Nemo, Switzerland’s astonishing non-binary standard at Eurovision – rts.ch

For weeks, Nemo has been at the top of the names mentioned by punters, who see him as a potential winner of the 68th Eurovision contest. His song “The Code” even exceeded four million plays on the Spotify platform. With this title that he composed, the 24-year-old non-binary artist talks about feeling neither man nor woman and the journey taken to find his identity. Musically, the song written in English is also very varied rhythmically with elements of rap, drum and bass and opera on which Nemo places a voice alternately high and low.

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Opera and musical

Nemo Mettler, his real name, was born in Bienne and today lives in Berlin. If his parents chose a first name for him with contradictory etymology (“némô” means to share in Greek, while in its Latin contraction “ne hemo”, it means nobody), Nemo will end up considering himself neither clearly as a man, nor clearly like a woman. Neither he nor she, but them.

But before that, it was in his hometown during his childhood and adolescence that music entered his life, early through violin and drum lessons. It was also in Bienne that he made his stage debut singing opera arias, before participating in musicals then taking up rap at the age of 15 and combining it with pop, he tells RTS.

Early talent

At the same age, he was spotted in the SRF television show “Die grössten Schweizer Talente”, before distinguishing himself in 2016 at the age of 16 by brilliantly improvising a rap in the SRF radio program “Bounce Cypher”. Virus. His technique, imagination and authenticity are praised. Everything accelerates from then on for the talented teenager.

He scored some record successes in the Bernese dialect (“Ke Bock”, “Du” and “Himalaya”) and won numerous awards, including four Swiss Music Awards in 2018. Nemo began a transition phase two years later, starting by writing and producing for other artists and now releasing songs in English. “The Code” is part of this artistic renewal.

“Commitment to the entire LGBTQIA+ community”

Very enthusiastic and honored today at the idea of ​​participating in Eurovision representing Switzerland, Nemo believes that this constitutes “an immense opportunity to build bridges between cultures and generations. This is why it is very important for me to commit to it as a queer person for the entire LGBTQIA+ community.” He also says he is very surprised to see people’s reactions and how much the message of his song “The Code” is appreciated by the public.

And all the more so as it takes on a very intimate dimension in his eyes. “I think it’s a very extroverted song and at the same time for me, it’s very introspective and very personal. When I perform this song, I can put all my energy into it. And when I sing live, I I am in intimate connection with my inner wounds”, explains Nemo in the 7:30 p.m. of May 5.

Authenticity that can make the difference at Eurovision

The sincerity and very whole and unique personality of Nemo are also praised by many observers. For Jean-Marc Richard, who has commented on Eurovision for RTS since 1992, this “makes all the difference” and adds to “his incredible vocal ability, his stage performances which are always on point and the interesting universal message he conveys in his song.

With “The Code”, Nemo could now include his personal story in a more universal story, where his non-binary standard could help Switzerland win Eurovision. An adult story this time, in short.

Comments collected by Marie Clapasson and Jean-Marc Richard

Web adaptation: Olivier Horner

The Eurovision semi-finals, to watch on RTS on May 7 and 9, 2024 at 9 p.m. Finale on May 11, 2024 at 9 p.m.

To consult, the file Eurosong 2024 of the RTS.

“The Eurovision Song Contest madness” can be seen on Play Suisse, from May 8 at 12 p.m. This special collection includes showcases and documentaries from current and previous editions.