Clementine Dedicates Mercury Prize To Paris

Benjamin Clementine has been announced as the winner of the Mercury Prize, the UK's most prestigious music award.

The 25-year-old's debut album At Least For Now beat competition from the likes of Florence + The Machine, Wolf Alice and Supergrass star Gaz Coombes.
As he accepted the £20,000 prize at a ceremony in London, the singer and pianist broke into tears and dedicated the win to those killed in last week's Paris terror attacks.

Benjamin Clementine with his accolade

"Before I finish, I just want to say that I dedicate this - I know this is about music - but I dedicate it to what happened about four or five days ago in Paris."
He said the attacks left him feeling "very sad" and "heartbroken".
"I went there on Saturday. I went there and sent my condolences by going to the Bataclan (concert hall) and mourned for a little bit, then I felt free - like a weight had been pulled off my shoulders."
Clementine was raised in north London but moved to Paris in his 20s, busking on the Metro before earning a music contract.

Clementine playing at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year

The Mercury Prize judging panel called Clementine's debut album "dramatic, intimate and pulsatingly original" and hailed him as "a remarkable new pianist and singer".
The award allows up-and-coming artists greater exposure, even if they are merely nominated, and is highly regarded because it is not judged on commercial success.
Also among the 12 acts nominated were Ghostpoet, Scottish composer C Duncan, punk duo Slaves, Zimbabwean-born Eska and Soak - 19-year-old Belfast-born Bridie Monds-Watson.