Leeds indie band English Teacher win Mercury prize

The indie band from Leeds called English Teacher has recently been awarded the prestigious Mercury prize for their first album titled This Could Be Texas. The band, consisting of four members, was established in 2020 at Leeds Conservatoire and later signed with Island records to launch their debut album.

In a review rated 9/10 on the Line of Best Fit website, critic Kieran Macadie mentioned that the band stands out from other post-punk artists, particularly those from south London, due to their unique "northern charm".

Appearing speechless as they accepted the award, the band members expressed that they hadn't expected to win in the first place.

"We never imagined starting a band," Lily Fontaine said in shock, as her bandmates honored members of the Leeds music scene like Nathan Clark, who runs the Brudenell Music Social Club. "So, what's next?" Fontaine asked.

They win a cash reward of twenty-five thousand pounds.

According to DJ Jamz Supernova, The Mercury was planning to honor the album as a unique art form. The judges recognized the album for being creative and distinctive. With a unique blend of surrealism and social commentary in its lyrics and a fresh take on the traditional guitar band sound, This Could Be Texas showcases innovative musical techniques. Each listen reveals new layers, making it a potential future classic.

Many people were shocked when the English Teacher's win was announced. Charli xcx's album, Brat, was expected to win as it had been very popular over the summer and even had an impact on the US presidential election. Despite this, Charli xcx was not present at the ceremony. Instead, her co-producers AG Cook and Easyfun (also known as Finn Keane) accepted the award on her behalf.

This week, English Teacher canceled their upcoming US tour due to health concerns. They had previously discussed the difficulties of earning a living as a well-known band signed to a major record label, who have appeared on Later... With Jools Holland and receive regular airplay on BBC 6 Music.

Fontaine stated that it is common for individuals to have accomplishments while also receiving Universal Credit, residing with family, or temporarily staying on friends' couches.

This year's event was held under challenging circumstances due to the ending of the Mercury's partnership with taxi company Freenow. Unfortunately, a new sponsor was not found for this year's prize, leading to a simplified ceremony broadcast from Abbey Road studios. The event was hosted by BBC radio presenters Huw Stephens and Annie Mac, where the nominated acts watched footage of each other's previous appearances on the BBC.

Even though we tried to find a new partner that would provide the necessary funding, it was difficult in this challenging arts funding climate. BPI's chief executive, Jo Twist, explained to Music Week that we were unable to secure a partner within the required timeframe and funding level. Without a sponsor, we regret to inform you that we won't be able to organize a live show this year that meets our usual high standards of production.

The band Ezra Collective, who won last year for the first time in jazz history, experienced a massive 859% increase in streams and sales compared to the previous year, according to BPI data. In a video interview with the band following their 2023 win, they expressed gratitude for their roots in the London youth club Tomorrow's Warriors.

This year's award included four artists who have been nominated before – Charli XCX, Berwyn, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Ghetts – as well as eight new nominees: Nia Archives, CMAT, Cat Burns, Barry Can't Swim, the Last Dinner Party, corto.alto, and Beth Gibbons. Beth Gibbons has won before as part of Portishead in 1995.

Twist explained that the goal of the Mercury Prize in 2024 is to spark a discussion across the country about exceptional albums and artists sharing their stories through their music.

The judges for this year included a mix of well-known personalities in the music industry, such as Danielle Perry, Jamie Cullum, Jamz Supernova, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, Mistajam, Sian Eleri, Will Hodgkinson, Sophie Williams, and Phil Alexander.