Few albums in recent times showcase such beautiful and compelling contrasts as Emma-Jean Thackray’s ‘Weirdo’. Created in the wake of an unimaginable personal loss, while also reflecting on neurodivergence, this diverse jazz-funk fusion album will gently surprise you with its striking mix of heartfelt lyrics and uplifting melodies. Thackray describes being shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize as “bucket list sh*t”. This honor adds to the growing list of impressive accomplishments for ‘Weirdo’, including high-profile guest appearances like Reggie Watts, collaboration with Gilles Peterson’s renowned label Brownswood Recordings, and a performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Yet, as she shares here, receiving feedback from fans who resonate with the album's intricate themes is “all she could ever hope for.” It serves as a thoughtful and sincere reminder of the fundamental essence of music from a unique and insightful British artist.
What was your initial response to being shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize, and have your feelings evolved since then?
It’s definitely such an honor. I believe it’s the most significant music prize globally because it focuses on art over commercial success. However, it’s also a complex situation. The album represents the best work I've ever created, but it emerged from a very challenging time. So I have mixed emotions about it.
Were you at all taken aback by the reception to ‘Weirdo’? Did people understand it as you had envisioned?
Honestly, I didn’t do much envisioning. While creating the record, I was primarily focused on myself—what I needed to express and create. I overlooked the fact that others would be listening. When they finally did, the feedback was fantastic. I've received messages from people sharing that it has been profoundly meaningful to them, helping them navigate their own grief and issues related to neurodivergence and queerness—elements that have made them feel marginalized. That’s all I could ever aspire to; fostering a community of outcasts and bringing us together.
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The ultimate guide to the 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist by DIY.
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The ultimate guide to the 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist by DIY.
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