Keeping a close watch Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, and its high-octave European leg? If that sounds like you, then the name Mette Towley is probably familiar — and for good reason. The multi-talented American performer is known to be an exceptional dancer, singer, and actress, with numerous credits to her name. And she’s just getting started.
Taylor Swift is currently on top of the world, and by the looks of it, she’s more than happy to share her platform and success. After touring with Espresso singer Sabrina Carpenter across Latin America and Australasia, Swift is all set to take Europe by storm with her Eras tour. And while Swift’s longtime friend Hayley Williams (and American rock band Paramore) has long been committed to opening the Europe shows, three new acts were announced last month, throwing Swifties into frenzied excitement.
Enter Benson Boone, Griff, and the one and only Mette Towley, who is set to open the Eras tour in London on June 21 alongside Paramore. An incredibly talented performer whose fancy footwork and strong presence has landed her gigs alongside Pharrell, J.Lo, and Rihanna, the rising star of her success has long streaked across the skies. Her recent Eras tour opening announcement, however, may just give her a well-deserved, hyper-charged push into the realm of super stardom.
But just who is Mette Towley, and how did she get started in the performing arts? We take a deep dive into her dancing, acting, and musical career, her notable accomplishments, her fiery Instagram page, and more.
7 things to know about Mette Towley, from touring with Pharrell to her fiery Instagram page
Modest roots, magnificent dreams
Born in Owatonna, Minnesota and raised across Severn, Maryland, and Alexandria, Mette Towley is of mixed-heritage parentage, with a white father who worked as an engineer, and a black mother who was an accountant. While Towley ‘railed’ against Alexandria’s small-town monoculture, she also thrived in her familial home under the guidance of two ‘army brats’ — her grandfathers, who both served in the United States army.
Her childhood experiences thusly served to imbue her with discipline, a strong work ethic, and a passion for music which persists to this very day.
A love affair with dance
At just five years of age, Mette was introduced to dance at student recitals from the Baltimore School for the Arts. She soon began taking musical theatre classes, drawing inspiration from childhood heroes the likes of Anita Baker, James Taylor, Chaka Khan, Pink Floyd, Lauryn Hill, and The Delfonics, leveraging her love of music to forge her path forward. While she lacked the confidence to jump into music straight away, she knew even then that she was meant for the performing arts. Further bolstering her education and qualifications, Mette earned a degree in dance from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.
A bountiful breakthrough
While Mette has been open about her mixed-race heritage, sharing that she ‘did not often see herself mirrored in the live performance space growing up’, her big career break would come swiftly, propelling her to great heights. In 2014, she was invited to audition as a dancer for singer-songwriter, rapper, and Louis Vuitton creative director Pharrell Williams. She went on to tour with Pharrell for over four years, expanding her network and making a name for herself among those who would see her succeed.
In 2017, Mette took centre stage when she landed the lead role in Rihanna and N.E.R.D’s music video for Lemon. In this breakout role, Mette is seen on-screen with Rihanna, getting her head shaved and strutting her stuff in an entrancing, neon-lit space. Her spectacular performance was greatly lauded, setting the stage for career growth and eventually paving her way to even greater heights.
A brush with Jenny from the Block
In 2019, Mette appeared in American crime comedy-drama film Hustlers alongside Jennifer Lopez, Lili Reinhart, Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lizzo, and Cardi B. The movie was well-received among critics, garnering an 87 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.3/10 rating on IMDb.
Cassandra, Cats, Barbie, and Taylor Swift
That same year, Mette appeared in Cats alongside pop culture and Hollywood legends the likes of Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, and of course, the woman of the hour, Taylor Swift. While Cats was universally panned, the experience allowed Mette a chance to expand her acting portfolio, creating all-too-important ties and a name for herself in the industry.
Four years later in 2023, Mette appeared in Greta Gerwig’s award-winning pop culture film Barbie as Video Girl Barbie. And for the rising star, who has spoken on her desire to remain true to herself, a cameo role in a film about empowerment and accepting one’s imperfections is perfectly on the nose. Speaking to Hurs in 2023, Mette shared, “The goal for me is always autonomy and being at the helm of how I’m representing who I am and my point of view.”
Dancing on Instagram
As a top-notch performer whose moves on the dance floor have garnered much attention, it makes sense that Mette’s Instagram is a fiery compilation featuring scenes from her life — much of which encompasses dancing. Like fellow contemporaries in the celebrity sphere, Mette posts the occasional endorsem*nt; however, it is clear to see that she truly comes alive when posting content about dancing.
Her Instagram page is filled with snapshots from her life as a performer, from behind-the-scenes practices to high-energy choreographed sessions designed to set the stage ablaze. The resultant narrative tells a tale of a rising star eager to do more, and ready to take the world by storm.
Musical marvel
While Mette kicked off her career as a dancer, she eventually stepped into the musical sphere in 2021, when she released her first ever single Petrified, along with a music video for it. Two years later in 2023, she released three other singles accompanied by music videos: Mama’s Eyes, Van Gogh, and For The People, all a part of her inaugural EP METTENARRATIVE.
Providing a stellar boost to Mette’s burgeoning musical career, Mama’s Eyes was nominated for an Ivor-Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, taking the top spot in the UK Club Chart and garnering over 7 million streams. This success was followed by Van Gogh, which similarly climbed up the charts to react No. 1 in the UK Club Chart.
In November that same year, Mette signed on to become the opening act for Jessie Ware’s UK tour following her first headline shows in London, New York, and Los Angeles. She later went on to perform at The Fashion Awards, an event widely hailed as the UK’s Met Gala.
With 2023 proving to be an exceptional year in music for the rising star, 2024 is looking to be equally successful. As of this year, Mette has released two singles, DARLING DRIVE and BET, both of which have been well-received amongst fans thusfar.
Beyond her personal musical aspirations, the honour of securing an opening spot alongside Paramore for Taylor Swift’s groundbreaking Eras tour means Mette Towley is going places.
And while her work as a dancer has captivated audiences for many years now, her fledgling musical career stands to gain an incredible boost from Swift’s massive platform. Fans of her music can certainly look forward to greater things in coming days — perhaps a studio album or two to truly cement her place in the halls of the musical greats.
(Main and featured images: mettenarrative/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is METTE?
METTE, or Mette Narrative is the stage name used by Mette Towley, an American dancer, actress, and singer.
– Where is METTE from?
Mette Towley was born and raised in Minnesota, USA.
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