Arctic Monkeys, Jessie Ware and Raye lead the list of stars shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize which celebrates the best of British and Irish music
Rock band Arctic Monkeys received a nod for their seventh studio album The Car while London jazz scene’s de facto party band Ezra Collective have been recognised for sophomore release, Where I’m Meant To Be.
Singer-songwriters Jessie Ware and Raye impressed with their fifth and debut records That! Feels Good and debut My 21st Century Blues respectively.
British producer Fred Again earned a place with third collection Actual Life 3 and rapper J Hus also features with third offering Beautiful and Brutal Yard.
Other additions include British experimental pop band Jockstrap’s debut I Love You Jennifer B, Irish folk music group Lankum and their fourth album False Lankum and English hiphop musician Loyle Carner with his third album Hugo.
Rounding off the 12-strong list which was revealed today at Marylebone’s The Langham are singer Olivia Dean and rapper Shygirl for their debuts Messy and Nymph, plus, Scottish indie group Young Fathers with their fourth release, Heavy Heavy.
This year’s shortlist was chosen by a panel of music industry experts led by Head of Music, 6 Music & Radio 2 Jeff Smith and included Anna Calvi, Jamie Callum and Mistajam.
Last year’s winner of the coveted award , which comes with a cash prize of £25,000, was London-born rapper Lil Simz for her fourth album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
The new winner will be crowned at a show on September 7 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.
The 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW ‘Albums of the Year’ are:
Arctic Monkeys ‘The Car’
Ezra Collective ‘Where I’m Meant to Be’
Fred again.. ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022)’
J Hus ‘Beautiful And Brutal Yard’
Jessie Ware ‘That! Feels Good!’
Jockstrap ‘I Love You Jennifer B’
Lankum ‘False Lankum’
Loyle Carner ‘hugo’
Olivia Dean ‘Messy’
RAYE ‘My 21st Century Blues’
Shygirl ‘Nymph’
Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’
