The Last Dinner Party talk creating “a sense of community” at 2024 Mercury Prize
nme.comFormer Cover stars The Last Dinner Party have spoken to NME at the 2024 Mercury Prize, and recalled how they managed to build a “sense of community” with their fans.The London band released their acclaimed debut record, ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ back in February.
It subsequently became the biggest UK Number One debut album in nine years, and named by NME as one of the 10 best debut albums of 2024 so far.It was also shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize, alongside albums from Charli XCX, CMAT, Ghetts, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Gibbons, Barry Can’t Swim and more.
However, it was Leeds band and former NME Cover stars English Teacher who achieved victory at the Abbey Road ceremony, and became the first non-London winner of the award in a decade.While on the red carpet for the event last night (September 5), bassist Georgia Davies and guitarist Emily Roberts caught up with NME, and explained what it was like to see their first record resonate with fans on such a vast scale.“We didn’t expect anything like that to happen, to be honest,” Davies said, adding that it is only just beginning to sink in. “Day to day sometimes we’ll be like ‘OK, this is our job’ and we’ll just get on with it.
But every now and then, there comes an occasion like this and we get to take a step back and be like ‘Holy shit, we did it. We made a good album!’”Looking back at their impressive list of accolades – which have so far included a BRIT Rising Star Award, slots at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds, and an upcoming film – the members went on to explain why it is the fan response that will always mean the most to them.“A lot of people seem to connect with the themes of the album,” Davies said when asked what they’re most proud of.
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