Sometimes award ceremonies seem almost dislocated from the music. After a season of screaming fans crammed together in an endless muddy sweaty haze, it must be odd to play to an audience of champagne drinkers sitting politely around tables. Yet this year’s Mercury Prize nominees could not have been better chosen to fit 2019’s energy and pulsing political climate. Indeed, by the end of the evening, I doubt there was a single person who wasn’t standing up, fully engrossed by the spirit in which each artist performed.
It was an evening that truly showcased the diversity of talent in today’s Britain, with performances ranging from punk to pop and, at one point, even to jazz. However, it was rapper and pianist, Dave, who won the prize money for his debut album “Psychodrama”, released March this year. The Radio One DJ and judge, Annie Mac, announced that the album “showed remarkable levels of musicianship, true artistry, courage (and) honesty.” It is also a record that explores some of the most prevalent issues of this era with topics such as racism, domestic violence, mental health and the incarceration of his older brother for the stabbing of Sofyen Belamouadden in 2010. It is an album heavy with emotion and beautifully poetic lyrics which fully deserved the acclamation.
However, Dave was not the only artist sharing their political views. Slowthai, for example, went rather overboard to protest against Boris Johnson’s recent decision to prorogue parliament. Walking on stage to perform “Doorman”, he began waving around an effigy of Boris Johnson’s decapitated head, shouting profanities. After an uproar from members of the public and various MPs, he defended himself saying that "It wasn’t inciting violence, it was just making a point about democracy being killed”. Indie rock band, Foals, highlighted the issue of the climate emergency by holding up an Extinction Rebellion banner stating that there’s “No music on a dead planet”. In fact, the award has actually been praised by critics for hailing protest music with this year’s list of nominees.
Even excluding the outlandish stunts and wacky outfits, the ceremony was a whirlwind musical experience. Completely unusual and experimental sounding black midi went wild during their performance of “bmbmbm”, with the backing guitarist attempting (and failing) to do front flips on stage. Just from their name, you can tell how wonderfully unique and strange their sound will be, with “Black MIDI” being a form of Japanese music using so many notes played simultaneously that a traditional music score appears almost completely black. Their music, however, is very different, with thumping drums and bass providing frontman, Geordie Greep, a platform to let loose with an endless stream of high-pitched mumblings. Irish band, Fontaines DC, also brought a new genre of music to the Mercury Awards, with their own style of poetry to the sound of post-punk guitars. Their lyrics have been praised universally by critics with one reviewer even saying, "this is the kind of songwriting quality that bands can take years to reach, or never reach at all”.
Overall, this year’s award ceremony did not take the energy and life out of the bands but instead showed them in their best light, whether it was hugely successful bands like The 1975 or new emerging talent like black midi. Dave was overwhelmed when he stepped back on stage to receive his award, so much so that he was at a loss for words. Inviting his mother on stage, he thanked all the “exceptional musicians” for their performances and gave a final message to his brother, “This is your story, and even though you can’t be here, I know you’re watching this bro, and I’m so grateful.” Dave was undoubtedly a worthy winner, but every artist just seemed so unique and dynamic. All I can think of is that if these are the best musicians of 2019, I can’t even imagine what we’ll hear in 2020.