English Teacher was declared as the 2024 Mercury Music Prize winner, with the four-piece indie band being celebrated for their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’, as they were recognised as the best British or Irish album of the year.
Held at the Abbey Road Studios, in London, the announcement was made by DJ Jamz Supernova during the award ceremony. The Leeds-based combo beat competition from the likes of pop singer Charli XCX, Irish singer CMAT, rising star Cat Burns, and indie outfit The Last Dinner Party.
They beat other acts, which included Mobo award winner Ghetts, for the record On Purpose, With Purpose. Corto.alto’s Bad With Names was also nominated, alongside and Lives Outgrown by Portishead singer Beth Gibbons. Irish singer CMAT with her second studio LP Crazymad, For Me and pop star Charli XCX with her sixth studio album Brat. Debut records that made the shortlist included Early Twenties by singer Cat Burns, Silence Is Loud by jungle artist Nia Archives, When Will We Land? by the Scottish DJ Barry Can’t Swim and Who Am I by rapper BERWYN.
All 12 shortlisted artists received a specially commissioned ‘Album of the Year’ trophy, with the outright winners receiving a special trophy and a cash prize of £25,000. Above all, though, a Mercury Music Prize win is an opportunity to catapult wider awareness publicity for the winning album, is it would increase their profile, and those of all the other shortlisted artists.
Previous Mercury Prize winners include Michael Kiwanuka, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, PJ Harvey, The xx, Young Fathers, Skepta, and Primal Scream.
