"This album is the journey from that pain to joy, and the connective word in the middle is hope"
"It's an absolute honour and it's amazing it's happened up here, for the first time outside of London," Fender said of his win tonight in Newcastle
The winner will be announced this week in Newcastle
Sam Fender, Pulp, FKA Twigs, Jacob Alon and five more nominees are set to take to the stage at the Utilita Arena on October 16
The Coventry star talks enjoying life and music all the more after being freed from prison, and how it shaped his Mercury nominated album ‘Afrikan Alien’
This year's ceremony takes place next month in Newcastle
Fontaines D.C., JADE, Jordan Rakei and more have also received nominations
Refused, Pa Salieu and Kelly Lee Owens are also among the new names
The UK garage track follows Salieu's recently released mixtape 'Afrikan Alien'
After having his momentum halted by a hefty prison sentence, the British-Gambian rapper is back with a mixtape that’s both pensive and enthralling
PS