The former homeless busker dedicates win to Paris victims.
Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine has won the Mercury Prize Award for his debut album At Least For Now. Trumping the likes of Wolf Alice, Jamie XX and Florence And The Machine, Clementine has dedicated the win to the victims of last weeks horrific terrorist attacks in Paris. In tears as he was presented the award, Clementine told host Lauren Laverne that he “couldn’t believe he had won,” as he invited his fellow nominees onto the stage. Clementine spent time busking in Paris in his youth. He was homeless as the time. Upon accepting the award, he gave the following short speech:
“Don’t know what to say. Thank you very much. I’d like to thank music. I never thought I’d say this but to any child listening the world is your oyster… I’d like to dedicate this to the people of Paris.”
Deservedly won by Clementine by his excellently eery record, At Least For Now, this year’s Mercury Prize has been concluded. In truth, it could have gone to any one of this nominations, and Clementine was seen as a bit of an underdog compared to the likes if Ahpex Twin and Wolf Alice.
The 2016 nominations:
Aphex Twin – Syro
Benjamin Clementine – At Least For Now
C Duncan – Architect
Eska – Eska
Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Gaz Coombes – Matador
Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin
Jamie XX – In Colour
Róisín Murphy – Hairless Toys
Slaves – Are You Satisfied?
SOAK – Before We Forgot How To Dream
Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool
Watch Clementine’s video for ‘London’ here.