Charli XCX is officially bringing "brat summer" to the Mercury Prize - after being shortlisted alongside other artists including Ghetts, Barry Can't Swim and Nia Archives. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has made the 12-strong shortlist for the second time with her blockbuster sixth album Brat, the force behind the viral trend that has even become part of the presidential race . Described by the star, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, as being representative of a "girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes" - the trend has gone viral on social media following the album release in June.
This year's Mercury Prize shortlist also includes seven debut albums, including Cat Burns' Early Twenties, Nia Archives' Silence Is Loud, Barry Can't Swim's When Will We Land?, Last Dinner Party's Prelude To Ecstasy, corto.alto's Bad With Names, and English Teacher's This Could Be Texas. And Portishead singer Beth Gibbons, a former winner who picked up the prize with the trip hop act's debut album Dummy back in 1994, is now nominated for the first time in her own name, for her debut solo album Lives Outgrown.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT also makes the list for the first time, for her second album Crazymad, For Me. Like Charli XCX , this is also second time round for Ghetts , for his fourth album, On Purpose, With Purpose, and Corinne Bailey Rae, who is recognised for her fourth album, Black Rainbows. Completing the list, rapper Berwyn fir.