Mercury Prize 2023: Olivia Dean reveals hopes to collaborate with ‘fan’ Elton John
T
hey say good issues occur in threes and, having launched her debut album, Messy and obtained a Mercury Prize nomination weeks aside, Olivia Dean is happy to see what comes subsequent.
“It’s too much! If anything else happens to me I’ll explode,” the 24-year-old, who’s of Guyanese-Jamaican and English descent, tells press together with the Standard on the launch for the annual award show’s shortlist at Marylebone’s The Langham.
While getting a canine or perhaps a automobile ranks excessive up on her record of hopes and goals, there’s one thing else she’s holding out for – a collaboration with none aside from Sir Elton John.
The music icon has made no secret that he’s a giant fan of hers, telling Clara Amfo that not solely does he have her album, he predicts that she is “going to be a big star”.
“She’s a fabulous singer, she’s beautiful, she’s got that personality that really shines through,” he enthused.
Adding: “I’m dying to meet her, I’m dying to talk to her and she is going to be a big star.”
That assembly lastly occurred after they each carried out at Glastonbury Festival earlier this month.
“It’s crazy! Elton John said he liked [my album] and I got to meet him at Glastonbury and he has just been really supportive overall,” she stated, seemingly in a state of disbelief in regards to the latest string of occasions.
Sir Elton, 76, is understood for championing youthful artists and whereas they haven’t had a dialogue about teaming up as of but, she’s now put the suggestion out into the universe.
“I’m a bit shy,” Dean confessed. “But maybe’s it on the cards, maybe he’d say yes. This is me unofficially asking, ‘Elton?’”
Dean is up in opposition to 11 different artists for the coveted gong, together with 2014 winners Young Fathers and singer-songwriter Jessie Ware for whom that is her second time being nominated.
Olivia Dean shared that she and fellow Mercury Prize nominee Raye went to highschool collectively
/ Getty ImagesAnother particular person additionally up for the coveted award is Raye, who Dean has a healthful connection to.
“She was in the year above me at The BRIT School and we sang in a couple of assemblies together and I’ve followed her career trajectory and everything that she does and I think she’s wicked.”
Last yr’s winner of the Mercury Prize was London-born rapper Little Simz.
This yr’s champion might be topped at a present on September 7 on the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.