Kate Tempest was honoured to be nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize because she has been "in love" with music her entire life.
The 28-year-old poet-and-rapper lost out on the prestigious award – which recognises the best British or Irish album of the last year – to Young Fathers but she insisted just being up for the accolade was a massive deal for her.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the ceremony at The Roundhouse in London on Wednesday night (29.10.14), she said: "Just being nominated genuinely feels like a dream. It’s been an amazing day. The whole process has been unbelievable. It’s just been such a treat to hang out with some of the other artists backstage and suddenly it all feels so real. To be a part of something which to me is so important, it feels magical, a really important milestone.
"It feels extremely exciting for me because I’ve been in love with music all my life and I’ve been working since I was 16 – which is 12 years ago. For me to be having my album recognised like this, it’s unbelievable, it’s incredible."
Kate wasn’t too disappointed her LP ‘Everybody Down’ lost out on the award and £20,000 cheque to hip-hop group Young Fathers’ album ‘Dead’ because she is a huge fan of their music.
She added: "Young Fathers are my heroes, I love them so much that I can’t really be around them without embarrassing myself. Every time I watch them I feel enriched with a beautiful spiritual energy. I know its a cheesy thing to say but for me it’s definitely a spiritual experience watching them perform. They’re a real strong hope for British music and I can’t tell you how much I love them and that album and what they do."
Other nominees for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize included Damon Albarn, FKA twigs and Jungle..
Kate Tempest is ‘in love’ with music
