- English Teacher wins Mercury Prize with debut album
- Band breaks 9-year London winner streak, hails Leeds music scene
- Judges praise album's originality, character, and fresh sound
Indie band English Teacher has won the prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas. The Leeds-based quartet is the first act from outside London to receive the award since Young Fathers in 2014.
The album, noted for its originality and fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format, was praised by the judges for its “winning lyrical mix of surrealism and social observation.” On stage, lead singer Lily Fontaine expressed gratitude to her mother, who created the album’s artwork, and was visibly overwhelmed by the win.
“We didn’t really plan this far,” Fontaine admitted. “What do we do now?”
The band was among three acts from Leeds on the shortlist, alongside Nia Archives and Corinne Bailey Rae. Fontaine highlighted the supportive music scene in Leeds, noting the importance of local venues like the Hyde Park Book Club and the Brudenell Social Club.
“Without the support of the people in that scene, we wouldn’t be here,” said guitarist Lewis Whiting, who also criticized the Mercury Prize’s long history of rewarding London-based acts. “There’s so much going on outside London. Plenty of places in the north have thriving scenes and produce amazing bands.”
The prizewinning album, deeply influenced by Fontaine’s upbringing in Colne, East Lancashire, tackles themes of social deprivation, identity, and political mismanagement. Fontaine described the album’s inspiration, saying, “It’s nice for it to see the limelight.”
The Mercury Prize, awarded to the best British or Irish album of the year, includes a cash prize of £25,000. This year’s ceremony, held at Abbey Road Studios and broadcast on BBC Four and Radio 6 Music, was scaled back due to the absence of its previous sponsor.
The full list of nominees included artists such as Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party, and Ghetts, among others. Notable albums that missed the shortlist included Blur’s The Ballad Of Darren and PinkPantheress’s Heaven Knows.
Last year’s Mercury Prize was won by Ezra Collective with their album Where I’m Meant To Be, marking the first time a jazz act had won the award since its inception in 1992.
