🇨🇭 Road to Malmö: Switzerland

In the spotlight: Nemo

photo: EBU

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Switzerland.

Nemo

Nemo Mettler, known as Nemo, was born on August 3, 1999, in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Speaking German naturally, Nemo stepped into the spotlight in 2012, acting in a musical inspired by Udo JĂĽrgens’ famous song. By 2015, Nemo showcased their rap skills on “Die grössten Schweizer Talente” and released their first EP, “Clownfisch,” which made a splash in the Swiss music charts. Their 2017 hit “Du” climbed to 4th place, earning them the SRF 3 Best Talent award. Choosing Berlin as their new home in 2021, Nemo also participated in “The Masked Singer Switzerland” as the Panda, finishing fifth. A pivotal moment came in November 2023, when Nemo publicly identified as non-binary, adopting they/them pronouns. In a thrilling announcement on February 29, 2024, Nemo was chosen to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with their song “The Code,” promising an exciting performance on the international stage.

Non-binary artists in Eurovision

2024 is a special year in Eurovision. No less than three participants identify as non-binary. It is the first time in Eurovision that people, participating, have come out as non-binary at the moment of their participation. Apart from Nemo, als Bambie Thug (Ireland) is non-binary. Their pronouns are they and them. Olly Alexander already came out in 2016: “I feel very non-binary, and you know, I identify as gay and queer and non-binary.” However, he identifies as he and him.
The reason that this only happens in 2024 is the term non-binary. People who do not (solely) identify as male or female only use the term since not too long ago. As said, Olly Alexander used the term in 2016. 
Artists who later came out as non-binary are Jamie-Lee (2016, Germany), Rykka (2016, Switzerland), Montaigne (2021, Australia) and Roxen (2021, Romania).

Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest from the first moment on. They even organized the first contest in Lugano, ánd their contestant Lys Assia won it with the song “Refrain”. It took a long time before the second Swiss victory was there. In 1988, it was Celine Dion who did the job. In those years she was quite unknown and sang “Ne partez pas sans moi”. Oh, how things have changed since then!

The Bookmakers

Currently, the bookmakers think that Swiss Nemo will be the winner. Ever since they took over the first place from Croatian Baby Lasagna, their change to win is groing more and more. Who knows, next year we will head to ZĂĽrich, or Geneva, or Basel, or…..

The song

And this is the song:

 

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After the Eurovision Fame: Salvador Sobral
After the Eurovision Fame

After the Eurovision Fame: Salvador Sobral

Salvador (Vilar Braamcamp) Sobral won the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with “Amor pelos dois”, representing Portugal. What’s his story? Early Years Salvador Sobral was born on 28 December 1989 in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. He comes from a family of Portuguese nobility.  He also is a descendant of Gerrit Braamcamp, an 18th-century Dutch distiller, timber trader, and renowned art collector. Portugal officially abolished nobility and its privileges in 1910 with the proclamation of the republic. Even so, people still informally call Sobral a count. His parents, Salvador LuĂ­s Cabral Braamcamp Sobral and LuĂ­sa Maria Cabral Posser Vilar, raised him in a musical family. His older sister, LuĂ­sa Sobral, built her own reputation as a Portuguese singer and songwriter At the age of 10, Salvador appeared on the Portuguese TV program Bravo BravĂ­ssimo, a talent show for young musical minds.  Around his twenties, he competed in ĂŤdolos, the Portuguese version of Idols. He made it to the Top 10 finalists. Salvador Sobral initially studied psychology at the ISPA Institute in Lisbon but left his studies to fully dedicate himself to music. Through the Erasmus program, he moved to Mallorca, where he performed in bars — an important formative experience that shaped his artistic path. He later pursued formal musical education at Taller de MĂşsics in Barcelona, specializing in modern music and jazz, and graduated in 2014. Eurovision and Heart Condition When Salvador Sobral won the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with “Amar pelos dois”, he already appeared fragile on stage. Behind the captivating smile and delicate voice was a heavy truth: the young Portuguese singer was battling a severe heart condition. His health often failed him, which meant he couldn’t always attend rehearsals. Some fans began to see the lyrics of the song in a different light, since his sister LuĂ­sa had written it for him during his illness. The line “my heart can love for both of us” gained deeper meaning, as Salvador’s own heart was failing, and in a way, his sister was “loving for two.” In his winner’s speech, Sobral criticized much of Eurovision’s music as “fast-food music without content”, emphasizing emotion over spectacle. While many praised his lyrical honesty, other, including fellow contestant Robin Bengtsson for Sweden, felt it came across as condescending. He later expressed regret, calling those remarks “nonsense” and acknowledging that they were interpreted as arrogant. He also regretted labeling Eurovision participation as his “personal prostitution,” admitting he had been trying to seem funny and  rebellious   In September of that year, Sobral announced a forced pause in his career. He needed all his energy for treatment and recovery. The tension surrounding his situation grew, and it became clear that a major operation was inevitable. On 8 December 2017, the crucial step followed: a heart transplant in a Lisbon hospital. The surgery was successful and literally gave Salvador a new rhythm. A month later, in January 2018, he was released from hospital. His recovery, however, came with strict rules: no hugs, no crowds, and above all: rest. Sobral described this second chance at life as a rebirth. His voice, long affected by heavy medication, remained fragile, but he hoped to regain his full vocal strength. Behind the medical journey lay an emotional one. Before the surgery, Salvador, uncertain of the outcome, wrote a sort of will on his phone. His wish: to be cremated and have his ashes scattered into the sea near Mallorca. A quiet but powerful testament to how close he was to death. He has never made any statements about the precise nature of his congenital heart defect.     After Eurovision Fame In April 2018, Salvador and his sister LuĂ­sa received the “Order of Merit”, awarded by the Portuguese president in recognition of their contribution to culture. Shortly afterward, Salvador made an impressive comeback at the Eurovision final in Lisbon. Together with Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso, he performed “Amar pelos dois”and his new song “Mano a Mano” It was a symbolic return: an artist singing with a new heart, literally and figuratively. With renewed life and energy, Sobral embarked on a creative journey that took him from Lisbon to Paris, across Latin America, and finally to Barcelona. His path since 2019 reveals an artist constantly reinventing himself while staying true to his authenticity. In February 2024, Salvador made history again: he performed at the prestigious Goya Awards alongside Spanish singer SĂ­lvia PĂ©rez Cru; the first Portuguese artist ever to do so. Their collaboration grew into an intimate artistic project that culminated in the 2025 album “SĂ­lvia & Salvador”, recorded in analogue. The record captures their voices in honest dialogue; without embellishment, pure and deeply human. That same year, Sobral chose a new home base: Barcelona. For him, it was more than a move; it was a chance to begin again, far from the shadows of illness and recovery. Private Life In December 2018, Salvador married French actress Jenna Thiam. No grand spectacle, no flashing cameras, just an intimate ceremony in Lisbon with close family and friends. Jenna became not only his life partner but also his rock during the turbulent years after his transplant. Together they welcomed a daughter, who gave Salvador’s life a new dimension. For a man who had stood so close to death, fatherhood became a gift. In March 2024, Sobral once again showed courage and vulnerability: he revealed that he is intersex. His body does not naturally produce testosterone, a reality he had kept private for many years. By speaking openly, he not only shared his truth but also offered recognition and strength to others in similar situations.   Today, Salvador Sobral lives between music, love, and fatherhood. Once known primarily for his fragile health, he now radiates strength and serenity. His private life, marriage, fatherhood, openness about his identity, and his move to Barcelona, shows that he is not only a great artist but also a man who has embraced his second chance at life with both hands. Share

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After the Eurovision Fame: Salvador Sobral
After the Eurovision Fame
Anja Kroeze

After the Eurovision Fame: Salvador Sobral

Salvador (Vilar Braamcamp) Sobral won the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with “Amor pelos dois”, representing Portugal. What’s his story? Early Years Salvador Sobral was born on 28 December 1989 in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. He comes from a family of Portuguese nobility.  He also is a descendant of Gerrit Braamcamp, an 18th-century Dutch distiller, timber trader, and renowned art collector. Portugal officially abolished nobility and its privileges in 1910 with the proclamation of the republic. Even so, people still informally call Sobral a count. His parents, Salvador LuĂ­s Cabral Braamcamp Sobral and LuĂ­sa Maria Cabral Posser Vilar, raised him in a musical family. His older sister, LuĂ­sa Sobral, built her own reputation as a Portuguese singer and songwriter At the age of 10, Salvador appeared on the Portuguese TV program Bravo BravĂ­ssimo, a talent show for young musical minds.  Around his twenties, he competed in ĂŤdolos, the Portuguese version of Idols. He made it to the Top 10 finalists. Salvador Sobral initially studied psychology at the ISPA Institute in Lisbon but left his studies to fully dedicate himself to music. Through the Erasmus program, he moved to Mallorca, where he performed in bars — an important formative experience that shaped his artistic path. He later pursued formal musical education at Taller de MĂşsics in Barcelona, specializing in modern music and jazz, and graduated in 2014. Eurovision and Heart Condition When Salvador Sobral won the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with “Amar pelos dois”, he already appeared fragile on stage. Behind the captivating smile and delicate voice was a heavy truth: the young Portuguese singer was battling a severe heart condition. His health often failed him, which meant he couldn’t always attend rehearsals. Some fans began to see the lyrics of the song in a different light, since his sister LuĂ­sa had written it for him during his illness. The line “my heart can love for both of us” gained deeper meaning, as Salvador’s own heart was failing, and in a way, his sister was “loving for two.” In his winner’s speech, Sobral criticized much of Eurovision’s music as “fast-food music without content”, emphasizing emotion over spectacle. While many praised his lyrical honesty, other, including fellow contestant Robin Bengtsson for Sweden, felt it came across as condescending. He later expressed regret, calling those remarks “nonsense” and acknowledging that they were interpreted as arrogant. He also regretted labeling Eurovision participation as his “personal prostitution,” admitting he had been trying to seem funny and  rebellious   In September of that year, Sobral announced a forced pause in his career. He needed all his energy for treatment and recovery. The tension surrounding his situation grew, and it became clear that a major operation was inevitable. On 8 December 2017, the crucial step followed: a heart transplant in a Lisbon hospital. The surgery was successful and literally gave Salvador a new rhythm. A month later, in January 2018, he was released from hospital. His recovery, however, came with strict rules: no hugs, no crowds, and above all: rest. Sobral described this second chance at life as a rebirth. His voice, long affected by heavy medication, remained fragile, but he hoped to regain his full vocal strength. Behind the medical journey lay an emotional one. Before the surgery, Salvador, uncertain of the outcome, wrote a sort of will on his phone. His wish: to be cremated and have his ashes scattered into the sea near Mallorca. A quiet but powerful testament to how close he was to death. He has never made any statements about the precise nature of his congenital heart defect.     After Eurovision Fame In April 2018, Salvador and his sister LuĂ­sa received the “Order of Merit”, awarded by the Portuguese president in recognition of their contribution to culture. Shortly afterward, Salvador made an impressive comeback at the Eurovision final in Lisbon. Together with Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso, he performed “Amar pelos dois”and his new song “Mano a Mano” It was a symbolic return: an artist singing with a new heart, literally and figuratively. With renewed life and energy, Sobral embarked on a creative journey that took him from Lisbon to Paris, across Latin America, and finally to Barcelona. His path since 2019 reveals an artist constantly reinventing himself while staying true to his authenticity. In February 2024, Salvador made history again: he performed at the prestigious Goya Awards alongside Spanish singer SĂ­lvia PĂ©rez Cru; the first Portuguese artist ever to do so. Their collaboration grew into an intimate artistic project that culminated in the 2025 album “SĂ­lvia & Salvador”, recorded in analogue. The record captures their voices in honest dialogue; without embellishment, pure and deeply human. That same year, Sobral chose a new home base: Barcelona. For him, it was more than a move; it was a chance to begin again, far from the shadows of illness and recovery. Private Life In December 2018, Salvador married French actress Jenna Thiam. No grand spectacle, no flashing cameras, just an intimate ceremony in Lisbon with close family and friends. Jenna became not only his life partner but also his rock during the turbulent years after his transplant. Together they welcomed a daughter, who gave Salvador’s life a new dimension. For a man who had stood so close to death, fatherhood became a gift. In March 2024, Sobral once again showed courage and vulnerability: he revealed that he is intersex. His body does not naturally produce testosterone, a reality he had kept private for many years. By speaking openly, he not only shared his truth but also offered recognition and strength to others in similar situations.   Today, Salvador Sobral lives between music, love, and fatherhood. Once known primarily for his fragile health, he now radiates strength and serenity. His private life, marriage, fatherhood, openness about his identity, and his move to Barcelona, shows that he is not only a great artist but also a man who has embraced his second chance at life with both hands. Share

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