Corinne Bailey Rae, known for her megahit Put Your Records On, has landed a coveted 2024 Mercury Prize nomination with her first album in almost a decade.
The 45-year-old singer who broke out onto the scene in 2006 with her acclaimed self-titled debut album took an extended break from releasing music after dropping her 2016 album, The Heart Speaks in Whispers, which peaked at 14 in the UK charts.
In September 2023, the Grammy-winning artist made a triumphant return with her 10-track LP Black Rainbows, an R&B jazz record inspired by her visit to the the Stony Island Arts Bank archive in Chicago.
The Leeds-born singer has drawn inspiration from both the personal and political throughout her career.
In 2019, she told Metro.co.uk how her second album, The Sea, was written mostly about her grief after the death of her husband Jason Rae from an accidental overdose in 2008.
The album includes songs like The Blackest Lily and I’ll Do It All Again.
‘When I play them I feel a really strong connection with the audience,’ she said at the time.
‘I’ve got a lot of new people in my world through that record and when I spoke to them, there were a lot of people who’d had similar experiences of loss. So I feel a responsibility to people to recognise that part of my life and not to be like, I moved on.’
The artist joins an acclaimed line-up for the annual music award which celebrates ‘the work of both exciting emerging talent and more established bands and artists’ among British and Irish musicians.
Also featured in the nomination list is Charli XCX whose electro-pop album, Brat, has rapidly become the sound of the summer as it takes over TikTok and Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
Indie rock band The Last Dinner Party, who recently impressed fans at Glastonbury, have also seen viral fame with their hit Nothing Matters.
And former Brit award rising star nominee Cat Burns scored a nod for her debut album Early Twenties – following three acclaimed EPs.
The judges this year include broadcaster & writer Danielle Perry, Musician & Radio 2 broadcaster Jamie Cullum, Head of Music, Radio 2 & 6 Music, Jeff Smith and Radio 1 broadcaster and DJ, Sian Eleri.
Last year’s £25,000 prize was secured by London band Ezra Collective who made history as the first ever jazz win for their sophomore album Where I’m Meant to Be.
‘We met in a youth club,’ drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso said during the acceptance speech.
‘This moment we’re celebrating right here is testimony to good, special people putting time and effort into [helping] young people to play music … let’s continue to support that.’
This year’s winner will be revealed in September with the Prize’s broadcast partner BBC Music providing exclusive television and radio coverage.
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