It has been quite a week for English Teacher. The band entered the UK top ten with their critically-acclaimed debut album, and were then honoured in the first Northern Music Awards.
English Teacher. Photo credit: Denmarc Creary
Debut album, This Could Be Texas, represents the four songwriters’ sonic journeys thus far with some tracks written during their time at Leeds Conservatoire and others in the weeks before entering the studio.
Members Lily Fontaine and Douglas Frost studied BA (Hons) Music (Popular) at Leeds Conservatoire; Lewis Whiting and Nicholas Eden studied BA (Hons) Music (Production).
The album went straight to number eight in the Official UK Albums Chart and has been widely well-received. This recent feature in The Guardian, as an example, bills the band as “one to watch” and also acknowledges their northern affiliation:
“With the breakout British bands of recent years, much of that hype has orbited south London. But English Teacher are reorienting northward, with smart songwriting that feels fresh.”
In the evening of Tuesday 23 April, the band performed and were presented with the prestigious Newcomer of the Year accolade at the first Northern Music Awards, run by the music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins. The awards took place at Manchester’s Albert Hall.
Nadra Shah, Director of Engagement and Communications at Nordoff and Robbins, shared the following:
“We’ve had an amazing night honouring the enormous success of both established artists and some of the region's most exciting new emerging talent. The awards aim to support and help to grow the eco system of northern musicians whilst shining a light on the transformative work that Nordoff and Robbins does with music therapy to connect with some of the region’s most isolated communities.”
Top artists at the awards, including Lisa Stansfield, Tim Burgess of The Charlatans and Liam Fray of The Courteeners, emphasised that more should be done to help talented emerging musicians from the north of England. Find out more here.
Lily Fontaine also highlighted BBC Introducing as a key factor in English Teacher’s rise, adding that cutting this “was a shame because I think that having a lot of industry people in the regional areas really helps - it really helped us. I think filling those gaps, those elements that have been taken away, with something else would be great.”
Update:
The 2024 Mercury Prize 12 'Albums of the Year’ were announced on Thursday 25 July on BBC Radio 6 Music from 11:00AM by Tom Ravenscroft (standing in for Mary Anne Hobbs). This Could Be Texas is included. Best of luck to the band.
