General News / January 9, 2019

RTÉ Choice Music Prize 2019 album shortlist revealed

General News / January 9, 2019

RTÉ Choice Music Prize 2019 album shortlist revealed

Big names in hip hop, electronica and indie and a couple of pleasant surprises.

 

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize project was established in 2005 to “highlight those albums which deserve some extra time in the spotlight and, ultimately, to select the album which best sums up the year in Irish music”. Each year a 13-strong panel Irish print, radio TV, online and more compile a short list, then collectively decide the winner.

Some big strides were made in the world of Irish hip hop in 2017 when Rusangano Family were awarded the prize for the breakthrough, and quite excellent, record ‘Let The Dead Bury The Dead‘. Many earmark this win as a significant moment in the hip hop renaissance Ireland has been experiencing over the past two or three years. Other winners over the years include Ships in 2018, Soak in 2015 and Villagers in 2013.

This year’s album of the year nominees are The Academic ‘Tales from the Backseat’, Delorentos ‘True Surrender’,  Just Mustard ‘Wednesday’, Wyvern Lingo ‘Wyvern Lingo’, O Emperor ‘Jason’, Lisa O’Neill ‘Heard A Long Gone Song’, Saint Sister ‘Shape of Silence’, Rejjie Snow ‘Dear Annie’, Villagers ‘The Art of Pretending to Swim’, Kojaque ‘Deli Daydreams’.

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event takes place in Vicar Street on March 7 with live performances as well as the much-anticipated awards.