The Hyundai Mercury Prize will be held at the Eventim Apollo in London on 9 September 2021. The event will showcase album nominations from the last year and celebrate the craftsmanship to produce such projects, from artists to their labels.
Micheal Kiwanuka, who was the winner of the 2020 Mercury Prize for his self-titled album Kiwanuka, joins the existing judges on the panel, which includes Annie Mac, Jamie Cullum and Jeff Smith, Head of Music at 6 Music and Radio 2.
This progressive U-turn from artist to judge is exemplary to see, especially with current music bodies being criticised for their lack of representation both behind and on screen.
Ahead of the nomination announcements, Mercury Prize Chairman David Wilkinson said: “It’s been another difficult & challenging year – and we’re grateful to all the artists & labels that have supported the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize by entering their albums.”
“Creatively this is shaping up to be an exceptional year for British music – with so many outstanding albums released over the past year. So choosing just 12 Albums of the Year will be a tough decision for the judging team.”
The full list of nominations are listed below. 10 of the 12 artists have been nominated for the first time.
Nominations
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
Berwyn – Demotape/Vega
Black Country, New Road – For the First Time
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Ghetts – Conflict of Interest
Hannah Peel – Fir Wave
Laura Mvula – Pink Noise
Mogwai – As the Love Continues
Nubya Garcia – Source
Sault – Untitled (Rise)
Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend
The Mercury prize, unlike the Brits, exemplifies projects outside of the mainstream, allowing leftfield choices to bloom not due to their popularity but the work they produce. The Mercury Prize Awards show will commence on 9 September at Eventim Apollo.
For more information visit https://www.mercuryprize.com/
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