The Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2012
The Barclaycard Mercury Prize for Albums of the Year celebrates and promotes the best of UK music. The shortlist provides a snapshot of the year in music, recognising artistic achievement across a range of genres.
Album of the Year 2012 - Winner
An Awesome Wave - Alt-J (∆)Alt-J make music that tantalises and delights. Unexpected shards of sound, mesmerising layers of rhythm – irresistible!
Interviews from the awards ceremony
alt-J: Interview
Video interview: Indie rock band Alt-J have picked up the prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave, at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London.
They beat the likes of Richard Hawley, Plan B...
alt-J: Interview
Video interview: Favourites Alt-J talk to our reporter Tania Snuggs about how it feels to win the prestigious Mercury Prize with their debut album 'An Awesome Wave,' and what's next for the quartet from Leeds.
Plan B: Interview
Video interview: Plan B talks to us at the Mercury Prize award ceremony at the Roundhouse in Camden, where he was nominated for his hard-hitting hip-hop record Ill Manors, which tells of life on the streets of...
alt-J: Interview
Video interview: Alt-J talk to Absolute Radio's Pete Donaldson just before they won the prestigious Mercury Prize with their debut album 'An Awesome Wave,' at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London.
Richard Hawley: Interview
Video interview: Richard Hawley chats with Pete Donaldson at the Mercury Prize award ceremony at the Camden's Roundhouse in London. Nominee Richard lost out on the big prize to Alt-J
Ben Howard: Interview
Video interview: Pete Donaldson talks to Ben Howard on the red carpet at the Mercury Prize 2012, as his top ten hit 'Every Kingdom,' was nominated for the best album award.
The Maccabees: Interview
Video interview: The Maccabees' Orlando Weeks talks to Pete Donaldson on the red carpet at the Mercury Prize award ceremony in north London, as his band were nominated for album of the year for 'Given to the Wild.'
Jessie Ware: Interview
Video interview: Jessie Ware talks to Pete Donaldson on the red carpet at the Mercury Prize award ceremony in north London after her album 'Devotion'was nominated for record of the year.
Albums of the Year 2012 - Nominees
Every Kingdom - Ben HowardIntriguing tales from a modern troubadour – emotionally charged and involving music
Django Django - Django Django
Kaleidoscopic pop superbly reprogrammed for the contemporary dance floor. Vivid, pounding and joyous
Plumb - Field Music
Playful harmonies, quirky rhythms, the stop start sounds of everyday life, love and daydreams in today's British city – gripping and affecting
Devotion - Jessie Ware
An album of sensuous and emotive pop deeply imbued with the spirit of British club culture
Is Your Love Big Enough? - Lianne La Havas
Heartfelt songs beautifully written, brilliantly sung and inventively arranged. Lianne La Havas brings a subtle and powerful new voice to British soul music
Home Again - Michael Kiwanuka
A debut album of rare authority. Soulful songs and a sublime voice. Utterly convincing
Ill Manors - Plan B
A brilliantly visceral soundtrack to an angry, troubling and harsh picture of life on the underside of London in 2012
Standing at the Sky's Edge - Richard Hawley
Big sky, big sound, big star!
Roller Trio - Roller Trio
Raucous funk-infused jazz from a dynamic young trio. Bursting with melodic riffs, rhythmic jams and sonic urgency
Ground of its Own - Sam Lee
Folk singer Sam Lee brings magical new life to the dignity and mystery of old songs. Unadorned singing, adventurous instrumentation – an album of singular charm and beauty
Given to the Wild - The Maccabees
Inventive, lyrical, epic. The Maccabees make their move onto the main stage of British guitar music.
Interviews from the nomination ceremony
Roller Trio: Interview
Video interview: The band 'Roller Trio' explain to Adrian Hieatt from Absolute Radio how 'surreal' it is to be nominated for the Mercury Prize 2012, and give us their thoughts on the genre label they're often given:...
Field Music: Interview
Video interview: One half of Field Music chats with Adrian Hieatt from Absolute Radio about being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2012, as well as whether people are missing out on the experience of an album by...
Richard Hawley: Interview
Video interview: 'Standing at the Sky's Edge' is Richard Hawley's album which has been nominated for the Mercury Prize 2012. In this clip, Richard talks to Adrian Hieatt from Absolute Radio about what it means to...
The Maccabees: Interview
Video interview: The Maccabees chat with Adrian Hieatt from Absolute Radio about their album 'Given to the Wild', which is nominated for the Mercury Prize 2012, as well as being Richard Hawley's favourites, and...
Django Django: Interview
Video interview: The boys from Django Django stop for a chat with Absolute Radio at the Mercury Prize nominations in London's Covent Garden. Topics under discussion with Adrian Hieatt include whether they broke the...
Jessie Ware: Interview
Video interview: South Londoner Jessie Ware talks with Absolute Radio's Adrian Hieatt about her album 'Devotion' being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2012 - as well as how she found out the news, and how she plans...
Michael Kiwanuka: Interview
Video interview: Singer/Songwriter Michael Kiwanuka chats with Absolute Radio about being named as one of the 12 albums of the year at the 2012 Mercury Prize launch party. Talking to Adrian Hieatt, Michael explains...
