00:00I literally prayed for either a boyfriend or a Mercury.
00:04Congratulations.
00:06Three years ago you were shortlisted for a Mercury prize.
00:09Tonight you are the winner of 2026 Album of the Year.
00:12What does that feel like?
00:13Just honestly, I don't know.
00:18You know, I just poured so much heart into this album.
00:22I really did.
00:23Down to the wire.
00:24I set myself a goal to just want to make the most ambitious album.
00:28I wanted to, you know, we have about four orchestras worth of musicians on this.
00:34And then amazing musicians in my band and then my MD.
00:38And we made live arrangements.
00:39And so much passion and love for music went into this album.
00:44And really this accolade is, to me, a serious, like really serious, you know.
00:51And something I always dreamed to one day receive.
00:54So I just feel really grateful.
00:57And just, you know, this is the best birthday present I could ask for.
01:01Yeah, I just feel really seriously seen, you know.
01:05Because, yeah, there's always a battle between art and commercial or sustain, you know.
01:13Who's having the biggest this?
01:14What's going on there?
01:16And just to feel seen.
01:19Like I talk a lot.
01:20I talk a lot on these songs, you know what I mean?
01:22And I just, look, art is subjective.
01:26It's not everyone's cup of tea, you know.
01:29There's, there's, there's, and I think I really, I'm really grateful that this music is found its way to ears.
01:35Who just appreciate it the way I hoped it could be appreciated, you know.
01:41There are songs that, there are a lot, you know.
01:46There are songs that are like very dramatic and very long and large.
01:49And I just feel, I just feel really, really blessed.
01:53I'm just grateful that, yeah, this album is Scott Mercury.
01:58Yeah.
02:00Tomorrow is round two at the Royal Albert Hall.
02:02The first time there was like one of the great, if not the greatest night of my life.
02:06Um, so we'll be there with the Heritage Orchestra and the Flames Collective.
02:10And we're literally performing this album from front to back.
02:13And I just can't believe the timing of this.
02:17Uh, it's really just ridiculous, really.
02:20I feel like it's serendipitous.
02:22It's just a joke, but it's not.
02:24But I, yeah, I'm sorry.
02:25Yeah, rest well earned, I think.
02:27Give it up for Ray, everybody.
02:29Thank you for this lovely interview.
02:31You're so lovely.
