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Little Simz Is the Mercury Prize 2022 Winner

Little Simz Wins the Mercury Prize 2022: "We Change People's Lives With Our Music"

Little Simz Is the Mercury Prize 2022 Winner

On 18 Oct., Little Simz was officially declared the winner of the Mercury Prize 2022. The ceremony, which was originally due to take place on 8 Sept. but was postponed in light of the Queen's death, was hosted by Lauren Laverne and Jamz Supernova, as they announced "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" the winning album and awarding Little Simz with the £25,000 cheque.

"This accomplished and complex yet entirely accessible album is the work of someone striving constantly to push herself," the judging panel announced in a press release received by POPSUGAR. "It deals with themes both personal and political while putting them against music that is as sophisticated as it is varied. The Mercury Prize is all about shining a light on albums of lasting value and real artistry. 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert' has both."

The London rapper took to the stage to thank the the panel for the honour and those who have supported her. "Wow. I'm very very overwhelmed, I'm very grateful," she said. "Glory to God – God thank you so much; to my family over here, my loved ones right here. I wanna say a huge thank you to the Mercury and FREE NOW for this incredible, incredible prize. I wanna say a thank you to my brother and close collaborator Inflo – Flo has known me since I was so young, he's stuck by me, we created this album together. There was times in the studio I didn't know if I was gonna finish this record, I was feeling all the emotions and really going through it . . . he stuck by me and he pushed me to deliver this album for you guys."

The humble 28-year-old went on to congratulate the other nominees who had been singled out for their incredible albums, too. "All of you guys are incredible, we all made incredible albums, we all change people's lives with our music and that's the most important thing, so this is for us really, you know what I'm saying?" Little Simz was up against fierce competition from incredible UK and Irish artists. Sam Fender, Self-Esteem, Wet Leg, and Joy Crookes were just some of the other nominees. Spanning music genres from rap to Cornish folk-rock, it was arguably the most wide-ranging list in recent years.

Styles's album "Harry's House" was the most pop album to have made the cut, while Fender marked his Mercury Prize debut with "Seventeen Going Under". Gwenno's album, "Tresor", which is performed almost entirely in Cornish made the list, while this was actually Little Simz second nomination, following her 2019 acknowledgement for her album, "Grey Area".

Winning this prestigious award tops off a groundbreaking year for Little Simz who also won the Best New Artist award at the Brits 2022 and Best UK Solo Act at the 2022 NME Awards. Wearing an oversized black blazer with pleated midi skirt, socks, and Prada loafers, she performed at the event that took place at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith alongside 10 of the other nominees. Harry Styles was the only nominee who could not be there in person as he is currently on tour.

Read ahead to see the nominees at the event.

Who won the Mercury Prize 2022?

Little Simz — "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert"

Who was on the Mercury Prize 2022 Shortlist?

Fergus McCreadie — "Forest Floor"
Gwenno — "Tresor"
Harry Styles — "Harry's House"
Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler — "For All Our Days That Tear The Heart"
Joy Crookes — "Skin"
Kojey Radical — "Reason To Smile"
Little Simz — "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert"
Nova Twins — "Supernova"
Self-Esteem — "Prioritise Pleasure"
Sam Fender — "Seventeen Going Under"
Wet Leg — "Wet Leg"
Yard Act — "The Overload"

Who won the Mercury Prize 2021?

Last year's Mercury Prize winner was Arlo Parks who received the accolade for her album "Collapsed in Sunbeams". She beat the likes of Celeste and Wolf Alice to the esteemed prize.

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