Pulp and CMAT top contenders for Mercury Prize
CMAT and Pulp are considered frontrunners to win the prestigious Mercury Prize for album of the year, which will take place in Newcastle this year. Irish singer CMAT is leading the pack with her third album, Euro-Country, which expertly weaves themes of loneliness and national identity with sharp wit. Following closely behind are former winners Pulp, who made a surprising return with their album More, and Irish band Fontaines DC, whose album Romance propelled them into the mainstream.
Other notable nominees for the highly-coveted award include pop artist PinkPantheress, singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, and folk musician Martin Carthy, who, at 84 years old, is the oldest nominee in the history of the prize. Carthy’s album, Transform Me Then Into a Fish, showcases a reimagining of his extensive songbook after six decades in the music industry.
Rock band Wolf Alice, recognized for their album The Clearing, have been nominated for all four of their studio albums, having previously won the award in 2018. Likewise, local hero Sam Fender has high hopes of leveraging his third album, People Watching, into a win by providing a stark examination of working-class life in the northern regions.
The move of the ceremony from London to Newcastle this year is a significant shift, aligning with the music industry’s broader initiative to decentralize and provide opportunities outside major cities. Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, which oversees the Mercurys and the Brits, emphasizes the importance of showcasing talent from across the country, not just in the capital.
This shift has been well-received by artists like rapper Pa Salieu, a Coventry native who is also nominated for the Mercury Prize for his album Afrikan Alien. Salieu applauds the move, suggesting that the prize should tour different cities to ensure that young artists from various regions feel heard and represented.
The lead-up to the ceremony has included a week of fringe events in Newcastle, featuring performances from local artists and workshops for aspiring musicians. This initiative aims to inspire the next generation of talent and highlight the abundance of musical skill in the north-east region, which has long been overlooked by the industry.
The Mercury Prize ceremony on Thursday will be held at the Utilita Arena, with Sunderland native Lauren Laverne hosting the event. Nine of the 12 nominees will perform at the ceremony, vying for the esteemed award that recognizes outstanding achievement in British and Irish music.
The 12 nominated albums span various genres and styles, representing the diversity and richness of the music scene in the UK and Ireland. Full coverage of the event will be available on BBC television, BBC Sounds, Radio 6 Music, and BBC News, allowing music fans across the nation to tune in and celebrate the best of British and Irish music talent.