo) 		2016 Sex & Röschti
"Singer"
(Dodo [de] featuring Nemo) 		2017 Pfingstweid
"Legend"
(Stress featuring Nemo) 		2019 Sincèrement

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album or EP
SWI
[17]
"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 [52]
Prix Walo Best Newcomer Won [53]
Swiss Music Awards Best Talent Won [54]
2018 Best Male Solo Act Won [55][56]
Best Breaking Act Won
Best Live Act Won
Best Hit "Du" Won
OUTmusic Award 2024 Eurovision Song of the Year "The Code" Won [57]
Eurostory Award Best Lyrics Won [58]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Swiss Act Themself Won [59]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Switzerland wins Eurovision as chaos engulfs iconic song contest". Sky News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Hämmerli, Rachel (30 April 2024). "Nemo bringt mit Bieler Sinfonieorchester den ESC-Song neu raus". ajour.ch. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Your guide to all 37 songs". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "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.
  9. ^ a b "Nemo gewinnt Eurovision Song Contest 2024". ZHdK (in German). Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b Marshall, Alex (11 May 2024). "Will Nemo, from Switzerland, be Eurovision's first nonbinary star?". The New York Times. ProQuest 3053575322. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  11. ^ NDR. "ESC-Siegeract Nemo setzt Zeichen zur Selbstfindung". www.eurovision.de (in German). Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Clownfisch EP - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Switzerland: It's Nemo for Eurovision 2024 with the song 'The Code'". www.eurofansradio.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Momänt-Kids - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Fundbüro - EP by Nemo (CH)". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Nemo outet sich als non-binär – «Weder Frau noch Mann»". Schweizer Illustrierte (in Swiss High German). Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ a b "Whatever Feels Right - EP by Nemo". Spotify. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Brady, Kate (12 May 2024). "Switzerland wins politically-charged 2024 Eurovision Song Contest". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ Linder, Armin T. (14 May 2024). "ESC-Star Nemo ist pansexuell und non-binär: So nahm Freundin das Coming-Out auf". Münchner Merkur. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ Nemo (11 November 2023). "Czg2tCzIoZZ@nemothings". Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via Instagram. My pronouns are they/them, and I'm equally comfortable if you simply use Nemo without any pronouns, especially in German.
  36. ^ Schmit, Sandy (12 May 2024). "Who is Nemo, this year's Eurovision winner?". RTL Today. RTL Group. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024. Nemo has expressed that...they identify as non-binary and use they/them pronouns.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ "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.
  39. ^ "Swiss government rejects 3rd gender option, at least for now". AP News. 21 December 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Non-binary Swiss artist Nemo wins Eurovision Song Contest with 'The Code'". Yahoo News. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  41. ^ Kassam, Ashifa (16 May 2022). "Eurovision winner Nemo urges Switzerland to recognise third gender". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Nemo: The Code" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Discographie von Nemo" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  45. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Italy:
  46. ^ "Discografie Nemo". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Singel 2024 uke 20". VG-lista. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  49. ^ "Nemo songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  50. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 25, 2024". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  51. ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Nemo)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  52. ^ "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.
  53. ^ "44. Prix Walo". prixwalo.ch (in Swiss High German). Prix Walo. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ "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.
  56. ^ "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.
  57. ^ "Nemo wins the 2024 OUTmusic Award". OutTV. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  58. ^ "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.
  59. ^ Afinidad-Bernardo, Deni Rose (11 November 2024). "FULL LIST: MTV EMAs 2024 winners". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2024 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Sweden Loreen
with "Tattoo"
 Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2024 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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