Mercury Prize nomination for Newcastle University colleagues

“It feels really special to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award, the Mercury Prize has long been the ‘go-to’ list of the best British and Irish albums made each year, so to be one of the 12 nominations for 2020 has blown us away,” said Bob, the band’s bassist and the University’s Engagement Support Coordinator.

”We have been making music and touring for years now and we put everything in to this new album, so it means a lot and for a band like us it will lead to so many more people discovering the record. It’s an honour to be included alongside so many great artists, just being shortlisted, we feel like we’ve already won!”

A beautiful plot twist

Hazel, the group’s singer, is a trial administrator in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. “We’ve always put our hearts into the music we make – but never more so than with this album.” she said. “We’re especially proud of this one. So to have it recognised in this way means more than I can say.

“With the tours being cancelled and everything being put on hold it was crushing to think that the record could be forgotten about. Then, right when we thought the story was over for this album, it gets nominated for the Mercury Prize. What a beautiful plot twist.”