The shortlist for this year’s Mercury Prize has been revealed.
As ever, the list features 12 albums by British and Irish acts, with the featured records all released between July 16, 2022, and July 14, 2023. Lankum’s (pictured above) False Lankum, which topped tQ’s recent list of the best albums of 2023 so far, is featured among the shortlisted albums, while there is also a nod for our favourite album of 2022, Jockstrap’s I Love Jennifer B.
Rounding out the shortlisted albums are Shygirl’s Nymph, Young Fathers’ Heavy Heavy, Arctic Monkeys’ The Car, Ezra Collective’s Where I’m Meant To Be, J Hus’ Beautiful And Brutal Yard, Jessie Ware’s That! Feels Good!, Loyle Carner’s hugo, RAYE’s My 21st Century Blues, Olivia Dean’s Messy and Fred again..’s Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022).
As with previous years, the judging panel is made up of figures from the music industry, including musicians Anna Calvi and Hannah Peel, radio DJs such as Jamz Supernova and Mistajam, and Jeff Smith, who is the head of music at BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2, and chairs the panel this year.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, on September 7. The shortlisted artists will perform on the night. Find more information via the Mercury Prize’s website.
