English Teacher are a British music group from Leeds and Lancashire, who formed in 2020.[1] They consist of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden.[2] In September 2024, the group were announced as winner of the Mercury Music Prize for their debut studio album "This Could Be Texas",[3] released through Island Records.
English Teacher | |
|---|---|
 English Teacher in early 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Leeds, England |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members |
|
| Website | englishteacherband |
History
editThe band met at Leeds Conservatoire.[4] They originally started as a dream pop band called 'Frank' in 2018 before playing their first gig as English Teacher in 2020. Frontwoman Lily Fontaine said of the shift: "The band that we were before, and the band that we are now, are so different. I think we've benefited from having time to figure ourselves out."[5]
The band's first single, 2021's "R&B", garnered both critical praise and mainstream radio play. The song sees Fontaine consider her place in the white, male world of indie-rock as a mixed race woman. They released the EP Polyawkward in April 2022 through Nice Swan Records.[6] NME called it " a deliciously sour debut EP, set to a soundtrack of restless art-punk."[7] The band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland in November 2023.[1] Their song "Nearly Daffodils" was named one of the 10 best songs of 2023 by Time magazine.[8]
In January 2024, the band announced their debut album This Could Be Texas, which was released on 12 April through Island Records.[9] The album was well received by critics, winning the 2024 Mercury Prize.[10][11] 2024 also saw English Teacher named Newcomer of the Year at the Northern Music Awards.[12]
This Could Be Texas
editEnglish Teacher released their debut studio album, This Could Be Texas, on 12 April 2024 through Island Records. The album received widespread critical acclaim. The Line of Best Fit suggested it "could be one of the finest debuts of the decade, with every band member shining in their ability and craftsmanship." It also lauded the band's "Northern charm".[13] On 5th September 2024, it was announced that the album won the 2024 Mercury Prize.[14][11] Judges said their album stood out "for its originality and character"[15] and displayed a "fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format”.[16] English Teacher’s Mercury Prize win ended a nine-year streak of London-based talent winning the award, sparking conversation about the disparity in opportunities for musicians across the United Kingdom.[17]
Band members
edit- Lily Fontaine – vocals, rhythm guitar, synth
- Lewis Whiting – lead guitar, synth
- Douglas Frost – drums, piano, synth, vocals
- Nicholas Eden – bass guitar
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [18] |
UK Phys [18] |
UK Sales [18] |
BE (FL) [19] |
SCO [18] | |||
| This Could Be Texas |
|
8 | 3 | 4 | 186 | 5 |
|
Live albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Phys [18] |
UK Sales [18] |
UK Vinyl [18] |
SCO [18] | ||
| Live At The Brudenell Social Club |
|
50 | 53 | 34 | 89 |
Extended plays
edit| Title | Release details |
|---|---|
| Polyawkward |
|
| Live from BBC Maida Vale |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Sales [18] |
UK Phys [18] |
UK Vinyl [18] | |||
| "You Won't Believe How Beautiful She Is When It Has Snowed" | 2020 | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "R&B (Theo Verney Version)" | 2021 | — | 21 | 13 | |
| "Song About Love" | 2023 | — | — | — | |
| "The World's Biggest Paving Slab" | 56 | 7 | 5 | This Could Be Texas | |
| "Nearly Daffodils" | — | — | — | ||
| "Mastermind Specialism" | — | — | — | ||
| "Albert Road" | 2024 | — | — | — | |
| "R&B" | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes release did not chart. | |||||
Videography
editMusic videos
edit| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "R&B (Theo Verney Version)"[22] | 2021 | Douglas Frost |
| "Good Grief"[23] | Lily Fontaine | |
| "Polyawkward"[24] | 2022 | Charles Gall |
| "Song About Love"[25] | 2023 | Lily Fontaine |
| "The World’s Biggest Paving Slab"[26] | Claryn Chong | |
| "Albert Road"[27] | 2024 | Douglas Frost, Sarah Oglesby |
| "R&B"[28] | Sarah Oglesby | |
| "The Best Tears of Your Life"[29] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Organisation | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Prize | 2024 | Album of the Year | This Could Be Texas | Won | [30] |
References
edit- ^ a b Reilly, Nick (28 November 2023). "Meet English Teacher, the Leeds group delivering endlessly inventive guitar music". rollingstone.co.uk. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Williams, Sophia (11 September 2023). "English Teacher: a vital voice from the heart of UK guitar music". nme.com. NME Networks. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (5 September 2024). "Leeds indie band English Teacher win Mercury prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Cross, Gemma (18 January 2023). "he Times Tips Graduate Band English Teacher as 2023 Rising Star". Leeds Conservatoire. Leeds Conservatoire. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Goggins, Joe (25 March 2024). "English Teacher: "We boxed ourselves in, and ended up having a bit of an identity crisis"". Loud and Quiet. Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Graye, Megan (11 July 2022). "English Teacher: 'Surrealism just makes me feel something, because life is so weird'". Independent. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Williams, Sophie (22 April 2022). "English Teacher – 'Polyawkward' EP review: lively art-punk with a lyrical edge". NME. NME. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Johnston, Maura (6 December 2023). "The 10 Best Songs of 2023". Time. Time USA, LLC. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (19 January 2024). "English Teacher announce their debut album, This Could Be Texas". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (25 July 2024). "Mercury prize 2024: Charli xcx, the Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons among nominees". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b Snapes, Laura (5 September 2024). "Leeds indie band English Teacher wins Mercury prize". The Guardian.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (24 April 2024). "Courteeners, English Teacher, Louis Tomlinson honoured at first ever Northern Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher's daring adventures cumulate in the outstanding This Could Be Texas". The Line of Best Fit. The Line of Best Fit. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher on their Mercury Prize nod: "It's worth pushing through the hard times"". NME. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher revealed as winner of Mercury Prize 2024 with This Could Be Texas". Sky News. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher win 2024 Mercury Prize: 'A fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format'". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Dazed (9 September 2024). "English Teacher's Mercury Prize win is a victory for the North". Dazed. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "English Teacher - Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Discografie English Teacher". Ultratop NL. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher win 2024 Mercury Prize: 'A fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format'". Music Week. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (30 August 2024). "English Teacher Share 'Live From BBC Maida Vale' EP". Clash. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "English Teacher - "R&B (Theo Verney Version)"". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "Good Grief"". 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "Polyawkward"". 22 April 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "Song About Love"". 24 January 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "The World's Biggest Paving Slab"". 11 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "Albert Road"". 19 January 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "R&B"". 15 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "English Teacher - "The Best Tears of Your Life"". 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Indie band English Teacher win Mercury Prize". BBC. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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