IDLES have discussed the importance of bagging a BRIT at tonight’s ceremony, saying that a win would be “meaningless”.
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The Bristol punk outfit are up for the British Breakthrough Act gong this evening (February 20) against Ella Mai, Jorja Smith, Mabel and Tom Walker. Winners of the award in recent years include Dua Lipa, Rag ‘n’ Boneman, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Sam Smith.
Ahead of the event, IDLES vocalist Joe Talbot spoke about being included in the category in 2019. “It makes sense in one way because we were number five in the album chart,” he told the BBC.
Reflecting on the band’s place at the mainstream-dominated awards, he added: “On the other side it doesn’t feel right. Compared to the sales and money behind many pop acts… we’re a drop in the ocean.”
Although they describe their nod as “a beautiful thing”, they said a win isn’t essential as it’s just as important to be “part of the conversation”.
“For our hard work to be appreciated feels great. But we’re not better than anyone else and we don’t think that,” Talbot explained. “We’re not going to turn it down but it’s not on our radar.
“We’d be the same band before or after a Brit Award, it’s meaningless.”
He added: “Being nominated is not meaningless. Us being part of the conversation, that’s the important bit.”
Following their nomination in January, Talbot told NME that IDLES’ nomination came as a “surprise” and that they “won’t take [it] for granted”.
“I think it’s fucking stunning that we’re being recognised in a vapid chamber,” he said.
Meanwhile, IDLES are currently caught up in an online feud with Fat White Family and Sleaford Mods.