Charli XCX is officially bringing “brat summer” to the Mercury Prize – after being shortlisted alongside other artists including Ghetts, Barry Can’t Swim and Nia Archives.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter has made the 12-strong shortlist for the second time with her blockbuster sixth album Brat, the force behind the viral trend that has even become part of the presidential race.
Described by the star, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, as being representative of a “girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes” – the trend has gone viral on social media following the album release in June.
This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist also includes seven debut albums, including Cat Burns’ Early Twenties, Nia Archives’ Silence Is Loud, Barry Can’t Swim’s When Will We Land?, Last Dinner Party’s Prelude To Ecstasy, corto.alto’s Bad With Names, and English Teacher’s This Could Be Texas.
And Portishead singer Beth Gibbons, a former winner who picked up the prize with the trip hop act’s debut album Dummy back in 1994, is now nominated for the first time in her own name, for her debut solo album Lives Outgrown.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT also makes the list for the first time, for her second album Crazymad, For Me.
Like Charli XCX, this is also second time round for Ghetts, for his fourth album, On Purpose, With Purpose, and Corinne Bailey Rae, who is recognised for her fourth album, Black Rainbows.
Completing the list, rapper Berwyn first made the shortlist with a mixtape in 2021, and now returns with his first full album Who Am I.
This year’s winner, to be announced in September, will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ezra Collective, Little Simz, Arlo Parks, Michael Kiwanuka, Dave and Wolf Alice.
One of music’s most prestigious prizes, the event was set up in 1992 – with the inaugural award going to Primal Scream’s Screamadelica. Since then, it has been won by a range of works including Pulp’s Different Class, Dizzee Rascal’s Boy In Da Corner, and Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.
Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys are the most shortlisted acts, having been recognised five times each – although only Arctic Monkeys have a win. Interestingly, both the band’s frontmen have also been nominated on one other occasion; Alex Turner with The Last Shadow Puppets, and Thom Yorke for his solo debut.
PJ Harvey is the only artist to date with two wins, from four nominations.
The aim is to celebrate music by British and Irish acts, honouring the 12 best albums of the year as chosen by an independent judging panel – which this year includes broadcaster and writer Danielle Perry, musician and Radio 2 broadcaster Jamie Cullum, DJ and 6 Music broadcaster Jamz Supernova, DJ and broadcaster Mistajam, and The Times’ rock and pop critic Will Hodgkinson.
Albums by British and Irish artists with a UK release date between 15 July 2023 and 12 July 2024 were eligible this year.
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