Mercury Prize Live 2015 Mercury Prize

Hello and welcome to the BBC's iconic Broadcasting House, where we

are tonight bringing you a music awards ceremony like no other, 12

short listed albums by 12 phenomenal artists, and the odds are still

changing on who is going to win. It's the Mercury Prize Live 2015.

Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Mercury Prize Live 2015, with BBC

Music. How are we all doing, are you all right?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What a lively bunch. We are here in

the BBC Radio 1 Theatre, and we are with many of the short listed

artists, judges and some very special guests indeed. Now, some of

the nominees have been performing live today at throughout the week,

both on six music and on Radio One, we are also going to have four more

performances throughout the night. In just under an hour we are going

to be telling you who has won this year's price. It's incredibly

exciting, very close to call, but let's start with a reminder of those

12 short listed artists. # I'm sending my condolence

# I'm sending my condolence #. # That's the way it is and that's

the way it's going to stay #. #.

# Hard to give up #. APPLAUSE

Yes, there you have it. This year's delightful dozen. Now, we are going

to be reflecting on all of those short listed albums throughout the

show. We will be hearing from some of the BBC Music champions and

chatting to the judges about the records that have made the short

list, and why they've been nominated. First, we will start with

a live performance from a duo who formed in Tunbridge Wells by

guitarist Laurie Vincent and drama Isaac Holman, who incidentally only

went and dislocated his shoulder a couple of nights ago -- drummer. I

saw you on Tuesday morning, you are fine, now this! For the love of God,

are you all right? Are you in pain? Here's powering through, God love

you. That's dedication. For one night only they've become a trio,

with Joel, from Wolf Alice, also short listed, stepping in. It's the

spirit of the Mercury Prize right there, its creativity and

collaboration, we love it. Their debut album Are You Satisfied? Is

one of seven short listed this year and has been described by the judges

as an invigorating lass got punk aggression and raw pop energy -- and

integrating blast. Please welcome Slaves, with The Hunter.

# What will happen when they're gone

# His children were crying to be fed

# But you're tired and you're aching

fantastic stuff, thank you so much. Powering through the primal sound of

Slaves, an incredible start to our show. Thank you very much, gents.

Performing live, right here, in the radio Theatre. Each year, Slaves,

well done! Good learning already. We will get there within the hour. So

each year we have 12 very different musical styles on show, obviously 12

very different fan bases chosen by the judges, and often the winner

isn't the obvious candidate. We decided to take a look back at some

of the most surprising and eclectic years in music -- Mercury Prize

history. Over the Mercury years some of the biggest stars on the planet

have regularly made the short list, but being big doesn't necessarily

help. No matter how many stadiums you feel, how many records you flog,

the smart money in Mercury land isn't always on the biggest guns. In

the very beginning there was U2. Achtung baby salt almost 18 million

copies worldwide but came away from the Mercurys with no points. There's

no definitely maybe your morning glory about it, Oasis defined

Britpop in the 90s. Their albums were number one with the public, but

not the Mercury judges. Instead, David Toms Portishead walked away

with the cheque -- new people Portishead. It doesn't get more

memorable than 1997 the clash of the Titans, not one, not two, but three

global giants dominated the short list. Radiohead are the favourites,

with their Magnum Opus OK Computer, but the Prodigy smashed the charts

with a party dance album, the fact of the land. And finally...

# Tell me what you want, what you really really want #.

The Spice Girls, do not adjust your set, short listed. Everything that

is given out is from us, it means more than singing something from

your heart, not anybody else's. The Spice Girls don't need that Mercury

Music Prize to give them extra publicity. Does their album hold-up?

It's a poor record. New Forms only reaches number eight in the UK

charts but proves the seminal work in drum and bass history, the big

hitters outmanoeuvred by a relative unknown. The tradition sets in.

Hello, we are Coldplay. Coldplay, News, all in the Mercury Music

Prize. The judges preferred tiles in thing. And in the naughties, the

judges remained contrary, the finest pop divas of their generation failed

to scoop the prize. Perhaps nomination is good enough. Thom

Yorke is still smiling. What is clear is that in Mercury land it's

all about the music, stupid. Whether it's torturing their instrument...

Stretching our ears... Playing with our mind... Or simply standing on

their heads... Year on year, the merger is keep the bookies in

business. -- the Mercurys keep the buggies in business.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE There you go, Mercury Logic, let a

little unpredictable but we enjoy it very much. BBC Music has been

celebrating all 12 nominated acts through live sessions and champion

films since the short list was announced. Let's take a look at the

first three albums by Jamie xx, Wolf Alice and C Duncan, and we'll hear

from their fans as well. It's a DJ record making the clubs, made with

the background of the culture. MUSIC

He's worked really hard at his art and that art has been translated

into his album and this album is a brilliant DJ producer album.

It's the most perfectly named album because he's an Architect of music,

the way he encompasses all these wonderful John Royse of music. --

these wonderful types of music. You have his voice, which just has

this almost common quality to it, that kind of glides you through the

album. The album is so warm over the place

in the best possible way. It's completely, -- unpredictable, it has

surprises, it has real juxtapositions within the song.

# Did you really want to # Do you haters #.

It really sums up them, the time of their lives and it's one of those

beautiful albums where everything in it just comes together perfectly.

# I will meet you where the grass is greener

# Hats on the clock... #. There we have it, I have come to

purge besides, not quite betwixt, I was going to say betwixt, besides,

adjacent to, just flush by two of our judges this year, Kate Mossman

and Anna Calvi, hello to you both. Just to see why those albums were

worthy of selection this year. Kate, let's start with Jamie xx's In

Colour, part of this terrific list. How did it earn its place here?

This is like the Midas of producer DJs. It is amazing to think he is

still in his 20s. It brings together the late 70s to the present day. It

is a very warm, humane record. Very exciting. Anna, let's talk about C

Duncan, a composer from Glasgow. He made this record in his flat. It

doesn't sound like a DIY record, tell me how you reacted to this

record? I think it is a beautiful construction of a real world that

someone has created and it has a real vision which you can feel

through every single song and there is a cohesiveness about it that is

impressive. With also saw their Wolf Alice My Love Is Cool, and

incredible debut. Why do you think that one made it? I think it is

great that a band has taken influences from the 90s, grunge, and

made it exciting and new. For guitar music, it is important that this

Canon carries on three new artists. And Kate, tell me about what it is

like in the judging room when all 12 of you are round the table. Is it

heated, is it stressful? What is the experience like? It is pretty

fraught. We eat dinner at the same time so we have a course and then

argue and then another course. By Christmas? Like Christmas, but it is

very unexpected. So we are in for is a prize tonight. But first, we are

in for another live performance from our next short listed artist, whose

artist At Least For Now has been described by the judges as dramatic,

intimate and pulsate in the league original. We are ready to welcome

him to the stage here. Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for

Benjamin Clementine. The audience are on their feet.

Benjamin Clementine performing Cornerstone from his astonishing

debut album, At Least For Now here at the BBC Radio theatre. You are

watching the Mercury Prize live in association with BBC Music. It is

time to find out more about three more short listed albums. At next we

will look at Florence and the Machine, Aphex Twin and SOAK.

This album is a journey. No one feels a motion like Florence. She

has been incredibly honest in this album. If you have ever had your

heart broken, if you have ever been chucked by somebody, there will be

lyrics here which will touch your soul and you will identify with it.

Francis Bacon once said the job of the artist was too deepened the

mystery and that is exactly what Aphex Twin does.

He is just so wild, he is so free and I think it is that freedom which

really resonates. Bridie, who writes such personal

heartfelt songs, she pours herself into the songs on this album which

is a connection of work, up until now, if you like.

# You don't deserve this, # They tell you, they love you, they

don't mean it # I don't think they know what they

mean... Her voice is timeless. The

production ship really stands out I think.

APPLAUSE All right, well, wonderful. Some

beautiful records. Now, in true Mercury Prize

tradition, it is an extraordinary range of musicians that we see who

have been selected for this year's prize. We had a reminder of the work

by Florence and the Machine, Aphex Twin and SOAK. I'm here with two

more of our lovely judges. Hello, Nick Mulvey and Mistajam. Look at

this handsome corner. Nick, I will start with you because you have been

nominated for this prize for you. How was it experiencing it behind

closed doors and seeing the judging process? It has been fascinating. It

has been a total is a prize. It has been demystifying to see this

process but also quite flattering to think these are similar bunch of

heads,, two albums I have been involved with, they would have

chatted in this way about my work. We talk about the kind of diversity

and the different types of genres that are on the list, is that built

into the process? When you look at the list of judges, of course, it

has to be completely diverse. It is all about musical tastes. When you

look at the fact we had 290 albums to go through, it will represent a

year in British music. There are so many genres out there at the

moment. I think it really represents what is happening in British music

right now. They give you an MP3 player now. In my day it was just

CDs in your house and they took up the whole of the kitchen table. It

is sleeker. Nick, were there any new records you discovered? Yes, the C

Duncan Rocard, Benjamin Clementine as well. And lots which did not make

it through to this final part which we can talk about at another time.

Let's have a chat about the records we have seen. Starting with Florence

and the Machine, how big how blew her beautiful, would you describe it

as a concept album? It feels like the most honest Florence record

today. She made it four stadiums. We saw footage of her leading the

charge at Glastonbury. That is what the album is made for. It is made

for the big crowds and people to sing right back at her. No one can

do that like Florence. And Aphex Twin, he has never stopped working

but this is his latest release in a long time. Was it good to hear that

sound again? New to me. I found it stimulating. I was puzzled by it but

definitely stimulated. And we saw the youngest member on the short

list, the baby of the list, Bridie Monds-Watson, AKA SOAK. She's 19 now

but she started writing it when she was 13 or 14. It is an incredible

achievement to be on the list. What did you make of her record,

Mistajam? She is an amazing talent and testament to the amount of

talent we have in the UK. I think the music industry will look very

different in five years' time when you have young people like SOAK

lawmaking ground-breaking, world beating albums and flying the flag.

I asked the other judges about being in the room and having the

conversation, how was it from your perspective? Was it a positive

experience that you would repeat or tricky? Definitely positive but

quite intense at times. Quite surreal even. It starts quite

jovially, we just chat about music, and then it narrows down and becomes

quite intense. Mistajam, you are not doing. Intensity, is that the word?

Yes, I think I need to lie down in a dark room after this. I think a few

cups of tea will bring me round but I'm not sure of that will do it. It

is supremely intense. If you are sitting in a room talking to a lot

of people about great music, but hey, there are worse things to be

doing. But the arguments are part of the fun! You can get involved.

Tonight, were celebrating all 12 of the artists but at the end of the

day there is only one winner. We thought we would chapter three

winners from Mercury prizes from years gone by.

In the past few minutes Ms Dynamite has won the 10th Mercury Music

Prize. When I was writing my album in

2001, 2002, I was living in a hostel. I wanted to be a teacher. I

remember the night of the ceremony, being one of the most nerve wracking

nights of my entire life. And the winner is... I wasn't nervous until

I had actually won. I never believed I would win. I felt like the

underdog. Ms Dynamite. Some of the nominees at the time were the

Streets, David Bowie, I was looking and thinking, oh, my God! The fact

that I won and David Bowie didn't, I just don't have the words. I still

don't have the words. I was still in my seat. When my body

had got up to talk on the microphone, really, I was still in

my chair, thinking, what is actually going on here?

I really don't know what to say! I have never been speechless! I have

never been speechless. Oh, my goodness! Thank you!

I am not going to live, I was looking around at people thinking,

are you mad? I remember being terrified. All of

us were really nervous because I don't think we had ever been to an

awards ceremony before. This was the only one we really cared about. The

xx! I am not very good at doing

speeches. Thank you so much. It is one of the reasons why I left

school, I did not want to have to speak in front of class, let alone a

roomful of people that I didn't know. But everything was just a nice

surprise. I liked the ceremony. I thought to

myself we didn't stand a chance, because we didn't look like Blur, we

didn't sound like Pulp, and we were different. People might have thought

what story have they got to tell? They seem happy, just dancing along

through life, but to make that decision to dance along in life,

especially when you come from the environment I grew up in, that's not

an easy choice. Wing diving and people. I grew up in a council

estate, immigrant parents, being told this was my limitation and this

was about celebrating, busting through those limitations. But

afterwards, really and truly, it's about public opinion, whether they

like what you do and whether they buy what you do and whether they

come and see your shows, so whether I'm going to be popular with the

critics are popular with the public, I'm going to choose the public every

time. I think we do like that, why not? Ms Dynamite, Jamie xx and

Heather Small, together at last, and sharing their experiences of winning

the Mercury Music Prize. I think we should have another live

performance, and our next artist who appears on the short list has done a

fair few of those. She has previously sung with the likes of

Lady Gaga, Jill Scott, Macy Gray and pink, but she is stepping out into

the limelight herself now and has been nominated for her self titled

debut album. The judges have described it as, passionate and

emotionally gripping. Please welcome Esca.

Just stunning, Eska, thank you so much. In my part of the world, that

last chance, amazing. OK, we have three more albums to celebrate right

now, and one more life performance to come, and of course the

announcement it's self, that all-important name is going to

appear in about 15 minutes time. At first, here's a little reminder of

work by Gaz Coombes and Ghostpoet, and thoughts from their champions

about why their records made the short list. This particular album is

very atmospheric. It takes a while, just sort of feel your brain, and

it's quite surreal, cerebrally socially conscious.

He really does feel like a fresh and new artist, but in some ways he has

been around for a little while, cementing a new type of sound.

# The hardest fight is the one you fight... #.

He plays all the instruments apart from the drums with no expectations

that it will be a big hit, or a comeback, and as a result it's a

very intimate record. # The happiest dreams #.

It's a record he may be didn't think tens of thousands of people would

here, now tens of thousands have people have heard it and they love

it. Really lovely stuff there, and don't

forget, if you want to see any of those performances in full, they are

all up on the BBC Mercury Prize website, so you can watch them

there. I've come down to sit with two more of our judges. I've got

John Kennedy and Corinne Bailey Rae on with me, thank you very much for

chatting to us. John, you are five years into this business, Knauss,

six? What? Seven, they are countering by, the years. This year,

again, just an incredibly diverse short list. We've seen Gaz Coombes'

Matador and Ghostpoet's Shedding Skin, both selected, both from

different genres. Tell me a little bit about selecting them and the

actual process of putting the list together, and why they both made the

cut? Interesting, it's an elongated process. It takes a lot of listening

and to whittle it down takes a lot of discussion and a lot of knocked

heads, and you kind of come to a few decisions of your suddenly the list

emerges. This is one of the reasons I keep coming back because it kind

of a mystery. You going, 12 different people come you have a

chat, have a thought and suddenly you end up with a short list. It's

as exciting for us involved when you get the short list as it is for

anybody else reading about in the paper. Would you second that, it's

your second year judging, right? It is my second year, it's hard every

year. This is an incredible list. The short list is the most important

thing about the Mercury Prize. All these artists and bands are

incredible, they have put in great work and I would encourage everyone

to get all the records, if you really want to get into this price,

get all of the records because there's so much to discover and so

much brilliant work. Talk to me about Hairless Toys, Roisin

Murphy's excellent album. We talk about this kind of breadth of genre,

that's got in terms of influences in one album. My two favourite tracks,

one is a massive club banger, the other is a country and western song

really, or influenced, but what did you make of that album? It was

really diverse but held together as a body of work. She's an incredible

singer and has a beautiful, strangeness to her songwriting in

the way she produces music and I that it's kind of intimate and

almost warm summer womblike sometimes and it explodes into these

kind of synthesised bright stamps and it's very cinematic in that way,

you think you are in one world and you spill out into something else.

It's a real adventure ride, sort of Alice in Wonderland record.

Absolutely wonderful record and we will experience the musical and

visual side of it, because the lady herself I think is getting ready to

perform for us. Please welcome to the stage, I know, exciting, this is

the wonderful Roisin Murphy with House Of Glass.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Racine Murphy, Hairless Toys her

album was described as cool, crisp and captivating. I couldn't agree

more. So before I move out of my seat, I also want to talk about

Ghostpoet's record. It is his second time on the short list. Tell me

about Shedding Skin and why it needed to be on the short list this

year? I think it is a great record and he is really deserving of being

nominated again. He has this laconic languid look at the world which you

don't get from anywhere else. You hear philosophy and politics and a

lot of humour. He has a great sounding voice. It is we do good to

hear him singing on this album as well as wrapping and speaking and

observing. I like listening to it because it puts you in the position

of being an observer and looking at these different lives. John, you

were on the judging panel last year and he was as well and I think you

got a lot out of that experience. Do you think that sometimes musicians

might sometimes feel a little bit nervous about taking that on and

judging other musicians? What would you say to them? I think people can

get stuff out of it. I think the other judges appreciate the

musicians being there because we learn a lot from their perspective

and their reaction to the work which really informs how we think about

the work. And different every year? The judging line-up has changed

every year I have been involved. Whole load of new approaches come

through and it is really exciting. Thank you. Crunch time is drawing

near. We all like to think if we ever had our moment in the sun up on

stage, we would rise gracefully from our seats with poise and elegance of

a swan and accept our award with humility. But as Mercury Prize

history has shown, it is not always how it turns out. Have a look at

these winning moments. The winner of the Mercury Prize

is... Dummy by Portishead. Let's hear it for Klaxons. Thank you very

much. This really is too much. Hello, we have not written a speech

or anything, we are truly gobsmacked. Some call 999, Richard

Hawley has been robbed. I have not got much to say. While. I think it

is very, very strange. I had just had a beer and I don't understand

why we have won. It is a contest between an orange, a spaceship, a

potted plant and a spoon. Which one do you like better? I think I speak

for everyone when I say we are very pleased to have it. Is that right?

We would like to thank our parents as well. Thank you for not making us

get jobs. My Gran is over there. I would like to thank my cap as well.

Is that the cheque? I know I'm is mostly cool and say something

quite... But this is the best thing that has ever happened to us.

So there we go, short listed artists, start practising, bearing

in mind you might star in one of our little films. In just under five

minutes I will be revealing this year's Mercury prizewinner. Let's

remind ourselves one last time of our short listed artists.

# I send my condolences... # I feel good, like I should...

# No matter how we try to... # I build this ship...

# I fight like a Matador... # Unforgettable...

# I just don't know who, who, who is exploiting who...

# Spending every second wishing they would go away...

# You don't deserve this... # It is time to give up, time to

give up... So, the time has come to announce

the winner, and I am just about to do that. Before I do, I am here with

the chair of judges, Simon Frith. You have been part of this judging

process for some 24 years I believe? I have indeed. Have they flown by or

had you had some stressful moments? They get more stressful every year.

We have been talking to some of the judges who have all been very

discreet and wonderful. You all got together earlier today and you have

decided the winner already. That decision has already been made,

hasn't it? It has, I'm pleased to say. Would you describe it as an

easy decision? No, there were a lot of strongly opinionated people. 12

fantastic albums and getting rid of 11 of them is not an easy process.

We have seen some wonderful performances tonight but the

performances do not influence the verdict? No, they don't, because it

is an album prize for albums. Thanks for that!

It is not necessary to be sarcastic but you know, it is me back in my

box. Simon, have you got an envelope for me? I hope there is something in

it. That would take the sarcasm too far! Well, in this envelope I have

the answer. I am going to walk up here now. Sorry, sorry I am tripping

over ESKA's down. Right, OK. In this beautiful golden envelope I have the

winner, our winner. The winner of the 2015 Mercury

Prize, in association with BBC Music is... Benjamin Clementine!

For his album At Least For Now. APPLAUSE

I don't know what to say. Thank you, Lauren Laverne. Thank you very

much. I don't know what to say. APPLAUSE

I would like to thank music. Thank my great friend, manager, Peter

Hall, Mike Smith. I have forgotten the names now. Gilbert, Johnson, my

lady, everybody. Sam Wright, I can't believe I have actually won this. I

really can't. I want to thank the judges, Simon Frith, Colin Bailey

Rae and John Kennedy who interviewed me yesterday -- Corinne Bailey Rae.

I would like to say, I never thought I would say this, but I would like

to say if there is anyone watching, a child, any child, youngster, a

student, the world is your oyster and just go out there and get

whatever you want to get. I thank the musicians and great artists for

coming. In fact, please, can they all come with me? Can they all come

and stand with me? I don't see why not. ESKA, Wolf Alice, C Duncan, all

of you, please. I taking too long? I want to thank

Lauren Laverne, Jo Wiley, but please, before I finish, I just want

to say that I dedicate this to what happened about four or five days ago

in Paris. If you're feeling up to it, we would

love you to play for us one more time.

Would you be able to do that? Benjamin Clementine, ladies and

gentlemen. And our short listed artists!

# It's a wonderful life, a wonderful life, that burst from tears from the

heavens # My heart is a mellow drum, a

mellow drum in fact # My pain 24/7, 24/7

# I dream, I smile I dream, I smile, I walk, I cry

I dream, I smile, I walk, I cry # A wonderful life

# Just as yesterday # I won't

# Though my good days are far gone They will surely come back one

Though my good days are far gone They will surely come back one morn

# You might say it's a wonderful world, and a wonderful life, just

like yesterday... # But I won't complain

# No, I won't complain # No, no, no I won't complain

# No, I went complain # Though my good days are far gone

# They will surely come back one morning

# So I went, I went complain # Though my good days are far gone

# They will surely come back one morning

# So I went complain... Thank you very much, thank you.

CHEERING