Photo: Press
Christine and the Queens, Bastille and Biffy Clyro were among the biggest winners at Wednesday night’s NME Awards at Brixton Academy.
Christine, aka Matt Héloïse Letissier, took home two awards: Best Track for her single ‘Tilted’ – something that probably wouldn’t have happened upon its original release in 2012 – and Best International Female. She beat both Solange and Beyoncé to the latter award, so let’s wait and see how that plays out on social media, eh?
Speaking to NME, the Southampton legend Letissier discussed writing her next album. “I can’t really tell much, because then that would spoil the fun,” she said. “But it will definitely be more sweaty and tougher. Maybe more high-tempo, but still really sad because I’m just me and I’m just sad deep down, but I’ll be properly able to dance on it all the time.”
In perhaps the biggest shock of the night – and in no way are we suggesting this is only a shock to anyone with working ears, no sir-ee – BBC indie favourites Bastille won best album. Their 2016 record Wild World beat Radiohead The 1975, Radiohead, Kanye West, Beyoncé and – we can’t stress this enough – Bastille’s album beat Radiohead.
“I think Adele put it better about winning over Beyoncé, but thank you so much,” Bastille frontman Dan Smith told NME after Bastille also beat Radiohead. “We tried to make an album about how fucked the world seems and trying to get your head around it. I think everybody before us tonight has said much more articulate things than us four idiots could say.”
The Best British band award went to Biffy Clyro, who are set to play a headline Brit Awards Week show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire next week in support of Warchild. They triumphed over The 1975, Wolf Alice, Bastille, Years & Years and The Last Shadow Puppets because seriously, fuck you Radiohead.
Because Brexit hasn’t actually happened yet, there remains a Best International Band category too and that went to Metallica. We only mention it separately because the award was presented by Busted and the image we have in our heads of Busted telling Metallica they’re good tickles us.
Returning to the parochial, Skepta was named Best British Male and MIA Best British Female. Best Festival turned out to be Glastonbury after what was no doubt a long and arduous thought process for the judges. Best Live Band was The 1975.
There was also a Best International Male award for Frank Ocean, although there was no clarification on whether he is better or worse than Skepta. Adele was Best Festival Headliner and Coldplay’s Viola Beach Tribute at Glastonbury was named Best Music Moment. The Pet Shop Boys won a Godlike Genius Award, to the surprise of all of us who assumed they already had about seven of those.
Finally, in the more esoteric categories, Beyoncé was named Hero Of The Year and notable music person Nigel Farage was Villain Of The Year. The Worst Band award went to 5 Seconds of Summer.
Oh go on then.
