Arctics Mercury double?

Mercury Prize nominees speak to 6 Music

17 Jul 07 - Arctic Monkeys have been nominated for a second year in a row for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize. They are now the bookies favourites at 4-1 alongside 2004 nominee Amy Winehouse with her album Back to Black. The 2003 winner, Dizzie Rascal, has also attracted a nomination for his third album, Maths + English.

 Watch interviews from the Mercury Nominations
(Featuring John Mulvey from Uncut, Conor McNicholas from NME, Fionn Regan, New Young Pony Club, Keiran from The View  and The Young Knives)

Debut albums have also fared strongly on the 2007 shortlist. The View’s Hats off to the Buskers, New Young Pony Club’s Fantastic Playroom, Klaxons’ Myths of the Near Future, Jamie T’s Panic Prevention, Maps’ We Can Create, Fionn Regan’s ,The End of History and The Young Knives’ Voices of Animals and Men all secured nominations.

Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes expressed her delight at being among the debut artists acknowledged for her album, Fur and Gold. She told 6 Music she had her own favourites:

"I want the Klaxons to win 'cos I think they're really sweet and they do good interesting visual stuff: I really like the way they dress up in videos and I just like their singles I've heard so far. And I really like Dizzee Rascal as well 'cos I like having a bit of a dance. And there's some that I haven't heard of which I'd like to check out - Basquiat Strings sounds quite interesting".

Not everyone was familiar with the kudos a Nationwide Mercury Prize. The View’s bassist Keiran admitted he was none the wiser:

“I’ve never really followed this prize before, or any other kind of awards. I’m grateful to be up for it, but it’s just that it’s all new to me. I’ve never really taken any interest in it before, I’m just grateful to be nominated.”

New Young Pony Club, who released their album last week, were happy that their self belief in being more than ‘nu ravers’ had been acknowledged by the judges, as front-woman Tahita told 6 Music:

 “We always believed we crafted an album that was something new and innovative. I think a lot of people haven’t yet realised that what a new sound, what we’ve done is. They (critics) are still trying to lump us in with the nu rave scene or whatever. We’ve done something we’re really proud of, and we think in future this can only help us get the recognition we think we deserve!”

Maps’ James Chapman displayed more modesty. He admitted he was thrilled at being acknowledged for his home-produced CD, We Can Create.

“I’ve worked on these songs for so long. It’s just years of hard work and for it to connect with people and for people to like it as much as this, it’s just amazing.”

 The Young Knives’ weren’t buying into the debate that the shortlist is comprised of young acts, as frontman Henry told 6 Music that by the time they take the stage to perform at the ceremony in September, their new album will be ready:

“I don’t know what the criteria for inclusion is. Isn’t it that you’re the best? Or in the group that are the best for that year. That’s what that is, isn’t it?”

Here's the list in full:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men
Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Klaxons - Myths of The Near Future
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Basquit Strings - Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford
Dizzie Rascal - Maths + English
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playground
Maps - We Can Create
Fionn Regan - The End Of History

The winners will be awarded £20,000 and will be announced on 4 September.


Adrian Larkin