From Godiva Music Magazine Issue 1
With frequent moving around the world the backdrop of singer-songwriter Alice Merton’s adolescence, the influence behind certified platinum debut single ‘No Roots’ is clear. Born in Frankfurt to British parents, the musician spent most of her childhood in Canada and England. The former proved useful in aiding the songwriter in her musical conquests – it was here that Alice learnt classical piano and partook in singing lessons.
Relocating to her birth-country of Germany in her teenage years proved pivotal to the singer’s musical success. Picking up a guitar and writing her first songs here before finally settling in the UK has left Alice with a keen understanding of universal cultures.
When discussing how her cultural upbringing has affected her musicality, Alice confirms that “it has taught me to adjust to different atmospheres and to be more open to new sounds.”
Although her family now reside in Bournemouth, the singer is based in Berlin. While always finding her way back to Germany, the singer confesses to being excited to tour in the UK “it feels special to play in cities near my home”.
Subsequent to the release of debut album MINT back in January, Alice is now preparing to headline her first tour of the UK in March. Playing five dates across the country, including London’s Scala, fans can expect “a fun evening with songs that make them want to get up and move.”
Despite Alice not understanding the success of her hit single ‘No Roots’, the singer admits that the song is still her favourite to play live as she loves “watching people’s faces just light up.” This isn’t her favourite song on the album, though, that spot is reserved for ‘Learn to Live’. Alice enlightens that this track explores her fear of everything, “I’m not ever going to enjoy my life” she confesses.
As a contradiction, the singer struggles to pick a highlight in her career thus far as “there have been so many incredible highlights”. Finally, she settles on playing Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Showand James Corden’s The Late Late Show.
For Alice, accomplishments haven’t just come in the form of talk shows. ‘No Roots’ took the singer into the top 10 singles charts in 10 countries and gained Gold status in America. As well as this, she has toured with the likes of Vance Joy and The Killers. The latter was a big deal to Alice as she cites the band as a major influence and confesses that she would “love to collaborate with [The Killer’s frontman] Brandon Flowers.”
With ‘No Roots’ gaining multiple airplays on BBC Radio One, follow-up single ‘Lash Out’ sneaked its way onto the BBC Radio Two playlist. Now onto her third single from MINT entitled ‘Funny Business’, the singer has taken creative decisions into her own hands. Directing the music video herself, she informs of always having an interest in the film industry, even considering working as a screenplay writer. She adds “I loved this experience of directing.”
Having featured on fellow singer-songwriter Tom O’Dell’s track ‘Half as Good as You’, Alice confirms her love for his musical talents. However much she enjoyed the “wonderful experience”, the singer is much more used to working alone. Founding her own record label, Paper Planes Recordings International, in order to release MINT ensured musical freedom on the debut record.
This is evident, as her worldly progressive pop sound is splattered all over the album. It seems to work too, as she has racked up an impressive three million listeners on music streaming site Spotify.
The future seems bright for Alice Merton. Ironically, ‘No Roots’ has laid her foundations well for a strong career. Her feisty attitude helps too and although nothing is set in stone, there is one thing the singer can promise us: “I don’t do funny business.”
Alice’s self-directed video for new single ‘Funny Business’ is out now. Catch her on tour across the UK in March.
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