The 2017 Mercury Prize Nominees

PHOTO: HANS NEUMANN.

The shortlist for the 2017 Mercury Prize was announced yesterday, with big-name acts like Ed Sheeran and The xx making the cut, but of the 12 British and Irish artists up to win the title of “Album of the Year” and £25,000 from Hyundai, we’re rooting for three whose albums caught our attention this year. Learn more about their art and influences below. 

• Loyle Carner, Yesterday’s Gone (AMF). 

• Sampha, Process (Young Turks). 

• The Big Moon, Love in the 4th Dimension (StarTime International/Columbia).