The 1975 weigh in on their Mercury Prize nomination

Hitmakers The 1975 scored a coveted Mercury Prize nomination this afternoon for their album 'I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it' and they have revealed that it makes them very proud to be recognised.

Chatting to Gigwise about the nomination, frontman Matt Healy said: "We got rid of thinking about critics, and just wanted to make a 'pure' record. That's what's been recognised. It does take courage, or it takes pure ignorance - I think we're a bit of both."

Healy added: "It is surreal. I keep saying that it's very humbling just to be invited alongside these kinds of artists - especially our contemporaries like Skepta too. It's amazing, and it's lovely to be involved in what's happening right now. Whether it's popular or something more leftfield - it's a good day."

The 12 shortlisted 2016 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ are:

Hopelessness by Anohni
The Bride by Bat for Lashes
Blackstar by David Bowie
Making Time by Jamie Woon
Made In The Manor by Kano
The Dreaming Room by Laura Mvula
Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka
A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
Adore Life by Savages
Konnichiwa by Skepta
I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it by The 1975
Channel The Spirits by The Comet Is Coming