Hot favourite Sampha was duly awarded the 2017 Mercury Prize yesterday evening.
The London-based songwriter and producer had been considered as the front-runner for this year’s award going into the ceremony at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo thanks to his debut album Process.
He held off competition from Kate Tempest’s Let Them Eat Chaos and previous winners The xx. “I’d like to dedicate this award to my parents,” he said after being handed the prize by actor Idris Elba. “They came over from Sierra Leone and just wanted to give us the best life possible.”
2017 Mercury Prize shortlist:
Alt-J – Relaxer
The Big Moon – Love In The 4th Dimension
Blossoms – Blossoms
Loyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone
Dinosaur – Together, As One
Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being
J Hus – Common Sense
WINNER Sampha – Process
Ed Sheeran – ÷
Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos
The xx – I See You