The Hyundai Mercury Prize is an award which bridges the gap between commercial and underground music, with previous winners including James Blake, Portishead, The xx, Skepta and PJ Harvey, the latter of which is the only person to have won the award twice.
Now the 26th Mercury Prize will have it’s winner on September 20th 2018, and the shortlist of nominees has just been announced, among the names are UK rapper Novelist, singer Jorja Smith, Wolf Alice, Florence & the Machine and others, you can find the full list below.
Novelist – Novelist Guy
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
Lily Allen – No Shame
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
Everything Everything – A Fever Dream
Everything Is Recorded – Everything Is Recorded
Florence & the Machine – High as Hope
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?
King Krule – The Ooz
Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination
Sons of Kemet – Your Queen is a Reptile
Wolf Alice – Vision of a Life
Last years Mercury Prize winner was Sampha for his album Process. The award has reportedly given winners a noticeable boost in record sales in the past, with 2017’s winner also receiving a £25,000 cheque.
This years judges will include Mistajam, Clara Amfo, Ella Eyre and more, the judges said: “This year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize celebrates albums by musicians at all stages of their careers, but with a shared belief in the importance of music for navigating life’s challenges”