Mercury Prize 2015 - Benjamin Clementine: “We’ve already won - all of us.”

“We’ve already won - all of us,” says Benjamin Clementine of the Mercury Prize shortlist. “Twelve artists have already won. Anyone who gets it today, I will just congratulate them and wish them all the best.”

He does have his favourites, though. “I like C Duncan very much,” says Benjamin, “he’s amazing, he really is.”

Benjamin Clementine’s story is like few others - his nominated record ‘At Least For Now’ written on a life that ‘turbulent’ doesn’t quite do justice to. “I certainly will be mentioning some names if I do end up on the podium,” he says, reflecting on his past. “I’ll be very proud - I’m already proud. We’ll see what happens.”

It’s his brother, Joseph Clementine, who’ll be getting the biggest thanks though. “He helped me a lot,” he laughs, thinking back to his education: “He gave me a big English dictionary to read.”