English Teacher have spoken to NME about their historic win at the 2024 Mercury Prize, sharing how still strive to use their platform to help fight for a fairer world for artists across the UK.
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The Leeds band and former NME Cover stars – comprised of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden – got fans talking when they took home the victory last night (September 5) for their acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’ – beating off tough competition from the likes of Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, The Last Dinner Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.
Theirs was the first Mercury Prize win by a non-London act since Edinburgh’s Young Fathers won in 2014.
Speaking to NME at the Abbey Roads Studio ceremony, the band opened up about how they were not expecting such high praise for the album, as well as recalling what the victory meant to them.
“The response to the album has been incredible, we did not expect it at all. We were actually very worried about it and expecting the opposite, so it’s been surreal,” explained Frost. “I feel like it’s going to take me a long long time for this to sink in. As soon as it was announced, my whole body just shut down.”
Vocalist Lily Fontaine agreed, describing the occasion as “the best day of my life, including my wedding and my funeral”, while Whiting added that, going forward, “It’ll take a lot to top this”.
Recalling the band’s victory speech –which saw them emotionally thank family and friends alongside the Leeds music scene and local venue the Brudenell Social Club – Whiting shared: “That was classic English Teacher stuff. We’re very unorganised people. There were plenty of people we should have thanked but we panicked in the moment.
“It was an absolute bucket list thing and it means the world to be alongside the winners of the past. Some of my favourite albums are there, some massive inspirations, so to be in the same category as some of those artists is an honour.”
As well as sharing their love for other nominees shortlisted for the 2024 Mercury Prize – namely Charli XCX, Nia Archives and Corinne Bailey Rae – the band also told us more about their progress on new material, which will see them build upon their already-signature sound.
“Coming up next we have a US tour supporting IDLES, we have a UK tour, supporting ourselves, then a European tour… also supporting ourselves! Then somewhere in between all of that, we’ve got some writing,” Whiting said, while Eden made a nod to the recent Oasis reunion, joking that the victory could give them an excuse to “break up now and do a reunion tour 15 years later.”
While confirming that the writing process for the follow-up to ‘This Could Be Texas’ is still in its infant stages, the members did reveal that they have already completed one new song and have a feel for what the new direction could be.
“What we played in our rehearsal yesterday is already like an amalgamation of every single track on this album. It’s so satisfying in that way,” Eden explained, while Whiting added: “The first song we’ve written for the second album does feel like an extension of the first. But I’m sure as it goes along we’ll faff about and figure something out.”
As well as sharing their critically acclaimed debut album, English Teacher have also become one of the acts leading the way when it comes to spotlighting the struggles facing new artists and using their platform to help protect the future of live music in the UK.
Having already spoken out in Parliament about the difficulties that new talent face when trying to establish themselves, Lily Fontaine said that English Teacher want to continue to try and make a difference going forward.
“It was never a conscious [choice] to be like ‘We’re going to be one of those bands that does that’,” she explained. “It’s just that when we get asked questions about those things, we’re always going to be honest. If we continue to be put in situations where we’re asked about that, we will continue to be honest about it.”
Announcing as this year’s winners, 6 Music’s Jamz Supernova described the album as one that stood out to the judges “for its originality and character, a winning lyrical mix of surrealism and social observation, alongside a subtle way of wearing its musical innovations lightly, displays a fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format.”
During the band’s acceptance speech, Whiting thanked “everyone in Leeds,” while the members all made mention to their friends and family. ”My mum did the artwork [for the album] so I want to give a special thanks to her,” added Fontaine, who also made a nod to the music scene in their home city, including live venue Brudenell Social Club.
In a five-star review of the album, NME concluded: “What you have in ‘This Could Be Texas’ is everything you want from a debut; a truly original effort from start to finish, an adventure in sound and words, and a landmark statement.
“Poised for big things? Who knows if this industry even allows that anymore. Here are a band already dealing in brilliance, though – who dare to dream and have it pay off. Not everyone gets to go to space, but at least English Teacher make it a damn site more interesting being stuck down here.”
