Posted August 31Aug 31 The nominees will be revealed on September the 10th. So let's come up with some predictionsPotential candidates:Geordie Greep's The New Sound has to get itKae TempestFat DogLambrini GirlsBlack Country, New RoadFontaines DCDEADLETTERSquid (hopefully this time)GurriersWellyHeartwormsWet LegSam FenderSleep Token (metal rarely makes it to the Mercury Prize, and this metalcore album got a lot of buzz. That or Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs can get the nom)Central Cee (other UK rap picks: Jeshi, Loyle Carner, Nemzzz)The SmileBilly NomatesSnapped AnklesFloating PointsThe CurePanic ShackHamish HawkBlood OrangeCorbinA mixtape (Pa Salieu, Jim Legxacy, PinkPantheress)?Jamie xx (other EDM picks: Kelly Lee Owens)ScroungeAntony SzmierekLaura MarlingJazz pickMark Pritchard and Thom YorkeFKA TwigsRichard DawsonPulp and Little Simz have won the prize beforePersonal wishlist: W.H. Lung, Keg, Greentea Peng, Biig Piig, DITZ
August 31Aug 31 Nilüfer Yanya's My Method Actor to win please!Boo's Hyper Feminine to win the PopJustice £20 music prize. She's from the northeast too so it makes sense if they hold the main contest there this year - gotta support the local talent xx
September 1Sep 1 On 31/08/2025 at 22:41, AllStarBySmashMouth said:CMAT - EURO-COUNTRYOr is that too late?It’s just made it in - the cut off was Friday 29th August!
September 2Sep 2 Pulp to win!!don't think Sleep Token has a chance, one of the worst reviewed albums of the year
September 2Sep 2 Seeing FKA twigs on that list and remembering 'MAGDALENE' didn't get nominatedUnforgivable x
September 10Sep 10 The list is here! Fontaines would be my pick, I suspect it'll be CMAT though.Wolf Alice - The Clearing Fontaines DC - Romance CMAT - Euro Country Martin Carvey - Transform into a Fish Joe Webb - Handstring and Hurricanes Pulp - More Emma Jean Thackeray - Weirdo Pinkpantheress - Fancy That Pa Salieu - Afrikan AlienFka Twigs - Eusexua Jacob Alon - In Limerance Sam Fender - People Watching Little Simz & Self Esteem are notable omissions - not overly surprised by the latter though as the album wasn't very good.
September 10Sep 10 Yeh I love Fontaines DC album def my album of the past 12 months. FKA TWiggs is my next fav!
September 10Sep 10 Author Romance getting nominated is a huge W. Also cool to see Pa, PinkPantheress, Sam and, even though they won already, Pulp. Oh, and I liked FKA Twigs' album. Will give the other half a listen.The only issue I have with the shortlist is not a lot of debut albums. What made the Mercury Prize great this decade so far is not just providing the finest showcase of British music, but pushing a good amount of newcoming talent, especially through the nomination of the debut album. They seem to be on track with Pa Salieu still in his mixtape era, and CMAT and Emma-Jean Thackray, despite being on their 2nd/3rd studio albums, still feel like newcomer picks depending on one's jurisidiction. That goal of prioritising newcomers might be more of a BBC Sound Of goal than a Mercury goal, only their 2025 list consisted of artists who had already started out three-seven years ago (and only three of them were in their 'EPs/singles before the studio album' phase).Geordie Greep didn't make it, which surprised me, given the huge acclaim his album got, and neither did BCNR. I thought Fat Dog, Lambrini Girls and Kae Tempest would have been surefire contenders for nomination too.
September 11Sep 11 Need to check out the albums I haven't heard but rooting for FKA twigs from those I do know 🤎also wouldn't be mad at a Fontaines or PinkPantheress win
Create an account or sign in to comment