The shortlist for this year’s Mercury Prize has been announced, and Arctic Monkeys’ The Car is among the nominees. That means the group — who might be “the last great guitar band,” depending on who you ask — is now tied with Radiohead for most Mercury Prize nominations via The Guardian.
Radiohead have had a total of five nominations over the years, though they have never won. Arctic Monkeys now also have five, and they’ve won once: for Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not back in 2006.
Jessie Ware receives her second nod, and first in 11 years, for her fifth record, That! Feels Good! “It means a lot,” said Ware. “It’s a prestigious award and recognition and I think I feel far more ready to receive it 11 years on. Being up for my debut was kind of amazing and overwhelming – I appreciated it then but I think I will really relish the moment this time.”
Meanwhile, there are first-time nominations for returning artists: the jazz ensemble Ezra Collective with Where I’m Meant to Be, producer Fred Again with Actual Life 3 and Irish folk group Lankum with False Lankum – the Mercury’s infamous “token” folk nomination.
The 2023 shortlist is as follows:
Arctic Monkeys – The Car
Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant To Be
Fred Again – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
J Hus – Beautiful And Brutal Yard
Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!
Jockstrap – I Love You Jennifer B
Lankum – False Lankum
Loyle Carner – Hugo
Olivia Dean – Messy
Raye – My 21st Century Blues
Shygirl – Nymph
Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
The Mercury Prize will be handed out at a ceremony on September 7 that takes place at the Eventim Apollo. Last year’s winner was Little Simz’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
