Alice Merton by Danny Jungslund for Paper Plane Records ©
Alice Merton is a German-Canadian-British singer whose debut EP No Roots entered three different American Billboard charts and made the Top 10 across Europe in 2017.
Born in Germany and bred in Canada, she acted as a judge on the German version of The Voice and has also lived in America and the UK, where she dueted in Half As Good As You with BRIT award-winning popstar Tom Odell.
Her first record was followed by the single Lash Out in 2018, the album MINT in 2019 and the release of further work in the following years, including a track called Vertigo in 2021, which offered the opportunity to arrange this interview.
Vertigo was produced by Grammy-nominated Canadian producer and songwriter Stephen Kozmeniuk, professionally known as Koz, who has worked for the likes of Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Dua Lipa, and teamed up with Alice to turn into music some unexpected feeling of panic and vertigo she once experienced on a night out in Berlin.
Alice Merton is in today for a quick interview about her achievements in music and life.
Alice, what achievements are you most proud of?
I’m proud that we were able to play various festivals like Coachella and perform on late-night shows in the US. But also growing a fanbase and having more and more people show up at concerts.
How do you feel when you hear one of your songs playing on the radio?
I am honestly ecstatic when I hear a song of mine on the radio. The feeling never really gets old in my opinion.
Which one of your songs are you most attached to?
I’m attached to all of them, but at the moment I’m definitely very attached to Vertigo. It was created in Canada, very near to where I grew up, and I wrote it together with producer Koz. The song itself talks about my struggle with certain fears that actually stemmed from a night out where I couldn’t overcome the feeling of vertigo before entering a club, and went home feeling angry at myself yet again, for succumbing to my anxiety of small and crowded places, when all I really wanted to do was enjoy the music like everyone else.
When you think about your own identity, which country comes to your mind first?
Hmm, hard to say. I am technically speaking British English, but I haven’t lived in the UK long enough to feel British. I think I feel more Canadian; even though I don’t have Canadian citizenship, it’s just where I grew up.
In what language do you plan your songs?
In English.
Who are your greatest influences?
I‘m inspired by people who aren’t afraid of taking risks. I think that says a lot about a person if they’re willing to give up everything for something they truly love and believe in. My parents are a big inspiration in my life, but also everyone I work with in my label. Music-wise, I would have to say that Regina Spektor influenced me the most in my songwriting and my approach to music.
What music genre fits you best?
I think it’s really difficult to categorise music sometimes. In general, I would say it’s alternative because it’s not really your everyday pop music.
What kind of music do you listen to, these days?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Twenty One Pilots and Lana Del Rey.
What do you think of today’s music?
I sometimes think that a lot of the music sounds quite similar and repetitive nowadays. I get excited though when an artist like Phoebe Bridgers comes along and mixes things up.
What was your dream job as a child? Did you have a plan B?
I wanted to be a figure skater, but I wasn’t that great at figure skating. My plan B was actually to go into finance or perhaps to open up a bakery – all very different jobs, I know!
In 2018, you performed a duet with Tom Odell. How was the experience?
It was such an honour to perform on his track; Tom has been a big musical inspiration for me since he put out his first EP Songs from Another Love in 2012, and I loved sharing that experience with him.
Are there any other artists you would like to collaborate with?
My dream collaboration would probably be with The Killers.
Alice Merton by Danny Jungslund for Paper Plane Records ©