Arlo Parks wins the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize

Announced during a ceremony at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo this evening, Arlo Parks has won this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize!

Up against 11 other acts, Arlo won with her stunning debut album ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’. Released in January, we said of the record from our Class of 2020 alum: “she makes light work of demonstrating exactly why the nation has become so invested in her art”.

The judging panel said “It was extremely difficult to choose a winner of the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize. There were so many strong albums, of such diversity and character. But in the end we decided that Arlo Parks was an extremely worthy winner. Addressing such complex issues as mental health and sexuality with real empathy, displaying a lyrical wisdom that belied her 21 years, with ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’ Arlo Parks has created an album that has captured the spirit of the year in a positive, forward thinking fashion. It has the ability to reach out and remind a wider audience of the timeless art of the album. Arlo is an artist who connects deeply with her generation and reflects the plurality of contemporary British life.”

Check out the full list of shortlisted acts below.

Arlo Parks - ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams‘
BERWYN - ‘DEMOTAPE/VEGA‘
Black Country, New Road - ‘For the First Time‘
Celeste - ‘Not Your Muse‘
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - ‘Promises‘
Ghetts - ‘Conflict of Interest‘
Hannah Peel - ‘Fir Wave‘
Laura Mvula - ‘Pink Noise‘
Mogwai - ‘As the Love Continues‘
Nubya Garcia - ‘SOURCE‘
SAULT - ‘Untitled (Rise)‘
Wolf Alice - ‘Blue Weekend‘