Indie band English teacher wins Mercury Prize for debut album

Indie band English Teacher's debut album wins Mercury Prize, breaking a nine-year London streak.

Leeds-based indie band English Teacher has won the prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas. The quartet, which formed in 2020 while studying at the Leeds Conservatoire, has made history as the first act from outside London to secure the award since Young Fathers in 2014.

The judges commended This Could Be Texas for its "originality and character," noting the album’s "fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format." On stage, lead singer Lily Fontaine expressed her gratitude to her mother, who designed the album’s artwork.

Despite their victory, the band appeared momentarily overwhelmed. Fontaine admitted, "We didn’t really plan this far," as her bandmates looked on in astonishment. "What do we do now?"

The band's win is particularly significant given the recent trend of London-based acts dominating the Mercury Prize. "It’s kind of ridiculous," said guitarist Lewis Whiting. "There’s so much going on outside London. Plenty of places in the north have thriving scenes and produce amazing bands. It’s crazy it’s been going on for so long."

Fontaine added, "Musicians from outside London don't really have the same opportunities, but if you look back over music from this country, Yorkshire in particular has produced some of our most prolific songwriters."

The album, deeply influenced by Fontaine’s upbringing in Colne, East Lancashire, addresses themes of social deprivation and political mismanagement, alongside personal topics such as identity, love, and loss. Critics have praised its "winning lyrical mix of surrealism and social observation," highlighting its musical innovations and depth.

This year's Mercury Prize ceremony, held at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, was scaled back due to the loss of its sponsor, Freenow. The show, which usually features live performances from the nominees, was adjusted following funding challenges. Dr Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, which organizes the award, expressed hopes that the full ceremony format will return next year.

The Mercury Prize, awarded for the best British or Irish album of the year, includes a £25,000 cash prize. This year’s nominees also included pop star Charli XCX, indie newcomers The Last Dinner Party, Scottish dance act Barry Can't Swim, and East London rapper Ghetts. Notably, eight of the shortlisted albums were debut releases, including Beth Gibbons’ solo album, marking her return to the spotlight after winning the prize with Portishead 29 years ago.

As English Teachers savor their triumph, the music world looks forward to seeing how this breakthrough will influence the vibrant music scene in Leeds and beyond.