Nemo (singer)

File:Nemo Trophy Press Conference.jpg

Mettler 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.{{Cite web |last=Marzi |first=Mattia |date=12 May 2024 |title=Nemo, chi è la star non binaria che ha vinto l'Eurovision |url=https://www.rockol.it/news-744359/eurovision-vincitore-svizzera-nemo-chi-e-the-code |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Rockol |language=it |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511232231/https://www.rockol.it/news-744359/eurovision-vincitore-svizzera-nemo-chi-e-the-code |url-status=live }} At the age of ten, they joined the Biel children's opera and performed in Mozart's The Magic Flute{{Cite web |last=Hämmerli |first=Rachel |date=2024-04-30 |title=Nemo bringt mit Bieler Sinfonieorchester den ESC-Song neu raus |url=https://ajour.ch/de/story/507954/nemo-bringt-mit-bieler-sinfonieorchester-den-escsong-neu-rauser-den-escsong-neu-raus |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=ajour.ch |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517144143/https://ajour.ch/de/story/507954/nemo-bringt-mit-bieler-sinfonieorchester-den-escsong-neu-rauser-den-escsong-neu-raus |url-status=live }} which was later used as inspiration for "The Code".{{Cite web |title=Eurovision 2024: Your guide to all 37 songs |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgy7l6er7vo |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515133118/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgy7l6er7vo |url-status=live }} At thirteen, they performed in the musical I've Never Been to New York. They also began rapping at this age, competing in Swiss contests and performing songs they independently wrote.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Nemo gewinnt Eurovision Song Contest 2024 |url=https://www.zhdk.ch/meldung/nemo-gewinnt-eurovision-song-contest-2024-7463 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513085035/https://www.zhdk.ch/meldung/nemo-gewinnt-eurovision-song-contest-2024-7463 |archive-date=13 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=ZHdK |language=de}} They found early success in battle rap as a teenager{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |date=11 May 2024 |title=Will Nemo, from Switzerland, be Eurovision's first nonbinary star? |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/3053575322 |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en |id={{ProQuest|3053575322}} |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517144145/https://www.proquest.com/docview/3053575322 |url-status=live }} and performed on season three of the Swiss television show {{interlanguage link|Die grössten Schweizer Talente|de}}, receiving praise from the judges.{{Cite web |last=NDR |title=ESC-Siegeract Nemo setzt Zeichen zur Selbstfindung |url=https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/ESC-Siegeract-Nemo-setzt-Zeichen-zur-Selbstfindung,schweiz1242.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.eurovision.de |language=de |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515085353/https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/ESC-Siegeract-Nemo-setzt-Zeichen-zur-Selbstfindung,schweiz1242.html |url-status=live }}

In 2015, Mettler released their first EP Clownfisch, under the name Nemo (CH), which peaked at number 95 in the Swiss charts.{{Cite web |title=Switzerland: It's Nemo for Eurovision 2024 with the song 'The Code' |url=https://www.eurofansradio.com/eurovision-2024/switzerland-it-s-nemo-for-eurovision-2024-with-the-song-the-code |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=www.eurofansradio.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514084243/https://www.eurofansradio.com/eurovision-2024/switzerland-it-s-nemo-for-eurovision-2024-with-the-song-the-code |url-status=live }} In 2016, when they were seventeen, Mettler's single "Cypher" went viral. In 2017, they released the EPs Momänt-Kids and Fundbüro under the name Nemo (CH). Fundbüro contained the single "Du",{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=11 May 2024 |title=Meet Nemo, Switzerland's Eurovision 2024 entry |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/eurovision/nemo-eurovision-2024-switzerland-the-code-lyrics-b2543324.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511234342/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/eurovision/nemo-eurovision-2024-switzerland-the-code-lyrics-b2543324.html |archive-date=11 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en}} which reached number 4 in Switzerland. "Ke Bock" and "Himalaya" also charted. In the same year they studied solo singing in jazz and pop at Zurich University of the Arts,{{Cite web |last=Künste |first=ZHdK-Zürcher Hochschule der |title=Nemo Mettler «Best Talent 2017» {{!}} ZHdK.ch |url=https://www.zhdk.ch/meldung/892 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=ZHdK |language=de |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512050423/https://www.zhdk.ch/meldung/892 |url-status=live }} won the SRF 3 Best Talent prize, and later settled in Berlin to pursue their music career.{{Cite web |last=Feller |first=Michael |date=2 March 2024 |title=Vor «Sing meinen Song» und dem ESC – Was erhoffen Sie sich, Nemo? Den Sieg? |url=https://www.derbund.ch/vor-sing-meinen-song-und-esc-erhofft-sich-nemo-den-sieg-132065164215 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Der Bund |language=de |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309124535/https://www.derbund.ch/vor-sing-meinen-song-und-esc-erhofft-sich-nemo-den-sieg-132065164215 |url-status=live }} In 2018, Mettler won four Swiss Music Prizes, including best song of the year for Du and best concert performance of the year.{{Cite web |date=29 February 2024 |title=ESC 2024: Nemo ist ein alter Musik-Hase |url=https://www.srf.ch/radio-srf-3/musik/eurovision-song-contest-2024-swiss-music-awards-und-viral-rap-nemo-ist-ein-alter-musik-hase |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de |archive-date=29 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429112240/https://www.srf.ch/radio-srf-3/musik/eurovision-song-contest-2024-swiss-music-awards-und-viral-rap-nemo-ist-ein-alter-musik-hase |url-status=live }}

After staying in Los Angeles in 2020, Mettler decided to switch from singing in Swiss German to English.{{Cite web |title=Nemo outet sich als non-binär – «Weder Frau noch Mann» |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/people/swiss-stars/nemo-outet-sich-als-non-binar-656070 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de-CH |archive-date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517144145/https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/people/swiss-stars/nemo-outet-sich-als-non-binar-656070 |url-status=live}} On the second season of The Masked Singer Switzerland in 2021, they were unmasked as a panda and finished in fifth place.{{Cite web|last=Ascione |first=Arianna |date=11 May 2024 |title=Chi è Nemo, il concorrente svizzero vincitore di Eurovision 2024 |url=https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/eurovision/24_maggio_12/nemo-chi-e-il-concorrente-svizzero-vincitore-di-eurovision-2024-b28be4f8-b4c4-4b62-8aff-f82c94588xlk.shtml |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512010416/https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/eurovision/24_maggio_12/nemo-chi-e-il-concorrente-svizzero-vincitore-di-eurovision-2024-b28be4f8-b4c4-4b62-8aff-f82c94588xlk.shtml |url-status=live }} In 2022, they released their EP Whatever Feels Right, this time under the name Nemo. On 29 February 2024, they were announced as the {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=2024|t=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.{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/nemo-the-code-malmo-switzerland|title=Nemo will perform 'The Code' in Malmö for Switzerland|work=Eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU|date=29 February 2024|access-date=29 February 2024|archive-date=29 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229100145/https://eurovision.tv/story/nemo-the-code-malmo-switzerland|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=11 May 2024 |title=Switzerland wins Eurovision song contest after controversial grand final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/12/switzerland-wins-eurovision-song-contest-after-controversial-grand-final |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=The Observer |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513084856/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/12/switzerland-wins-eurovision-song-contest-after-controversial-grand-final |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Brady |first=Kate |date=12 May 2024 |title=Switzerland wins politically-charged 2024 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/05/11/eurovision-2024-winner-final-joost-klein/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}

File:Nemo Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Final Malmö dress rehearsal semi 2 06 (cropped).jpg]]Nemo Mettler was born in Biel/Bienne in the canton of Bern.{{Cite web |last=Pascoli |first=Andrea |date=11 May 2024 |title=Chi è Nemo, la popstar della Svizzera icona della comunità Lgbtq+. Sul palco con la bandiera del genere non binario |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2024/05/12/news/nemo_svizzera_vincitore_eurovision_2024-422918309/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=La Repubblica |language=it |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511233719/https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2024/05/12/news/nemo_svizzera_vincitore_eurovision_2024-422918309/ |url-status=live}} Their father, Markus Mettler, is an entrepreneur and inventor, and mother, Nadja Schnetzler, a journalist.{{Cite web |last=Hopf-Sulc |first=Adrian |date=8 May 2024 |title=Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten |url=https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Der Bund |language=de |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511213726/https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |url-status=live}} Nemo's sister, Ella, is a photographer.{{Cite web |date=8 May 2024 |title=Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten |url=https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Der Bund |language=de |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511213726/https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |url-status=live}} She collaborates with Nemo in the artistic direction of their projects.{{Cite web |last=Martino |first=Gaia |date=12 May 2024 |title=Chi è Nemo, cantante della Svizzera e prima persona non binaria a vincere l'Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.fanpage.it/spettacolo/eventi/chi-e-nemo-cantante-della-svizzera-e-prima-persona-non-binaria-a-vincere-leurovision-song-contest/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Fanpage.it |language=it |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512082609/https://www.fanpage.it/spettacolo/eventi/chi-e-nemo-cantante-della-svizzera-e-prima-persona-non-binaria-a-vincere-leurovision-song-contest/ |url-status=live}} 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."{{Cite web |date=8 May 2024 |title=Ideenlabor Brainstore in Biel – Wie Nemos Eltern die schrägste Fabrik der Schweiz gründeten |url=https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Der Bund |language=de |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511213726/https://www.derbund.ch/nemos-eltern-gruendeten-die-ideenfabrik-brainstore-in-biel-190822068877 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Nemo: Der Bieler Sänger auf SRK-Mission in El Salvador |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/nemo-der-bieler-saenger-auf-srk-mission-in-el-salvador |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de|archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512152006/https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/nemo-der-bieler-saenger-auf-srk-mission-in-el-salvador |url-status=live}}

In 2022, Mettler came out as pansexual via an Instagram story,{{cite news |last1=Linder |first1=Armin T. |date=14 May 2024 |title=ESC-Star Nemo ist pansexuell und non-binär: So nahm Freundin das Coming-Out auf |url=https://www.merkur.de/boulevard/nemo-eurovision-song-contest-non-binaer-pansexuell-bedeutung-freundin-schweiz-93069666.html |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=Münchner Merkur |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514133610/http://www.merkur.de/boulevard/nemo-eurovision-song-contest-non-binaer-pansexuell-bedeutung-freundin-schweiz-93069666.html |url-status=live }} and as of 2024, they have been in a five-year relationship with their girlfriend, who was the first person they came out as non-binary to.{{cite news |last1=Brügger |first1=Nadine A. |date=14 May 2024 |title=Nemo macht, was Nemo will |url=https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/gewinnt-nemo-fuer-die-schweiz-den-esc-ld.1825815 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512023458/https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/gewinnt-nemo-fuer-die-schweiz-den-esc-ld.1825815 |archive-date=12 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung}}

In November 2023, Mettler publicly came out as non-binary in an article in the SonntagsZeitung,{{cite web |last=Fischer |first=Martin |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/neue-musik-von-nemo-nonbinaer-und-vorerst-nur-noch-auf-englisch-474168042237 |title=Nemo im Interview – «Ich fühle mich weder als Mann noch als Frau» |date=11 November 2023 |work=Tages-Anzeiger |language=de|accessdate=12 November 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227093553/https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/neue-musik-von-nemo-nonbinaer-und-vorerst-nur-noch-auf-englisch-474168042237 |url-status=live}} after being closeted since around 2021. In the article, Mettler also stated that they prefer to be referred to by their given name, Nemo, instead of pronouns in German, and by they/them pronouns in English.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Czg2tCzIoZZ/ |title=Czg2tCzIoZZ@nemothings |quote=My pronouns are they/them, and I’m equally comfortable if you simply use Nemo without any pronouns, especially in German. |date=11 November 2023 |access-date=2 June 2024 |author=Nemo |via=Instagram |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240602043253/https://www.instagram.com/p/Czg2tCzIoZZ/ | archive-date=2 June 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Schmit |first1=Sandy | title=Who is Nemo, this year's Eurovision winner? |url=https://eurovision.rtl.lu/news/a/2195083.html |date=12 May 2024 |access-date=2 June 2024 |agency=RTL Group |series=RTL Today | quote=Nemo has expressed that...they identify as non-binary and use they/them pronouns.| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514122452/https://eurovision.rtl.lu/news/a/2195083.html | archive-date=14 May 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |date=12 May 2024 |title=Nemo's winning song The Code is a Eurovision rarity – it's actually great |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/eurovision-nemo-mettler-the-code-winning-song-review/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512003810/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/eurovision-nemo-mettler-the-code-winning-song-review/ |url-status=live}}

Mettler currently lives in Berlin.{{Cite web |title=Nemo outet sich als non-binär – «Weder Frau noch Mann» |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/people/swiss-stars/nemo-outet-sich-als-non-binar-656070 |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de|archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229131616/https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/people/swiss-stars/nemo-outet-sich-als-non-binar-656070 |url-status=live}}

Following their Eurovision win, Mettler called on the Swiss government to legally recognise a third gender, after this proposal was rejected in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Swiss government rejects 3rd gender option, at least for now |url=https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-gender-a48e05b6e5d0c307b3ead2bdd686f9a5 |date=21 December 2022 |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516174805/https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-gender-a48e05b6e5d0c307b3ead2bdd686f9a5 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Non-binary Swiss artist Nemo wins Eurovision Song Contest with 'The Code' |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/switzerlands-nemo-wins-eurovision-song-034708168.html |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512104014/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/switzerlands-nemo-wins-eurovision-song-034708168.html |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web|title=Eurovision winner Nemo urges Switzerland to recognise third gender|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/eurovision-winner-nemo-urges-switzerland-to-bring-in-third-gender|last=Kassam|first=Ashifa|date=16 May 2022|access-date=16 May 2024|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=17 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517144025/https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/eurovision-winner-nemo-urges-switzerland-to-bring-in-third-gender|url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Christof Gertsch: [https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/eurovision-song-contest-the-big-profile-nemos-triumph-798010279125 Nemo's Triumph]. in Tages-Anzeiger/Das Magazin, 9 May 2024 (English) (and in [https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/nemo-esc-der-favoriten-song-the-code-in-der-analyse-574799383854 German version Nemos Triumph])

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{{succession box

| title = Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

| years = 2024

| before = Remo Forrer
with "Watergun"

| after = Zoë Më
with "Voyage"

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{{succession box

| before = {{flagicon|Sweden}} Loreen
with "Tattoo"

| title = Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest

| years = 2024

| after = Incumbent

}}

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{{Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2024}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Swiss Act}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nemo}}

Category:Living people

Category:1999 births

Category:21st-century Swiss LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century Swiss singers

Category:English-language singers from Switzerland

Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners

Category:German-language singers of Switzerland

Category:Non-binary rappers

Category:Non-binary singers

Category:Pansexual musicians

Category:Non-binary pansexual people

Category:People from Biel/Bienne

Category:Pop rappers

Category:Swiss-German people

Category:Swiss people of German descent

Category:Swiss LGBTQ singers

Category:Swiss LGBTQ musicians

Category:Swiss pop musicians

Category:Swiss rappers

Category:Swiss non-binary musicians

Category:Eurovision Song Contest-winning songwriters