#MusicNews | Nao and Little Simz are nominees for Mercury Prize 2019

Mercury Prize nominees had been announced for this year. The biggest album award for the British & Irish acts will have its ceremony on Thursday  19 September at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith. The event will feature live performances by many of the shortlisted acts.

Congratulations to our iluvlive alumni Nao with her second album ‘Saturn’ and Little Simz with her third album ‘Grey Area’ – both were shortlisted for the first time ever. Great to see the first-time nominees from the UK Urban scene such as Slowthai with his debut album ‘Nothing Great About Britain’ and Dave with ‘Psychodrama’.

 Here is the full list below:

Anna Calvi - Hunter (Domino)

Black Midi - Schlagenheim (Rough Trade)

Cate Le Bon - Reward (Mexican Summer)

Dave - Psychodrama (Dave Neighbourhood)

Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Pt 1 (Warner Records)

Fontaines DC - Dogrel (Partisan) 

Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance (Partisan)

Little Simz - Grey Area (Age 101/AWAL)

Nao - Saturn (RCA)

Seed Ensemble - Driftglass (Jazz Refreshed)

Slowthai - Nothing Great About Britain (Method)

The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Dirty Hit/Polydor)

Amazing to see how Nao got to in her musical career after we have worked with her and her incredible female beatboxing group The Boxettes on our artist programme in 2014. We’re also very grateful to be Little Simz’ musical journey after she had staged iluvlive in the past. 😊 Check them out in their early days on our throwback videos

Nao as part of The Boxettes @ Illuvlive x Radars event (2013):

Little Simz (2013):