Lily Fontaine: Last News

English Teacher‘s Lily Fontaine has given credits to her mother for the band’s debut album artwork on ‘This Could Be Texas’.The frontwoman took to social media to give the backstory on English Teacher’s debut album art, which was just released last Friday (April 12). The band are currently on track to land in the Top Ten on the Official Charts this week.Writing on X/Twitter, Fontaine shared: “To feel understood potentially takes the number one spot in the chart of experiences.

English Teacher and Richard Hawley teamed up to cover Joy Division‘s ‘Transmission’. Check it out below.The moment happened at the BBC 6 Music Festival in Manchester last night (March 28), midway through English Teacher’s set.Vocalist Lily Fontaine welcomed the fellow Yorkshire musician to the stage, saying he’s “a pillar of the Sheffield music scene, and he has the best jacket collection I’ve ever seen.”Fontaine then suggested they do a cover, to which Hawley quipped, “Yeah, we’ll do a cover.

English Teacher have looked back on how life has changed for them since their Mercury Prize win, and shared that they would love to collaborate with Fontaines D.C.Read the interview below, or watch it in full via the video above.The Leeds band spoke to NME while at the BRIT Awards 2025 this weekend. They were nominated in the Best New Artist category alongside Ezra Collective, Myles Smith, Rachel Chinouriri and The Last Dinner Party – with the latter ultimately taking home the trophy.On the red carpet, the band looked back at how life has changed for them since they won the prestigious Mercury Prize award in 2024 – beating off competition from Beth Gibbons, CMAT, Charli XCX and more.“Life has changed in so many ways.

English Teacher have performed a new song called ‘Billboards’ – check out the footage below.The Mercury Prize-winning band and former NME Cover stars have played the track four times this year, according to Setlist.FM. Its most recent outing was during a show in Montreal last Sunday (September 22).English Teacher were supporting IDLES on their current North American tour.

English Teacher‘s debut album ‘This Could Be Texas‘ has re-entered the UK Top 40 following their Mercury Prize win.The Leeds four-piece recently snagged the prestigious music prize at the ceremony held earlier this month at Abbey Road Studios.They warded off competition from the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more with their debut album, ‘This Could Be Texas’.Now, UK record labels association the BPI has reported an increased demand for the record. The BPI (which also organises the Mercury Prize) claimed that ‘This Could Be Texas’ gained a 1,073 per cent increase in sales in the week after the ceremony – its best chart performance since it was released in April this year.Other albums by Mercury Prize nominees BERWYN, Corinne Bailey Rae and corto.alto also saw sales increases of over 100 per cent.NME spoke to the band shortly after their win, where they said they would “continue to be honest” about their struggles as a band.“It was never a conscious [choice] to be like ‘We’re going to be one of those bands that does that’,” frontwoman Lily Fontaine explained.

English Teacher have spoken to NME about their historic win at the 2024 Mercury Prize, sharing how still strive to use their platform to help fight for a fairer world for artists across the UK.The Leeds band and former NME Cover stars – comprised of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden – got fans talking when they took home the victory last night (September 5) for their acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ – beating off tough competition from the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.Theirs was the first Mercury Prize win by a non-London act since Edinburgh’s Young Fathers won in 2014.Speaking to NME at the Abbey Roads Studio ceremony, the band opened up about how they were not expecting such high praise for the album, as well as recalling what the victory meant to them.“The response to the album has been incredible, we did not expect it at all. We were actually very worried about it and expecting the opposite, so it’s been surreal,” explained Frost.

English Teacher being announced as this year’s Mercury Prize winners.Comprised of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden, the former NME cover stars‘ acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ was shortlisted alongside records by the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.Today (September 5), the Leeds four-piece were announced as this year’s winners. While announcing their victory, guest presenter, 6 Music’s Jamz Supernova, said: “In the end, though, we did agree that ‘This Could Be Texas’ by English Teacher stands out for its originality and character.

English Teacher have cancelled the headline slots of their upcoming US tour due to “health reasons”.The indie band picked up their Mercury nod this summer (July 25), with the former NME cover stars‘ acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ being shortlisted alongside records by the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.The band were due to head out to the US this month, kicking off in Texas in two weeks (September 11) and embarking on a 16 night tour that finished up in Los Angeles.They wrote on Twitter: “For health reasons we have decided to cancel the headline shows of our upcoming US tour. There is no need for concern,” the reassured fans, before adding: “but we ask that you forgive us for the disappointment this may cause.

English Teacher have announced a special one-off free hometown show to take place in Leeds tonight (July 31) to celebrate their Mercury Prize nomination.The show, which the band announced on social media, will take place at Brudenell Social Club in the city, in collaboration with Fender. Doors are at 7pm and the band have confirmed it will be first come, first served.The indie band picked up their Mercury nod last week (July 25), with the former NME cover stars‘ acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ being shortlisted alongside records by the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.FREE ENTRY SHOW TOMORROW AT @Nath_Brudenell IN COLLAB WITH @Fender TO CELEBRATE THE BIG NEWS 7pm first come, first serve xxxxx pic.twitter.com/u48k7KomqE— English Teacher (@Englishteac_her) July 30, 2024Since receiving the news, the band have spoken to NME about what it means to be nominated, with frontwoman Lily Fontaine describing it as “mental”, and calling this year’s list of nominees “the best year yet.

English Teacher have spoken to NME about being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, their ‘rivalry’ with Beyoncé and progress on their second album.The Leeds indie upstarts received the Mercury nod yesterday (Thursday July 25), with the former NME cover stars‘ acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ being shortlisted alongside records by the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.Asked by NME about what it meant to be nominated, frontwoman Lily Fontaine described it as “mental” and called this year’s nominees as “the best year yet. Not just because we’re on it!”Quizzed on what ‘This Could Be Texas’ tells us about life in 2024, guitarist Lewis Whiting said that it aimed to capture the idea “that places are often far apart are often eerily similar”.A post shared by NME (@nmemagazine)For a band who have been very vocal about how difficult it is for artists to survive and thrive in the current climate, English Teacher said that the honour felt all the more profound.“There’s a lot of temptation to not continue making music because you physically can’t,” Fontaine admitted.

English Teacher have a shared a soothing cover of Billie Eilish’s recent single ‘Birds Of A Feather’.The rising indie rockers and former NME Cover stars performed a downbeat version of the track on Jack Saunders’ New Music Show on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday (July 16). You can listen to it below.Speaking about why she did the cover, frontwoman Lily Fontaine said: “I remember the exact moment we chose to do it, I listened to the song and I cried and then I sent it to the lads.

English Teacher have spoken to NME about their love for Sheffield songwriter Richard Hawley and his Standing At The Sky’s Edge musical – watch the interview above.Speaking at Glastonbury 2024, vocalist Lily Fontaine, alongside guitarist Lewis Whiting and bassist Nicholas Eden, told us about their experience of seeing the show, which is currently playing in London’s West End. The production interpolates a slew of tracks from across Hawley’s discography, including 2006’s Mercury-nominated ‘Coles Corner’ album.“After our recent New York show, I went outside and a guy came up to me and said, ‘I really enjoyed the set. I live here but I’m from Sheffield’,” Fontaine said.

English Teacher have dropped their seething new single ‘R&B’.The post-punk band have shared the latest song from their upcoming album ‘This Could Be Texas‘, due out April 12 via Island. ‘R&B’ was previously released in 2021, and has been re-recorded for their new record.Frontwoman Lily Fontaine has said this single is about a former partner: “When I was with him I had writer’s block and to add insult to irony, the only idea I had was for an R&B top line – the genre people always assumed I worked in.“As soon as he ended it, I converted that top line into the lyrics and riff for ‘R&B,’ and took it to my three best mates.

English Teacher have announced their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’ and shared new single ‘Albert Road’.The Leeds four-piece will release their first full-length record on April 12 via Island, and the new track follows previous singles ‘Mastermind Specialism’, ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’.Speaking of the album, vocalist Lily Fontaine said: “I want this album to feel like you’ve gone to space and it turns out it’s almost identical to Doncaster.

English Teacher have shared their soothing new single ‘Mastermind Specialism’ – listen to it below.The new track from the Leeds four-piece follows previous singles ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’.Speaking about the track, singer Lily Fontaine said via a press release: “Decision paralysis is an ache that has murmured in me through sitting on smaller fences, through to questioning my theology, my sexuality, my career and so on.“Watching Jaco Van Dormael’s incredible sci-fi/fantasy Mr Nobody put the cause and effect of this issue into perspective; my life has been consistent in its inconsistency. 12 different houses across the country and mixed-race I’ve always been a bit in-between and I think that’s where this song, and a lot of the songs we’re due to release, come from.”The band have also announced plans for a new show in London at Electric Brixton on May 29 next year.

English Teacher have been announced as the ambassadors for next year’s Independent Venue Week.The next edition of the popular celebration of grassroots music venues returns on January 29, 2024, with the aim of encouraging fans to start the new year by visiting their local venue for a gig. Venues up and down the country come together with artists, promoters, agents, record labels and media to put on special live events across the UK to highlight and celebrate the work they do.Altogether, 205 venues in the UK have signed up to participate this year and the artists confirmed to perform that week include The Zutons, CVC, Steve Mason, Hinds, Peaness, Skinny Living and TVAM.

English Teacher have shared their spirited new single ‘Nearly Daffodils’ – listen to it below.The new track from the Leeds four-piece sees vocalist Lily Fontaine pair propulsive pop-rock instrumentals with challenging self-realisations.“‘Nearly Daffodils’ is about heartbreak and acceptance of unfulfilled potential,” she said in a press statement. “How, no matter how much you may want something, no matter how much effort you may put into something’s growth or development, no matter how beautiful you can envision its fruition; life is a bitch and about as unstoppable as a freight train”.Listen to the new track below.English Teacher recently recalled their struggle with imposter syndrome, revealing to NME how their growing confidence has allowed them to enter “a new era”.The band – also comprising guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost and bassist Nicholas Eden – spoke with NME as the latest cover stars and revealed how they overcame self-doubt in recent months.The discussion also came in light of their recent single ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ – a track which was originally made in 2020, and reworked to be released in the summer.“The song truly feels like the start of a new era for us,” said Whiting.

English Teacher have recalled their struggle with imposter syndrome, and revealed how their growing confidence has allowed them to enter “a new era”.The emerging Leeds band – comprised of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost and bassist Nicholas Eden – spoke with NME as the latest cover stars, and revealed how they have overcome moments of self-doubt over recent months.In the discussion, the band opened up about their ongoing battle with self-doubt and recalled the ways that their slots at mammoth festivals including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds have helped them evolve as performers.The discussion also came in light of their recent single ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ – a track which was originally made in 2020, and reworked to be released last month.“The song truly feels like the start of a new era for us,” said Whiting, reflecting on how the band have grown in popularity since 2020. “It’s amazing to have all these people behind us but it is quite jarring; it’s been a mad two years.

English Teacher have shared their latest track, ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’. Check out the single below.Released today (August 10), the track is the latest single from the four-piece, and follows on from their hit track ‘Song About Love’ – which arrived at the start of the year and explored how love is a theme that is prominent in nearly all aspects of life.This time around, the members – Lily Fontaine, Douglas Frost, Nicholas Eden and Lewis Whiting – take an equally reflective view of the world around them, and explore how the social, economic and political landscape is a sharp juxtaposition from the beauty that can be found within the people existing inside it.“I wrote and recorded the demo in my bedroom in one day, during my final year of university in 2018,” the frontwoman said of the inspiration behind ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’.“Moving to a city for university forced me to reflect on how my experience of growing up in and around Pendle, how witnessing the social, economic and political issues that exist around there in juxtaposition with the beauty of the landscape and the characters that live within in it, has shaped me into the artist and person that I am.”These semi-rural stories leak into most of my writing,” she continued.