Mercury Prize: Last News

Various music industry organisations and a plethora of artists yesterday paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following the news that the British monarch had died, aged 96. The Queen’s death also resulted in the last minute postponement of last night’s Mercury Prize.The Queen’s passing was formally announced at around 6.30pm with a statement reading: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

Mercury Prize ceremony has been postponed following the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II died this afternoon (September 8).The red carpet for the event had previously been cancelled after Buckingham Palace issued a statement earlier today, which said that “doctors [were] concerned for Her Majesty’s health” and had “recommended she remain under medical supervision”.The 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony was to be hosted by Lauren Laverne and broadcast on BBC Four from 9pm-10.15pm BST and on BBC Radio 6 Music from 7pm-midnight.“In light of the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, we are so sorry to announce that we will not be proceeding with this evening’s event as planned,” Mercury Prize shared in a statement.“Mercury Prize will be communicating with guests and audience members over the coming days,” they added. “We thank you for your understanding at this difficult and sad time.”12 albums had been shortlisted for this year’s Album Of The Year award including Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’.Eleven of the 12 nominees were confirmed to perform live at the ceremony, which was set to take place at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.

Self Esteem has delivered a stripped-down cover of ‘Remember’ by Becky Hill and David Guetta while performing for the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s primarily a cappella rendition of the 2021 song considerably pares back the high-energy electro-pop of the original. For the most part, she’s accompanied solely by a group of backing vocalists providing harmonies, with some understated but effective piano chords towards the latter half of the song.Taylor also performed ‘Fucking Wizardry’ from last year’s ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, also with a relatively sparse arrangement.

Nova Twins have extended their UK and European ‘Supernova’ tour into 2023 – tickets will be available from here.The London rock duo, who released their second album ‘Supernova’ in June, were already set to play headline shows in Glasgow, Manchester and London this November following a run of North American and European dates.Today (September 5), it’s been confirmed that Nova Twins will return to these shores next February after wrapping up their forthcoming Australian gigs.The stint will kick off with two Irish concerts in Belfast and Dublin on February 10 and 11, respectively. Further shows will take place in Norwich (17), Bristol (18), Liverpool (23), Edinburgh (24), Newcastle (25), Leeds (26), Birmingham (March 2) and Southampton (3).A final gig for the 2023 UK and Ireland tour is scheduled for Brighton on Saturday, March 4.

Mercury Prize have been released, with Self Esteem, Little Simz and Wet Leg among the favourites.The 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award were announced earlier this summer.Self Esteem’s ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ is currently favourite to clinch the prize on aggregate bookies’ website Oddschecker, with odds of 27-10, closely followed by Little Simz’ ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’ at 3-1 while Wet Leg’s self-titled debut album has odds of 9-2.Gwenno’s ‘Tresor’ is further back at 12-1 while Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’ is 14-1. Nova Twins’ ‘Supernova’ is coming in at 16-1 while Kojey Radical‘s ‘Reason To Smile’ is at 22-1, closely followed by albums by Sam Fender, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler.Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’ is tied at 28-1 with Joy Crookes‘ ‘Skin’ while Fergus McCreadie currently has odds of 40-1 with ‘Forest Floor’.Speaking about her nomination, Self Esteem recently told NME.

Harry Styles has revealed that he is already working on ideas for his fourth solo album.The former One Direction singer released his third studio record, ‘Harry’s House’, back in May. It followed on from his self-titled debut (2017) and his second LP, 2019’s ‘Fine Line’.During a new cover interview with Rolling Stone, Styles spoke about his decision to play extended residencies on his current North American tour.

Sam Fender, Wet Leg, Self Esteem and more are all set to perform at next month’s 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony in London.Last month (July 26), the 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award were announced, including Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’.Also on the shortlist are Self Esteem (‘Prioritise Pleasure’), Joy Crookes (‘Skin’), Kojey Radical (‘Reason To Smile’), Nova Twins (‘Supernova’), Fergus McCreadie (‘Forest Floor’), Gwenno (‘Tresor’) and Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler (‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’).11 of the 12 nominees have now been confirmed to perform live at the September 8 ceremony at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Only Harry Styles is unable to attend, and will instead pre-record a special performance that will be broadcast at the ceremony.The 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony will be hosted by Lauren Laverne and broadcast on BBC Four from 9pm-10.15pm BST.

Self Esteem has shared a new version of her track ‘Fucking Wizardry’ – you can listen to ‘Fucking Wizardry – Block Them Edit’ below.The original song featured on Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s acclaimed second studio album as Self Esteem, last year’s ‘Prioritise Pleasure’.“Here is my new single ‘Fucking Wizardry – Block Them Edit’,” Taylor said in a statement about the track, which you can hear below. “It’s a song about trusting and believing in what you already know.

Gwenno has spoken to NME about her 2022 Mercury Prize nomination, as well as working with Manic Street Preachers, the chances of a reunion of The Pipettes, and memories of the “debauched” indie sleaze era. Watch our video interview with the artist above.The Welsh singer-songwriter was speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize earlier this week (Wednesday July 27), where her acclaimed third album ‘Tresor’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside records by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more.“It’s very surreal,” the previous Welsh Music Prize winner said. “It hasn’t sunk in quite yet.

Nova Twins have spoken to NME about representing rock on this year’s Mercury Prize shortlist – as well as their recent praise from Elton John and what the future might hold. Watch our interview with the band aboveThe rock duo were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their acclaimed second album ‘Supernova’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside records by the likes of Sam Fender, Yard Act, Harry Styles, Little Simz, Self Esteem and more – an honour they described as “crazy!”“We are so happy,” said singer and guitarist Amy Love. “It’s a bucket list moment, for us.

Kojey Radical has spoken to NME about his recent Mercury Prize nomination, and flying the flag for UK hip-hop. Watch our video interview with the rapper above.The Hoxton rapper was speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where his acclaimed debut album ‘Reason To Smile‘ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside records by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more.Before we started talking about music, we put it to the rapper in his mint green suit that he might well have been the best-dressed person at the launch.“That’s a fact,” he replied.

Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler have spoken to NME about being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2022 – and the secret to good songwriting and a magic collaboration. Watch our video interview with the pair above.The Irish actor/singer-songwriter and the former Suede guitarist turned solo star and record producer were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their collaborative album ‘For All Our Days That Tear That Tear The Heart’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more.Asked what spirit of the times the shortlist captured, Butler replied: “I don’t think it says anything about music in 2022.

Yard Act have spoken to NME about what this year’s shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2022 says about guitar music – as well as plans for their next album and working with Elton John.The Yorkshire band were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their acclaimed debut album ‘The Overload‘ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz, Self Esteem and more.They were in attendance without frontman James Smith, “because of the trains,” said guitarist Sam Shjipstone, adding: “support the strikes.”Asked what the Mercury Prize shortlist says about music in 2022, Shjipstone replied: “There’s quite a lot of guitar music on it, which is quite weird. People are finally realising that the guitar is the greatest instrument ever made!”Bassist Ryan Needham added: “There’s quite a lot of rage and unrest lyrically across the whole thing, which is nice to see.

Self Esteem has spoken to NME about being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2022 – as well as plans for her next album and quest to be a judge on Drag Race UK. Watch our video interview with Rebecca Lucy Taylor above.Taylor was speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where the Sheffield star’s second solo record ‘Prioritise Pleasure‘ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more.“I’m not being coy, but I can’t believe what’s happened,” Taylor told NME. ‘I’d really made my peace with being consistently underground and under-dogged.

The list of nominees for the 2022 Mercury Prize has been revealed with Harry Styles, Little Simz, and Wet Leg set to compete for this year's title. The annual prize rewards one outstanding British album.

Mercury Prize have been sharing their excitement over being shortlisted for the prestigious award.This morning (July 26), the Mercury Prize – in partnership with mobility app FREE NOW – confirmed that Harry Styles‘ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz‘ ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender‘s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg‘s self-titled LP and Yard Act‘s ‘The Overload’ are among the 12 records in the running for the annual Album Of The Year statue.The rest of the list is made up of Self Esteem (‘Prioritise Pleasure’), Joy Crookes (‘Skin’), Kojey Radical (‘Reason To Smile’), Nova Twins (‘Supernova’), Fergus McCreadie (‘Forest Floor’), Gwenno (‘Tresor’) and Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler (‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’).The winner will be announced during an event at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on September 8.Reacting to the nod on Twitter, Wet Leg – aka Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – wrote: “We’re so freakin lucky that we got to make the album that we made. These past couple of years have been full of surprises and unexpected adventures.“Here’s perhaps one of our fave surprises so far…Our debut album has been shortlisted for a @MercuryPrize!?”Elsewhere, Sam Fender said he was “so chuffed” that ‘Seventeen Going Under’ (NME‘s album of the year 2021) had made the Mercurys list.

Mercury Prize shortlist for 2022 Album Of The Year has been revealed.At 11am today (July 26), the Mercury Prize – in partnership with mobility app FREE NOW – confirmed that the 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award include Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’.You can find the entire list of albums shortlisted for the coveted award below.The awards show for the event will take place on September 8 at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Tickets for the event are now available for purchase here.It was announced yesterday (July 25) that a handful of musicians including Anna Calvi, Lanterns On The Lake’s Hazel Wilde, Loyle Carner and Jamie Cullum helped judge this year’s prize, alongside a range of broadcasters and critics.The Mercury’s official website has also noted that the 12 nominated artists will “receive a specially commissioned ‘Album Of The Year’ trophy, with the overall winner also receiving a winner trophy and a cash prize of £25,000”.This year’s Mercury Prize has also announced that it’s new headline sponsor is the FREE NOW mobility app as part of a “multi-year commitment from FREE NOW to support British music”.Last year, Arlo Parks walked away with the 2021 Mercury Prize for her album ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’.

The Mercury Prize is set to unveil the 2022 Album Of The Year shortlist this week.According to a press release, the shortlist of 12 will be unveiled tomorrow (July 26) in London at 11am. The list will be announced live by Nemone on BBC Radio 6 Music as part of a Mercury Prize 2022 special, and at a launch event hosted by BBC Music’s Huw Stephens.The awards show for the event will take place on September 8 at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.

The Music Venue Trust has announced a new partnership with transport app Free Now, which is also the new headline sponsor of the Mercury Prize. It will see Free Now underwrite the costs of 120 shows by independent artists in 60 venues across the UK.As part of the initiative, Public Service Broadcasting will play Peckham Audio next month.

Naman Ramachandran British music exports soared 13.7% to a high of £590.8 million ($709 million) in 2021, the highest total on record, per the latest analysis from British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the trade body for independent and major record labels in the U.K.The 2021 total is the highest since the BPI began its annual survey of record label overseas income in 2000 and was driven by a record number of U.K. artists, nearly 400, each achieving 100 million-plus global streams. These include superstars like Adele, Dua Lipa, Dave and Ed Sheeran, and several emerging artists, including Glass Animals, PinkPantheress and Rex Orange County.

A new report by BPI has revealed that nearly two-thirds of the biggest releases by domestic UK artists in 2021 came from acts born outside of London.