The nominees for the 2021 Mercury Prize for album of the year have been announced in the UK, with past winners Wolf Alice nominated alongside Celeste, Laura Mvula, Mogwai and Arlo Parks on the 12-strong shortlist.
The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist has been announced! 🏆
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
Congratulations to:@arloparks@berwynberwyn_@BCNRband@celeste@floatingpoints@THEREALGHETTS@Hanpeel@lauramvula@mogwaiband@nubya_garcia@SaultGlobal@wolfalicemusic #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/Z728zcSuXR
Wolf Alice took home the gong in 2018 for their second album Visions of a Life and are nominated again this year for Blue Weekend.
Mvula has received her third Mercury nomination for her just-released album Pink Noise.
Celeste, Mogwai and Parks are among the first-time nominees this year.
2020 winner Michael Kiwanuka joins Irish broadcaster Annie Mac, fellow solo artists Anna Calvi and Jamie Cullum, and other music industry professionals on the judging panel.
"Choosing one winner out of 12 albums that bring so much hope for the future will be a challenge indeed," said the panel.
The winner will be announced in London on 9 September.
The Mercury Prize nominations in full:
Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
.@arloparks on the title of her shortlisted album:
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"The name of my album 'Collapsed in Sunbeams' came from this book, 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith. For me there was a sense of biter-sweetness. I felt like the textures on the record reminded me of a sunset."#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/RsFwSBbS93
Berwyn - Demotape/Vega
.@berwynberwyn_ on being shortlisted for his album 'DEMOTAPE/VEGA'
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"a little bit unimaginable, a little bit unpredictable, a tiny bit overwhelming. I can't really think about nothing else but that's a good thing"#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/avWktilYs6
Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
Who are @BCNRband happy to see on the Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist alongside them?
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"Celeste, Floating Points with Pharoah Sanders and the LSO. Nubya Garcia as well - she's on another level. It's a massive honour to be shortlisted with them" 💫#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/FONwygVoye
Celeste - Not Your Muse
.@celeste on what it means to be featured on the Shortlist:
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"I remember watching it when I was younger and seeing PJ Harvey win. There was so much feeling of gratitude and wealth and appreciation for her and no bitterness from those that didn't win." ✨#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/ws9rooIjvs
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
I am honoured that Promises has been shortlisted for the @MercuryPrize. It was a dream to work with Pharoah and the @londonsymphony so I'm really pleased to share this with them. Thank you to all who have supported this record and congratulations to all the shortlisted artists! pic.twitter.com/ck3mUcnRau
— floating points (@floatingpoints) July 22, 2021
Ghetts - Conflict of Interest
Who does @THEREALGHETTS want to dedicate his album to?
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"God. The big man first and foremost, yeah. And, obviously, my Mum and my family and my Nan who's no longer with us." 🙌#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/meSJisnSRy
Hannah Peel - Fir Wave
Where's @Hanpeel keeping her Shortlist trophy? 🏆
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"In my studio to keep me inspired and keep my self confidence up when I don't have any"#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/IHMKFKDPhR
Laura Mvula - Pink Noise
What was @lauramvula doing when she found out she was on the Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist? 👀
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
"I was at home, on the sofa, playing Xbox with my housemate and my manager called!"#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/TtyG9QgDZ7
Mogwai - As the Love Continues
We are very excited to announce that #AsTheLoveContinues has been shortlisted for this year's @MercuryPrize!⚡️
— Mogwai (@mogwaiband) July 22, 2021
We are extremely proud of this record and want to thank everyone who has worked on/supported it so far. Cheers! pic.twitter.com/8f6zlbaU2w
Nubya Garcia - Source
"The Hyundai Mercury Prize is an invitation for people who don't usually to check out the jazz records to learn more about the scene. It's really important and really special to be a part of" - @nubya_garcia 💖#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/E847KinmKA
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
Sault - Untitled (Rise)
The mysterious @SaultGlobal's fourth album 'Untitled (Rise)' is one of this year's Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year 🙏#HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/FU05W1Ruur
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021
Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend
Blue weekend has been shortlisted for a Mercury!! So honoured and so proud :') @MercuryPrize #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/4gmqNJ7A9L
— Wolf Alice (@wolfalicemusic) July 22, 2021
