S.I.D.E.S. is the second studio album by German-Canadian singer Alice Merton, released on 17 June 2022 through Paper Planes and Mom + Pop Music.
Background In a video interview, Merton revealed that a former collaborator gave her an ultimatum, threatening to end their partnership if she worked with other producers. She described the situation as deeply personal, likening it to having "a gun to [her] head", and shared that it contributed to emotional strain during the album's creation.
Rather than pulling from her distant past, Merton found inspiration directly in her present-day life — capturing moments full of familiarity and friction, comfort and anxiety. From the opening track "Loveback" to the cathartic closer "The Other Side", the album traces a visceral, emotionally charged journey. Reflecting on the release, Merton shared mixed feelings, saying she was happy the album was finally out, but nervous about how listeners would perceive it now that it was no longer hers alone.
Singles On 8 April 2021, the lead single "Vertigo" was released. It was followed by two singles, "Hero" and "Island," which were both released on 9 September 2021. Subsequent singles included "Same Team" on 4 March 2022, "Blindside" on 7 April 2022, and "Loveback" on 13 May 2022.
Critical reception
AllMusic described S.I.D.E.S. as a lyrically existential and confrontational album shaped by the pandemic and personal turmoil. The review also noted its darker, more abrasive sound and emphasized Merton's full creative involvement across all tracks.
Track listing
Charts + Chart performance for S.I.D.E.S. Chart (2022) Peakposition
Personnel Credits were adapted from AllMusic.
Executive Production & Management Alice Merton – primary artist, composer, producer, executive producer Anna Weigner – executive producer Heiko Mark – executive producer, management Paul Grauwinkel – executive producer, management
Composition & Production Beatgees – composer, producer Christian Neander – composer, producer Jenn Decilveo – composer, producer Jens Schneider – composer, producer Jonny Coffer – composer, producer Jules Kalmbacher – composer, producer Moritz Pirker – composer, guitar, mixing, producer Stephen Kozmeniuk – composer, producer Tim Morten Uhlenbrock – composer, producer Tobias Kuhn – composer, producer Paul Whalley – producer
Performance & Instrumentation Björn Werra – bass Moritz Pirker – guitar Ulrich Rode – guitar Sebastian Schmidt – drums Sönke Reich – drums
Technical & Visual Staff Matty Green – mixing Nikodem Milewski – mastering, mixing John Davis – mastering Sascha Bühren – mastering Aykut Aydogdu – artwork Chris Merton – design Henry Harrlet – design
References