Virtually famous: Alice Merton

That plain birth name belies an exotic childhood for Alice Merton.

The Frankfurt-born singer has moved 12 times in her 24 years so far, including stints in Ontario, New York, Munich, London and Berlin. Her single No Roots tells her tale: “I build a home and wait for someone to tear it down/Then pack it up in boxes, head for the next in line,” she sings.

Like its singer, it has become a globetrotting success – a platinum seller in Germany, Austria and France (number one in the latter) and top 10 in Poland, Belgium and Croatia.

It’s making inroads in the US too, where Merton has appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s chat show and topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart.

The song, with its restless bass groove, thudding drums and her weighty holler, is rock in nature but its instant catchiness is pure pop. Another big-voiced singer, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, has already proved that breaking in Germany first can lead to UK success.

Merton’s London show last week should help to add us to her list of freshly conquered nations.