Alice Merton
A singer who turned a rootless childhood into a global anthem about finding home wherever you go.
Born 1993 (age 33)·German-Canadian singer-songwriter·Birthday: September 13·Millennials
Biography
Born in Germany to a German father and a Canadian mother, Alice Merton’s life was defined by movement before she could even walk. Her family’s frequent relocations—from Germany to Connecticut, then to Ontario, and back to Germany—meant that her sense of identity was always in transit. This nomadic existence became the bedrock of her artistry. While studying piano in pop music in Germany, she began writing songs that grappled with displacement. In 2017, she channeled that feeling into 'No Roots,' a stomping, infectious track that married a driving bassline with lyrics about packing boxes and leaving pieces of herself behind. The song exploded, becoming a platinum-certified hit across Europe and North America, a rare feat for an independent artist. Her subsequent work, including the albums 'Mint' and 'S.I.D.E.S.,' has continued to explore themes of belonging and self-discovery, establishing her as a thoughtful songwriter who crafts pop music with both emotional depth and undeniable hooks.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alice was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Alice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut single 'No Roots' achieved platinum certification in multiple countries, including Germany, Canada, and Italy.
- She founded her own record label, Paper Plane Records, early in her career to maintain creative control.
- Won the 2018 European Border Breakers Award (EBBA) for international success outside her home country.
- Performed 'No Roots' on major television shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Did You Know?
She holds dual citizenship in Germany and Canada.
Before her music career, she interned at a publishing house in London.
She is a classically trained pianist, having studied at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg.
Her song 'No Roots' was used in the trailer for the video game 'The Last of Us Part II.'
“I don’t have roots, but I have a home, and my home is music.”
