Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017 Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Alt-J compete for Mercury Prize

inger-songwriter Ed Sheeran was nominat- album by a British or Irish artist. London-born ed yesterday for the prestigious Mercury grime star Stormzy was shortlisted for his debut SPrize for his third album "Divide", going up album "Gang Signs & Prayer", which the jury against breakthrough grime star Stormzy and described as "adventurous, rueful, outraged and former winners Alt-J and The xx. "What these soulful". The rapper said on Twitter that he was artists have in common is an infectious pleasure "over the moon" with his nomination. "I put my in music making and an arresting sense of heart, my soul and my absolute everything into urgency about the music they make," the jury making this album," he wrote. The list also said in a statement announcing the 12 shortlist- include former winners The xx for their third ed albums. "They delight in exploring musical album "I see you" and Alt-J for "Relaxer". "We are possibilities and refusing to be pinned down by stunned, humbled & ecstatic to be on the genre conventions". Mercury Prize list," Alt-J wrote on Twitter. Sheeran is in the running for his record- Kate Tempest, already shortlisted in 2014, breaking third album "Divide," which topped made the cut once more with her new "Let the album charts in several countries including Them Eat Chaos" album. In a Facebook post, she his native Britain, Australia and the United described herself as "honored and humbled" to States. It also smashed Spotify records, drawing be recognized. Indie guitar pop band Blossoms nearly 57 million listens on its first day of joined the list with their eponymous album and release. The previous record was held by The expressed "innumerous thank-yous" in a video Weeknd's "Starboy", which drew 29 million posted on Twitter by band member Josh streams on its release date. Despite having won Dewhurst. Lesser known artists whose albums several Grammys and Brit awards since he burst were nominated include Sampha, J Hus, Glass onto the scene with his debut album "+" in Animals, Loyle Carner, Dinosaur and The Big 2011, Sheeran has never won the Mercury Prize. Moon. This year's winner will be announced at a Established in 1992, it recognises the top September 14 show in London. — AFP Ed Sheeran performs on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. — AP Michael Jackson producer Dylan O'Brien says acting helped Quincy Jones wins from estate recovery from set injuries ylan O'Brien says that sticking with his lead role in the action uincy Jones, the legendary producer behind Dmovie "American Assassin" Michael Jackson's top hits, on Wednesday won helped him recover from a traumatic Q$9.4 million in damages from the late super- accident during filming of a "Maze star's estate over posthumous works. A jury in Los Runner" sequel in March 2016. O'Brien Angeles sided with the 84-year-old producer but gave told The Associated Press on Monday him only part of the $30 million he was seeking. Jones that being back on a set was a necessary has arranged songs for some of the biggest names in step in his recovery. He said at times after music including Jackson, producing his "Thriller" in the accident he felt like he wasn't going In this file photo, Dylan O'Brien 1982 which remains the top-selling album of all time. to be able to return to filming, but he appears at the "Teen Wolf" panel on The producer filed suit over the use of songs in "This didn't want to let acting go. "It really during Comic-Con International in Is It"-a 2009 documentary about Jackson's rehearsals helped a lot, actually. It sort of became in San Diego. — AP for a series of concerts in London that ultimately were a way that step that I needed in recovery was a cathartic form of therapy too, to just never to be due to the star's sudden death-as well as to know I could do it again, I could still be get it out." two Cirque du Soleil circus shows. Jackson sued MJJ on a set and things could be done in the Productions Inc., one of the companies that runs the right way, too, and things could be done Several details late King of Pop's estate, in 2013. Jones said he had no safely in the way that they're supposed The "Teen Wolf" star has remained quarrel with Jackson personally but that he had In this Feb 28, 1984 file photo, Michael Jackson, to be done," O'Brien said. largely out of view and hasn't publicly dis- reached contracts in 1978 and 1985 that gave him first left, holds eight awards as he poses with Quincy "American Assassin" involved numer- cussed the accident or extent of his priority to Jackson's music, including maintaining the Jones at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. — AP ous stunts and fight scenes. "I didn't want injuries, which were serious enough to right to be the first to mix original recordings. to let go. It would have been hard to say halt production on the film, subtitled "The "Although this judgment is not the full amount that to," Modabber said. Another lawyer for MJJ you know, 'Ah, forget it. I'm not going to Death Cure," for nearly a year. A report I was seeking, I am very grateful that the jury decided Productions, Howard Weitzman, earlier told music be able to make it.' Which I did genuinely prepared by the occupational safety in our favor in this matter," Jones said in a statement. "I magazine Billboard that the estate would likely appeal feel for the longest time. But I just - I agency WorkSafe BC said O'Brien's acci- view it not only as a victory for myself personally, but if Jones won a major sum. Jackson's estate has been decided that it was probably going to be dent happened after a change was made for artists' rights overall," he said. Defense lawyer Zia trying to monetize his legacy since his death but its best for me mentally actually to do it." He to an action sequence involving two vehi- Modabber had rejected Jones' arguments, saying that success has been uneven, with the family notably giv- declined to discuss his injuries sustained cles that were not connected. It stated the original recordings belonged to Jackson alone. ing up on preserving the late King of Pop's Neverland or what he remembered about the acci- that drivers would have to keep the two "This is a grab for money that Mr. Jones isn't entitled ranch. — AFP dent while filming a sequence involving vehicles close enough together to make two vehicles in British Columbia, Canada. the stunt work, and that O'Brien was har- But he said the shock of the accident nessed to one vehicle while physically rid- helped him to understand his character in ing on the back of another. Several details "American Assassin," who becomes a CIA about the accident were redacted, and counter-terrorism operative after his the report did not detail O'Brien's injuries. fiancee is killed by terrorists. Worksafe BC stated that a meeting "Going through any sort of trauma like was not held after filming plans were that, funny enough, I felt like I was more changed. The agency later determined informed about the aftermath of an inci- that the production had complied with its dent like the one my character goes recommendations, which included that through than I ever could've been," appropriate rehearsals should be per- O'Brien, 25, said. "So I kind of then ended formed and certain high-risk sequences up having a lot of pride in sort of diving Actress Cara Delevingne, should be done by qualified stunt people. into that, portraying that." Co-star Sanaa right, and actor Dane Last week, O'Brien made his eighth and Lathan says she could see how O'Brien final appearance with his "Teen Wolf" co- Dehaan pose with used his own experience in his perform- Rihanna, left, during the stars at San Diego's massive Comic-Con. ance. "He's been through a lot," she said. "I "It's always kind of weird, man - it's great European film premiere was really impressed with how he of 'Valerian and the City though. It's a great weird. Comic-Con has brought that depth and that pain to this always cracked me up," O'Brien said. of a Thousand Planets' in character. I really believed it. ... I haven't London, Monday. — AP "American Assassin" hits theatres in talked to him about this, but it probably September. — AP