The nominees for this year’s Mercury Prize have been announced.
Black Country, New Road receive their first Mercury Prize nod for their debut album For The First Time. The likes of Arlo Parks, Celeste, Lauren Mvula, Mogwai and Hannah Peel also feature on the shortlist. As does Ghetts with his third studio album Conflict Of Interest. East London’s BERWYN features too, alongside jazz musician Nubya Garcia, anonymous collective Sault and electronic music producer Floating Points. The latter is shortlisted for his collaborative record with Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra, Promises. Wolf Alice are also on the shortlist with their 2021 album Blue Weekend.
The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist has been announced! 🏆
Congratulations to:@arloparks@berwynberwyn_@BCNRband@celeste@floatingpoints@THEREALGHETTS@Hanpeel@lauramvula@mogwaiband@nubya_garcia@SaultGlobal@wolfalicemusic #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/Z728zcSuXR
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
The 2021 shortlist was selected by the award’s judges. This year’s panel includes Annie Mac, Gemma Cairney, Michael Kiwanuka, Jamie Cullen and Vice‘s Tshepo Mokoena. The Mercury Prize award ceremony will take place at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, on 9 September.
Check out the full shortlist below, and revisit our track-by-track tour through Wolf Alice’s Blue Weekend.
Shortlist:
Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
BERWYN – DEMOTAPE/VEGA
Black Country, New Road – For the First Time
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & 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