English Teacher

  • Island
  • Nice Swan
Members
  • Lily Fontaine
  • Lewis Whiting
  • Douglas Frost
  • Nicholas Eden
Websiteenglishteacherband.com

English Teacher are a British music group from Leeds and Lancashire, who formed in 2020.[1] They consist of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden.[2]

History

The band met at Leeds Conservatoire.[3] They originally started as a dream pop band called 'Frank' in 2018 before playing their first gig as English Teacher in 2020. Frontwoman Lily Fontaine said of the shift: "The band that we were before, and the band that we are now, are so different. I think we've benefited from having time to figure ourselves out."[4]

The band's first single, 2021's "R&B", garnered both critical praise and mainstream radio play. The song sees Fontaine consider her place in the white, male world of indie-rock as a mixed race woman. They released the EP Polyawkward in April 2022 through Nice Swan Records.[5] NME called it " a deliciously sour debut EP, set to a soundtrack of restless art-punk."[6] The band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland in November 2023.[1] Their song "Nearly Daffodils" was named one of the 10 best songs of 2023 by Time magazine.[7]

In January 2024, the band announced their debut album This Could Be Texas, which was released on 12 April.[8] The album was well received by critics and won the 2024 Mercury Prize.[9][10]

This Could Be Texas

English Teacher released their debut studio album, This Could Be Texas, on 12 April 2024 through Island Records. The album received widespread critical acclaim. The Line of Best Fit suggested it "could be one of the finest debuts of the decade, with every band member shining in their ability and craftsmanship." It also lauded the band's "Northern charm".[11] The album won the 2024 Mercury Prize.[12][10]

Band members

  • Lily Fontaine – vocals, rhythm guitar, synth
  • Lewis Whiting – lead guitar, synth
  • Douglas Frost – drums, piano, synth, vocals
  • Nicholas Eden – bass guitar

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
UK
[13] 		UK
Phys
[13] 		UK
Sales
[13] 		BE
(FL)
[14] 		SCO
[13]
This Could Be Texas
  • Released: 12 April 2024
  • Label: Island
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
 8 3 4 186 5
  • UK: 14,109[15]

Live albums

List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
Phys
[13] 		UK
Sales
[13] 		UK
Vinyl
[13] 		SCO
[13]
Live At The Brudenell Social Club
  • Released: 20 April 2024
  • Label: Island
  • Format: LP
 50 53 34 89

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Release details
Polyawkward
  • Released: 22 April 2024
  • Labels: Nice Swan
  • Format: download, streaming, vinyl
Live from BBC Maida Vale
  • Released: 30 August 2024[16]
  • Labels: Island
  • Format: download, streaming

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
Sales
[13] 		UK
Phys
[13] 		UK
Vinyl
[13]
"You Won't Believe How Beautiful She Is When It Has Snowed" 2020 — — — Non-album singles
"R&B (Theo Verney Version)" 2021 — 21 13
"Song About Love" 2023 — — —
"The World's Biggest Paving Slab" 56 7 5 This Could Be Texas
"Nearly Daffodils" — — —
"Mastermind Specialism" — — —
"Albert Road" 2024 — — —
"R&B" — — —
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Videography

Music videos

List of music videos
Title Year Director(s)
"R&B (Theo Verney Version)"[17] 2021 Douglas Frost
"Good Grief"[18] Lily Fontaine
"Polyawkward"[19] 2022 Charles Gall
"Sorry About Love"[20] 2023 Lily Fontaine
"The World’s Biggest Paving Slab"[21] Claryn Chong
"Albert Road"[22] 2024 Douglas Frost, Sarah Oglesby
"R&B"[23] Sarah Oglesby
"The Best Tears of Your Life"[24]

Awards and nominations

Organisation Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Mercury Prize 2024 Album of the Year This Could Be Texas Won [25]

References

  1. ^ a b Reilly, Nick (28 November 2023). "Meet English Teacher, the Leeds group delivering endlessly inventive guitar music". rollingstone.co.uk. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ Williams, Sophia (11 September 2023). "English Teacher: a vital voice from the heart of UK guitar music". nme.com. NME Networks. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  3. ^ Cross, Gemma (18 January 2023). "he Times Tips Graduate Band English Teacher as 2023 Rising Star". Leeds Conservatoire. Leeds Conservatoire. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  4. ^ Goggins, Joe (25 March 2024). "English Teacher: "We boxed ourselves in, and ended up having a bit of an identity crisis"". Loud and Quiet. Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  5. ^ Graye, Megan (11 July 2022). "English Teacher: 'Surrealism just makes me feel something, because life is so weird'". Independent. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  6. ^ Williams, Sophie (22 April 2022). "English Teacher – 'Polyawkward' EP review: lively art-punk with a lyrical edge". NME. NME. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ^ Johnston, Maura (6 December 2023). "The 10 Best Songs of 2023". Time. Time USA, LLC. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (19 January 2024). "English Teacher announce their debut album, This Could Be Texas". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  9. ^ Snapes, Laura (25 July 2024). "Mercury prize 2024: Charli xcx, the Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons among nominees". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (5 September 2024). "Leeds indie band English Teacher wins Mercury prize". The Guardian.
  11. ^ "English Teacher's daring adventures cumulate in the outstanding This Could Be Texas". The Line of Best Fit. The Line of Best Fit. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  12. ^ "English Teacher on their Mercury Prize nod: "It's worth pushing through the hard times"". NME. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "English Teacher - Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Discografie English Teacher". Ultratop NL. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  15. ^ "English Teacher win 2024 Mercury Prize: 'A fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format'". Music Week. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  16. ^ Murray, Robin (30 August 2024). "English Teacher Share 'Live From BBC Maida Vale' EP". Clash. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  17. ^ "English Teacher - "R&B (Theo Verney Version)"". 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "English Teacher - "Good Grief"". 9 November 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "English Teacher - "Polyawkward"". 22 April 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "English Teacher - "Sorry About Love"". 24 January 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "English Teacher - "The World's Biggest Paving Slab"". 11 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "English Teacher - "Albert Road"". 19 January 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "English Teacher - "R&B"". 15 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "English Teacher - "The Best Tears of Your Life"". 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "Indie band English Teacher win Mercury Prize". BBC. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.


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