Gwenno’s Cornish album gives her shot at top award
A WELSH musician has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize alongside Harry Styles.
Gwenno, from Cardiff, is nominated for her album Tresor, which is sung almost entirely in Cornish.
The daughter of poet Tim Saunders, Gwenno grew up in Wales speaking Cornish as her first language alongside Welsh.
Former One Direction starturned-solo artist Styles, 28, has been nominated for his third solo studio album, Harry’s House, which has just earned its sixth week at number one on the UK album charts.
The 12-strong list in the running for the award, which recognises the best British album of the year, also features Leeds-based rock group Yard Act for their debut studio album, The Overload, and best rock alternative act Brit award-winner Sam Fender’s Seventeen Going Under.
Little Simz, who won best new artist at the Brit awards, secured another Mercury nomination this year for Sometimes I Might be
Introvert, having featured in the 2019 shortlist for her album Grey.
Bafta-nominated actress Jessie Buckley, who recently won an Olivier award for best actress following her role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, also features on the list for her album For All Our Days That Tear The Heart with Bernard Butler.
Isle of Wight band Wet Leg have also been nominated for their self-titled album, while pianist Fergus McCreadie was shortlisted for album Forest Floor following the highly acclaimed Cairn, released last year.
British musician Self Esteem appears for her second studio album, Prioritise Pleasure, while singer-songwriter Joy Crookes’ debut album, Skin, also features.
Rock duo Nova Twins have been nominated for their album Supernova, alongside British musical artist Kojey Radical for Reason To Smile.
The awards show will take place on September 8 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London.