‘They can lose my number’: Laura Mvula claims she was ‘robbed’ of Album Of The Year gong at Mercury Prize awards after losing out to Arlo Parks
Laura Mvula has said she was ‘robbed’ of the Hyundai Mercury Prize during the awards ceremony in London on Thursday.
The Got Me hitmaker, 35, was among the 12 shortlisted acts in contention for the prestigious Album of the Year prize with her acclaimed LP, Pink Noise, however, she lost out to Arlo Parks studio album Collapsed In Sunbeams.
And while the singer-songwriter has insisted she is happy for the 21-year-old star, she’s frustrated that her record was not the judging panel’s overall winner.
‘They can lose my number’: Laura Mvula has said she was ‘robbed’ of the Album Of The Year gong at the Hyundai Mercury Prize awards ceremony in London on Thursday after losing out to Arlo Parks
Taking to Twitter after performing at the awards show at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo, Laura wrote: ‘I get robbed. A lot,’ before adding: ‘Mercury Prize can lose my number.’
And responding to a follower who told her to be happy for Arlo, she replied: ‘You miss my point.’
The BRIT Award-winner received a winner’s trophy and a cheque for £25,000, before she also performed a song titled Too Good, which was taken from the winning album.
In her emotional speech, Arlo said: ‘Wow, I’m completely speechless. I don’t have the words.
Dismayed: The hitmaker, 35, was among the 12 shortlisted acts in contention for the prize with her LP, Pink Noise, however Arlo, 21, (pictured) reigned victorious with her album Collapsed In Sunbeams
‘It took a lot of sacrifice and hard work to get here and there were moments where I wasn’t sure I would make it through. But I’m here. Thank you very much.’
The judging panel – which included 2020 winner Michael Kiwanuka – said of their decision: ‘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.
Gutted: Taking to Twitter after performing at the awards show at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo, Laura wrote: ‘I get robbed. A lot,’ before adding: ‘Mercury Prize can lose my number’
Ouch: And responding to a follower who told her to be happy for Arlo, she replied: ‘You miss my point’
‘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.’
Arlo also beat off competition from the likes of Wolf Alice, Celeste, Berwyn, Ghetts, Hannah Peel, Nubya Garcia, Sault, and Mogwai to be named the recipient of the Mercury Prize.
Also nominated were Black Country, New Road and Floating Points, and Pharoah Sanders and The London Symphony Orchestra.
Winner: The BRIT Award-winner received a winner’s trophy and a cheque for £25,000, before she also performed a song titled Too Good, which was taken from the winning album