nemo // arthouse

Step into NEMO’s world as he opens the door to his creative arthouse.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Get ready to step into the ultimate Arthouse, because Nemo has arrived with his long-awaited debut album. You may be familiar with just how wonderful this Swiss sensation is, having amassed hundreds of millions of streams with tracks like the hard-pounding floor filler “Eurostar” and blistering electro-pop romp “Casanova”. Of course, who could forget his ultimate achievement of winning the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with “The Code”?

Eurovision was the perfect stage for an artist like Nemo. A place where the weird and wonderful isn't just accepted; it's encouraged. A place where there are no rules or conformity. That’s exactly what his album Arthouse gives us. From the first knock on opening track “Front Door”, we are welcomed into the biggest house party. Nothing but creativity, and sounds play out in each room. “Ride My Baby” is a shot of serotonin packed with playful synths, euphoria, and major Mika-esque energy; in fact, those two could be twins with the way they create a torrent of happiness.  

Just a little under halfway, just when you think you’re up to speed with the switching of genres, sounds, and energy, the tempo rockets sky high with the EDM-fused “Eurostar”. The chorus feels designed as if to leave you no room but to shout out the words right beside him. What’s magical is the comedown from this goes into the gorgeous melodic piano playing of “Arthouse”. The storytelling alone sounds cinematic, and this is what makes the album such a great listen. It captures Nemo's vision, never staying still in one box. What starts as a slow dance shifts into a seductive number, a night of freedom for everyone to join in the fun. Arthouse feels like a mindset, one to enter open-minded, to be carefree, and to leave your cares at the figurative doors that he knocked open in the first track. Lyrics such as “They can never shoot me down. Welcome to my art house.” It is the perfect line to sum up his artistry.

Then, “Hocus Pocus”, a Halloween-fuelled track that throws eerie church bells, ghostly backing vocals and a touch of dark magic into the mix. Yet it’s not predictable nor corny. Beneath the theatrics lies a haunting tale, one of love, the fear of falling under someone's spell, and equal parts curse and enchantment. It’s one of the album's many standout numbers. 

“Black Hole” follows with some incredibly stripped emotional vocals, the kind that are very raw and heart-wrenching. But that sadness floats us over to the breezy “I Got High At The Party”, which is kind of how this album leaves you feeling. It’s soft and dreamlike; it’s a fluffy cloud trip with easy vibes and a steady drumbeat to let his vocals drift gently across.

And then of course the grand finale is the showstopping “The Code”, the song that captured Europe's heart and won him 2024’s Eurovision. It’s the perfect way to round up what is a phenomenally fun album. It’s packed with lucid dreams, pounding sounds, and vivid imagery – that is what music should be about. With 14 songs it is unpredictable from start to finish as each song offers something new, be it his operatic sky-high notes or low baritone sounds. This makes it a trip everyone should embark on. 

Arthouse is pure freedom; it’s the place to let go and yet let your thoughts shoot out into space. It’s a celebration and encouragement to not sit in one box and explore every colour. It’s vivid, and you finish this album with a sense of rejuvenation and wondering how you can put your own creativity out into the world. More importantly it feels fresh something we’ve not heard before and much-needed to push others into exploring their own artistry.