Mercury Prize Pocket Guides: Part 2

In the second part of three pocket guides, Matt Everitt profiles four of this year’s Mercury Award nominated albums, with archive interviews and deep cuts.

The first album he covers is by South London R&B singer Joy Crookes. Skin is her debut album; described as autobiographical, it melds a classic-yet-modern soul sound with lyrics about heartbreak and identity.

Kojey Radical has been a part of the British rap scene since 2014, but it was in 2022 that he released his debut album. Reason to Smile has been described as ‘era-defining’ and mixes dancehall with neo-soul and jazz.

Next is the ambitious Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz. The album features gorgeous string arrangements combined with Simbi’s distinctive flow and captivating storytelling.

Finally, Matt profiles Supernova by rock duo Nova Twins. This energetic release is one of the few harder rock albums to have ever received a Mercury nom. Their lyrics are inspired by their own increasingly diverse audiences.