Jockstrap have spoken with NME on the Mercury Prize crimson carpet and shared their love of Irish folks band Lankum, in addition to teasing a brand new music set for launch subsequent week. Try the complete interview above.
Forward of their efficiency at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo final evening (September 7), the duo – comprised of Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye – caught up with NME to mirror on the response to new album ‘I Love You Jennifer B’ and the upcoming music they’ve on the horizon.
Whereas retaining any particular particulars on the monitor firmly beneath wraps, the duo did say that since they fashioned in 2016 they’ve change into extra “assured” of their creative selections, and extra keen to collaborate with different artists.
This, they defined, will probably be seen in a brand new music set for launch subsequent week, which contains a thriller visitor. “We’re joined by a star… I can’t let you know who,” Ellery teased, whereas Skye offered one other trace at who the artist could also be, saying: “New gen. It’s a brand new gen of artists…”
Elsewhere within the interview, the London-based duo seemed again on the overwhelmingly constructive response from followers throughout their latest run of stay reveals, and defined the way it felt to open for Blur at their mammoth Wembley present earlier this 12 months.
Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye of Jockstrap attend The Mercury Prize 2023 awards present at Eventim Apollo on September 7, 2023 in London CREDIT: JMEnternational/Getty Photos
“It’s been a extremely good response over the previous 12 months. We’ve been very fortunate. Had some nice festivals, individuals singing alongside. Couldn’t ask for extra,” Ellery started. “They received the memo. They know what to do, which is simply have a extremely good time. Sing. Dance. Kiss. Cry…”
Skye agreed, happening to mirror on how they discovered an viewers of Britpop followers on the latest present with Damon Albarn and Co. “We gained them over, yeah. They beloved it!,” he instructed NME, whereas Ellery added that in addition they “received down and bowed” for them on the finish of their set.
“There was solely like 100 individuals there, however the 100 of them that had been there…” Skye continued. “We had been enjoying fairly early on within the day, nevertheless it was nonetheless actually good. It’s like being in a recreation, it’s bizarre [to play] on this loopy stadium!”
Talking of enjoying alongside enormous names, the art-pop duo additionally named each Dave and Weyes Blood as the 2 artists they’d most wish to work alongside subsequent, in addition to sharing their love for fellow Mercury Prize shortlist artist, Lankum.
Daragh Lynch, Ian Lynch and Cormac MacDiarmada from Lankum attend the 2023 Mercury Prize Launch (Picture by JMEnternational/Getty Photos)
“We’re new to Lankum and had been actually impressed by them,” Skye defined when requested about which albums they’ve been having fun with in latest months. “We’re dipping our toes in slowly as a result of it’s fairly uncommon music, we’re taking our time [exploring it],” he added.
Ellery agreed, confirming that whereas she hasn’t “listened to the entire album but,” the sections she has heard up till now have been “wonderful”.
Alongside Jockstrap and Lankum, different shortlisted artists for this 12 months’s Mercury Prize included Loyle Carner, Raye, Younger Fathers, Arctic Monkeys, Fred Once more.., Shygirl and Jessie Ware.
It was British jazz band Ezra Collective who who took residence the coveted award, nevertheless, and spoke with NME about what it meant to be representing the jazz group on the prestigious award ceremony.