Female artists are leading the Mercury Prize nominations for the first time since the awards began 29 years ago.

The prize is awarded to the best album over the past year and the winner receives £25,000. 12 artists have been nominated, five of whom are solo female artists, including Dua Lipa and Charlie XCX.

Among the other nominees are rapper Stormzy, indie band Porridge Radio and composer Moses Boyd.

Lipa told BBC 6 Music: "I never really thought this would ever happen to me. Maybe I just didn't think I was cool enough.

"This album was like therapy to me. It was a real emotional release. I decided once quarantine began that I could not really sit still, and I had to create something for my own piece of mind.

“I feel honoured to have my little corner of experimental pop music be recognised.”

If one of the female artists win it will be the first time a woman has won the award since 1994 when M People claimed the prize with their album Elegant Slumming.

Full list of nominations:

Dua Lipa, Future Nostolgia

Charlie XCX, how i'm feeling now

Anna Meredith, FIBS

Stormzy, Heavy is the Head

Georgia, Seeking Thrills 

Kano, Hoodies All Summer

Lanterns on the Lake, Spook The Herd

Laura Marling, Song For Our Daughter

Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka

Moses Boyd, Dark Matter

Porridge Radio, Every Bad

Sports Team, Deep Down Happy