Leeds indie quartet English Teacher have won the Mercury Prize for their fierce debut album This Could Be Texas, beating competition from the likes of Charli XCX‘s Brat, Irish singer CMAT, rapper Ghetts, rising star Cat Burns, and indie outfit The Last Dinner Party. The band got together whilst studying at the Leeds Conservatoire in 2020.
Judges said that it stood our for its “originality and character” featuring “new depths on every listen; the mark of a future classic” They admired its “fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format” and praised its “winning lyrical mix of surrealism and social observation.”
The band thanked “everyone in Leeds,” especially their friends, parents and the music scene in their home city, including live venue Brudenell Social Club. Lead singer Lily Fontaine said ” My mum did all the artwork for the album so I want to give a special thanks to her.”
The band, which features guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, bassist Nicholas Eden and vocalist Lily Fontaine, are the first act from outside London to win the prize since Young Fathers in 2014.
“To be honest, it’s insane that that’s a fact,” Whiting said after the win. “There’s so much good music, not just in Leeds, but plenty of places, smaller places as well, that often don’t get too much of a look in from the music industry that’s very centred around here (London).“
“How many classic albums and how many bands have come from those places, yet it’s a novelty that a band from the North would win the Mercury Prize – it is kind of insane really.”
“There’s so much going on outside London. Plenty of places in the north have thriving scenes and produce amazing bands. It’s crazy it’s been going on for so long.”
“Musicians from outside London don’t really have the same opportunities,” agreed Fontaine, “but if you look back over music from this country, Yorkshire in particular has thrown out some of our most prolific songwriters.”
The Mercury Prize, given to the best British or Irish album of the year, comes with a cash prize of £25,000. This year’s ceremony took place at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London and was broadcast live on BBC Four and Radio 6 Music. It was a more scaled back event this year after the prize lost its sponsor; the taxi company Freenow. In former years, the event included a live concert, featuring performances from each of the nominated acts. Organisers say they hope to have a new sponsor by next year so that the event can return to its usual format..
English Teacher are going on tour to the USA with Idles next week, before returning for a European tour and a UK tour in the winter.
