2017 Mercury Music Prize Shortlist Includes Debut Albums From Stormzy, Sampha, J Hus

By Editor

The 2017 Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlisted albums have been announced today and this years nominated best British albums include seven debuts.

Sampha, Stormzy, J Hus, Loyle Carner are amongst the debut albums to feature in the Mercury Prize shortlist alongside previously nominated artists Kate Tempest, and 2010 winners The xx. With a number of commercially successful breakout albums featured in the shortlist, this years list represents one of the strongest years for British debuts, compared to 2016 where only one British artist secured a Gold certified debut album – Bradley Walsh.

The judges said “This year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist celebrates the remarkable power of British music. What these artists have in common is an infectious pleasure in music making and an arresting sense of urgency about the music they make. They delight in exploring musical possibilities and refusing to be pinned down by genre conventions.”

Sampha and Stormzy are currently leading the odds to win, the finalist will be announced at the awards show on Thursday 14 September at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.

Revisit our ‘Cover Story’ interviews and reviews for the 2017 Mercury Prize shortlisted albums from Kate Tempest, Sampha, J Hus and Stormzy.

Mercury Prize 2017 shortlisted albums are;

Alt-J – Relaxer
Blossoms – Blossoms
Dinosaur – Together, As One
Ed Sheeran – ÷
Glass Animals – How To Be A Human Being
J Hus – Common Sense
Kate Tempest – Let The Eat Chaos
Loyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone
Sampha – Process
Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
The Big Moon – Love In The 4th Dimension
The xx – I See You

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