Speech Debelle
So after all the debates and rumours the wait is finally over. Announced moments ago was the winner of the coveted Mercury Music Prize, and the winner is ‘Speech Debelle’ for her album ‘Speech Therapy’
This years contenders were very strong indeed. Florence & The Machine being the bookies favourites to win this year and also some strong competition from Friendly Fires, Glasvegas, Kasabian and La Roux. But it was a young female rapper from South London that blew them all out of the water.
She says she wanted to make an album that was like a rap version of Tracy Chapman, and I think the girl has done just that. She has a strong youthful voice and Speech Debelle raps about her own personal demons in her songs. She has this folky/hip-hop sound to her album that believe or not isn’t totally new, but Speech Debelle does do it well and shines above her peers in the lyrical game. Live instrumental sounds mixed with samples but all done in a very intelligent way and at such a young age her career after this can only get stronger.
In an interview with BBC’s Newsbeat shortly before the release of her debut record, she discussed her love of reggae, which inspired the Mercury-winning album: “”There’s something in the timing of reggae, it sits perfectly with a heartbeat. It’s not rushed it’s not too slow,” she said. “I see sound in a sort of physical way, I’d hear a piece of music and it hits me in the stomach. Or it tugs at me. Or it pushes me.”
She also discussed the intimacy of her songs with The Guardian recently, telling of the personal emotions that she pores into her songs, which are most apparent on the album’s title track: “I don’t like to perform that one. It’s still too close, too painful. A lot of stuff is just mine and I’m not ready to let go of it yet. The main reason I’m so open is because I don’t think about anyone hearing these songs yet. They are my own private thoughts. Maybe I’m still a bit naive, but that might make me fearless, too.”
She is the first R&B act to win the prize since Dizzee Rascal, who’s album ‘Boy In Da Corner’ came out on top in 2003. As well as the prestigious title, she takes home a cheque for £20,000.
This writer to be honest wanted The Horrors to win, as I think that album is phenomenal and sounds amazing. But after watching the show, Speech Debelle was definitely a deserving winner and I’m just glad it went to a young artist that could definitely benefit from such an accolade.
Congratulations Speech Debelle from Live4ever.
Check her out here…. http://www.myspace.com/speechdebellemusic