The 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist has been announced. The prize celebrates the year's best albums, released between July 20 2019 and July 17 2020.
Judged by a panel of musicians, DJs, journalists and music industry bods, including Jorja Smith, Anna Calvi, Gaz Coombes, Will Hodgkinson (Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times), plus Radio 1’s Annie Mac and 6 Music’s Gemma Cairney, they have selected a shortlist of 12 artists, with the overall winner to be decided on September 10.
The 12 nominees are:
Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
Released at the start of lockdown, four months ahead of schedule, Laura Marling’s seventh album had given her her fourth Mercury Prize nomination. Written from the fictional perspective of parents to a child, it is a package of life lessons wrapped up in song.
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
The pop phenomenon's second album is a chart-bothering, hit packed record, with ‘Don’t Start Now’ and lead single ‘Physical.
Porridge Radio - Every Bad
The Brighton-via London four-piece led by Dana Margolin, who describes their nominated debut LP as "about being really sad; my mental health and my friends' mental health. Performing these songs has helped me figure out a lot of things for myself."
We think it's safe to say that @porridgeradio were not expecting this! A deal is a deal Dana... 🐀 #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/HmPGOP4bxl— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 23, 2020
Sports Team - Deep Down Happy
The London indie six-piece’s debut reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart back in June, casting a wry eye on modern middle England.
Kano - Hoodies All Summer
Grime artist Kano has previously been nominated for 2016’s ‘Made in the Manor’, makes it back for a second run with ‘Hoodies All Summer’, which mixes old-school staples with skyscraper strings and cinematic production.
Anna Meredith - FIBS
The multi-instrumentalist, and the former composer-in-residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, her latest album is genre-bending and innovative.
Some words from @AnnaHMeredith on why she's so thrilled for her album 'FIBS' to be Shortlisted for the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize 💖#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/TtsRxg3iWQ— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 23, 2020
Georgia - Seeking Thrills
Percussionist and songwriter Georgia, the daughter of Neil Barnes from Leftfield, took a big step on her euphoric second album, released in January, incorporating house, synth-pop and dub.
Lanterns on the Lake - Spook the Herd
The Newcastle-upon-Tyne sextet’s fourth studio album, released in February, is an atmospheric, elegant and melancholic work.
Moses Boyd - Dark Matter
Moses Boyd's dancefloor-friendly kaleidoscopic jazz solo debut saw a fusion of grime, heady electronics and club music.
.@Mosesboyd_ took some time out to let us know what being Shortlisted for this year's Hyundai Mercury Prize means to him.#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/k3eV0MUxL0— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 23, 2020
Charli XCX - How I’m Feeling Now
Alt-pop pioneer Charli XCX’s fourth studio album was another 2020 lockdown DIY project, written and recorded in self-isolation from April to its release date on May 15.
Stormzy - Heavy Is The Head
The second album from the Croydon rapper Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., better known as Stormzy, drew in collaborations with Aitch, Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran, Headie One, H.E.R., and Yebba prior to its release last December.
Michael Kiwanuka – KIWANUKA
Third album released last November, and follow-up to 2016’s ‘Love & Hate' for the North London singer-songwriter.
David Wilkinson, Mercury Prize Chairman said: "This has been a difficult and challenging year, so we are grateful to all the artists and labels that have supported the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize by entering their albums. Thanks also to the hardworking judges who have spent the last few months in lockdown listening to all the albums that were entered. Creatively the past year has been an amazing year for British music."
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