Lauren Laverne on the workings of the Mercury Prize

Lauren Laverne

Ever wondered exactly how the judging panel comes to its decision on the winner of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize? Muso’s Guide caught up with previous judge and current BBC presenter Lauren Laverne for the inside track just before the winner was revealed.

MG: Hey Lauren. What are you up to tonight?

LL: I am here to present BBC2’s live coverage. We’re live from 10-10.30, Jools is gonna be doing the announcement live on the show and I throw to him. Get this – I’m in charge of him! Obviously, he has to be there or the whole thing falls down like a pack of cards… I’ve been here all day observing, enjoying, drinking in the atmosphere.

MG: Come on then – who do you think will win the Prize?

LL: I’ve judged before for a few years and I’m just glad I’m not this year ‘cos it’s very very close, a tough call and a strong list. Usually it’s between ‘X’ and ‘Y’ but this year I think it could go any way. You know, you’ve got Florence – I love her so much and would be so glad if she won – and then you’ve got big hitters like Kasabian, all the way to these really small bands like Sweet Billy Pilgrim. Their album was recorded in a shed and only sold 1000 [copies] pre-nomination. Tim from the band found out they were nominated when he was fitting a toilet for work and actually, do you know what, they’ve got a really good shot! So I just don’t know, I can’t call it.

MG: How exactly does the judging panel work?

LL: It’s so complicated; it depends, really, from year to year. They always say you can’t judge it on “what is the best album?” as that’s subjective, so they’ll be looking for something that sums up the year. I think they’re looking for something that represents Britain and Ireland; you know, they’re looking for a number of things, and you can see what would tick those boxes but it depends. I sort of know who’s on the panel, and having done it for a few years I can hear their arguments but even then I don’t know which way it’s gonna go. It’s sort of like Twelve Angry Men but with vol au vents! Lots of shots of people with beads of sweat glistening on foreheads… They’ll still be doing it now, downstairs in a room. You get brought up to watch the performances and then you get taken back down, and you get your dinner, and depending how difficult the decision is, you either eat it or not!

MG: Have you heard about Los Campesinos! and Dananananaykroyd planning to go on tour and cover Kenickie songs?

LL: No, really!? My goodness. Well, Dananananaykroyd, their singer is married to Jaff from The Futureheads and Barry from The Futureheads goes out with Marie who used to be in Kenickie [Lauren's got a bit mixed up here! Ed.], so there is linkage there: a Venn diagram to be had.

MG: One last question: will Kenickie ever reform?

LL: Errrr, I think probably not, I don’t see it. When you’ve got hot young properties like Dananananaykroyd and Los Campesinos! covering you, the pop scene has no need of us.

And with that she tottered off in her very glam high heels, ready to begin the tag-team with Jools and announce that Speech Debelle is 2009’s Mercury Prize winner.