Lily Allen has spoken about the state of music and politics at the Mercury Prize, ahead of the ceremony later this evening (September 20). Watch our video interview with Allen above. Speaking to NME, Allen said she would most “like to lose” to Nadine Shah because her album addresses political themes that many artists aren’t. Allen said: “I think that there is a bit of a cultural cold war thing going on at the moment…capitalism is [the] main enemy. It should be arts and culture and it feels like politics has never been in such a drastic state as it is in this country and America, lots of the Western world hasn’t been as bad as it is now for a long time.” Allen added: “I don’t know where The Clash is and I don’t know where The Sex Pistols are…but [Shah] is doing it.” Saying she didn’t “feel lucky at all” and that she “definitely [isn’t] going to win,” Allen said she was “nervous” about the performance. You can watch Allen’s comments in full here: When asked what she would do with the £25,000 prize money if she did win, Allen said she would use the money to support female artists in the industry. “I feel more like the music industry could do with a women-fronted collective, a union…I would be really happy to put that money towards starting something like that.” Today also marks the release of Allen’s tell-all memoir, ‘My Thoughts Exactly.’ When asked about the most challenging aspect of the book to deal with upon release, Allen said it was speaking about the alleged sexual assault she experienced. Allen told NME: “The sexual assault saga which is difficult to talk about at the best of times but it felt like it was something that I needed to say and its there for a reason.” Allen recently claimed in an interview with Guardian Weekend that even after the #MeToo movement, sexual abuse remains rife in the music industry as people are too scared to speak out. The singer, who has alluded to the assault before, went on to detail her own experience of abuse from a record executive. Allen says she wanted to name the exec in her book but was advised not to for legal reasons. Speaking about the award earlier today, Allen said she hoped winning the award would help her shed her “caricature image.” “There is a caricature version of myself which is portrayed in the mainstream press, and the artist part of me gets lost a lot of the time,” she told Sky News. “Already being nominated has helped with that immensely, but to win would just be amazing.” The singer, whose latest album ‘No Shame’ was released earlier this year, has previously opened up about sleeping with female escorts in the wake of the break down of her marriage and suffering from post-natal depression. Lily Allen on tour Allen’s upcoming UK and Ireland tour dates are below. Tickets are available here. Tuesday December 11 2018 – DUBLIN Olympia Theatre Thursday December 13 2018 – GLASGOW Barrowland Friday December 14 2018 – BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute Sunday December 16 2018 – MANCHESTER Albert Hall Monday December 17 2018 – LONDON Roundhouse<doc-sep>LILY Allen burst into tears after she missed out on winning last night's Mercury Prize. The singer, 33, was shortlisted for the honour but lost to Wolf Alice at the ceremony inside Hammersmith Apollo. 7 Lily Allen burst into tears after she missed out on winning the Mercury Prize After the bash Lily tweeted a video of her performance and wrote: "Someone call 999 I’ve been robbed." She received many messages of support from her fans and went on to write: "I adore @wolfalice tho, and they are very deserved winners. Next time......... imma win that b***h." Lily performed a stripped back version of her song Apples on the night from her latest album No Shame. She soon reclaimed her composure and was pictured smiling as she left the venue. 7 Wolf Alice won this year's Mercury Prize, triumphing over Arctic Monkeys and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Credit: PA:Press Association/PA Images 7 Lily previously told Sky News of her desire to win the award, explaining: "There is a caricature version of myself which is portrayed in the mainstream press, and the artist part of me gets lost a lot of the time. "Already being nominated has helped with that immensely, but to win would just be amazing." Wolf Alice's critically-acclaimed second album Visions Of A Life bowled the judges over and landed the four-piece the £25,000 prize. Singer Ellie Rowsell said: "This means so much to pick this up with my three best friends. Guitarist Theo Ellis told the crowd about the band's struggle in the industry and a record label's negative reaction to their image. He defiantly said: "But here we are, so f**k you!” The band were the final act to perform on the night, delivering a perfect Don’t Delete the Kisses, with Ellie prancing around barefoot. 7 She soon reclaimed her composure and was pictured smiling as she left the venue, clutching her nominee award Credit: Splash News 7 Noel Gallagher with Nadine Shah and Florence Welch Credit: Rex Features 7 Florence with last year's winner Sampha Credit: Rex Features Official music video for Wolf Alice's Beautifully Unconventional MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ KIM'S NEW KRUSH The men lining up to be Kim K's next partner as Kanye ‘dates Irina Shayk’ JOSS PERFECT Jac Jossa shows off her tiny waist after weight loss in pretty summer dresses 'WE'LL SEE' Louise Redknapp revealed Jamie wanted another baby when she was on Strictly GRANDE AFFAIR Ariana dazzles in white gown as she shares private pics from secret wedding a wright treat! Mark Wright gives fans tour of new £2,400 a night home with Michelle Keegan Exclusive ARG-AIN James ‘Arg’ Argent's set to reunite with 'love of his life' ex Lydia Bright Nadine Shah's album holiday destination had been the pre-ceremony favourite and from the sound of a raucous Out the Way it was easy to see why, however, it wasn't meant to be. The judging panel said of Wolf Alice: “From an incredibly broad list of remarkable music, Wolf Alice emerged as the overall winner due to their ability to deliver an album that combines the epic and intimate in equal measure. "It is a journey of a record – with euphoric festival anthems and moments of subtle beauty – it is an album articulated with confidence and adventure. For them, the world awaits!” 7 Nadine Shah's album holiday destination had been the pre-ceremony favourite Credit: Rex Features Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>
Mercury Prize nominee Lily Allen says winning the award would help ditch her "caricature image" and make a huge difference to her life. Despite being one of the more established acts in the running for the prestigious music honour, the 33-year old said taking home the award would help change the public's perception of her. Allen's fourth studio record - No Shame - is one of the 12 shortlisted albums in the running for this year's Mercury Prize. Ahead of Thursday's ceremony, she told Sky News: "There is a caricature version of myself which is portrayed in the mainstream press, and the artist part of me gets lost a lot of the time. Image: Lily Allen is nominated for the Mercury Prize for her album No Shame "Already being nominated has helped with that immensely, but to win would just be amazing." No Shame was written during the breakdown of Allen's seven-year marriage to builder and decorator Sam Cooper. It also followed the poor reception to her third album, Sheezus. Allen said the writing process for her latest work was "cathartic". She told Sky News: "When things started not to go to plan with my third album, I felt like a massive failure - not just for myself, but that I'd let everybody else around me down. That was a real struggle. "This album has been about figuring out what my intentions are with this work. Image: The singer says she felt like a 'massive failure' with her third album Sheezus "It wasn't really to get on the radio or brand endorsements. "It was about explaining how I felt and putting that to music and I feel like I've achieved that." Allen says if she scoops the £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings she would spend it on forming a women-led musicians union. Fellow nominee Nadine Shah is hotly-tipped with bookies as the favourite to take home the prize. Other high profile artists vying for the best album prize include Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Only two debut albums have made it into the competition this year - Jorga Smith's Lost And Found and Novelist's Novelist Guy. While Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded is technically his debut album, the music producer (who is responsible for signing Adele) is an old hand in the music industry. Other acts in the running for the prize are Everything Everything, King Krule, Nadine Shah, Sons Of Kemet and Wolf Alice. All of the acts - with the exception of Gallagher - are due to perform at the ceremony on Thursday. The winner will be announced live on BBC Four just after 10pm.