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Barry Can't Swim and corto.alto shortlisted for Mercury prize

BBC Scottish DJ Barry Can't Swim BBC
Barry Can't Swim became interested in clubbing through nights out in Edinburgh

Two Scottish acts are in the running for one of music's biggest prizes.

Edinburgh DJ Barry Can't Swim and Glasgow jazz musician corto.alto have been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.

Other nominees on the 12 strong shortlist include pop star Charli XCX, Portishead singer Beth Gibbons and indie band the Last Dinner Party.

Corto.alto, aka Liam Shortall, said he was "in disbelief" at being nominated for the honour.

Albums are eligible if they were released between July 2023 and July 2024, with the the winner announced at a ceremony in September.

Shortall is in contention for his debut album Bad With Names, a record he previously described as being heavily influenced by Glasgow.

Originally from Dumfries and a member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, the multi-instrumentalist's early EPs were written while living on Sauchiehall Street, while he has called Bad With Names "a timestamp in the history of Glasgow jazz".

PA Media corto.alto, aka Liam Shortall, at the Mercury Music Prize announcementPA Media
corto.alto, aka Liam Shortall, said his record was inspired by Glasgow

He told BBC Scotland News: "I’m so surprised and in disbelief to be shortlisted. It’s been a total dream of mine since I started making music, and I'm so proud to be representing Scottish music along side Barry Can’t Swim.

"I made this album in my flat in Govanhill, over two years, with some of my best friends.

"We released it on a small indie label, New Soilx Bridge The Gap, with massive help from a small team led by my brilliant manager Eric. We never ever expected it to go as far as it has."

He added that it was "an honour" to be in contention.

Electronic act Barry Can't Swim - real name Joshua Mainnie - grew up in Edinburgh, and became interested in clubbing through nights at the city's Cabaret Voltaire and Sneaky Pete's venues.

His first album - When Will We Land? - reached 12 in the UK charts in October 2023.

Previous Scottish winners of the honour over the years include Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand and Young Fathers.

Among other acts in the running are Corinne Bailey Rae, who has returned with the album Black Rainbows, and Irish singer CMAT with her album Crazymad, For Me.

A number of debut records have made the shortlist including Early Twenties by singer Cat Burns and Silence Is Loud by jungle artist Nia Archives.

The shortlisted albums were announced on Thursday by radio presenter Tom Ravenscroft, standing in for Mary Anne Hobbs, on BBC Radio 6 Music.

An independent judging panel that included jazz pianist Jamie Cullum and DJ Mistajam, selected the nominees.

Last year's award was won by jazz group Ezra Collective.