Alternative pop star Self Esteem has said she does not mind missing out on a gong at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards as she is glad the ceremony is “still existing”.
The 39-year-old, whose real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, said the awards, which are taking place in London on Thursday, are crucial for celebrating artists who go under the radar.
Self Esteem is nominated for best contemporary song for I Do And I Don’t Care, and best song musically and lyrically for her track Focus Is Power, both from her 2025 album A Complicated Woman.
She told the Press Association: “I’m really proud of it, it was very difficult to make (the latest album), the Ivors are the place that sort of honours the proper art of it all, which is the stuff I’m interested in.
“And every song in the categories I’m nominated in is a beautiful proper human connective work, and I don’t mind losing.
“I’m just glad it’s still existing, so much of our industry, and a lot of creative industries, only celebrate the biggest things and the things with the biggest budgets, and I think we need to be digging up the people who don’t always get access to these things.”
Self Esteem said she would not have much time to celebrate if she won as she is performing in the play Teeth ‘N’ Smiles in the West End later on Thursday night.
She added: “I’ve told the cast we have to go for a pint tonight because, win or lose, it’s been a long day for me.”
Skye Newman, who is up for the rising star award at the event, said the awards were important for celebrating the human element of the music industry amid the threat of artificial intelligence.
She told PA: “I think it’s huge that we keep us in this game, and we keep our pens and our paper, and we keep it as humans doing it, because you can’t fake emotion, passion and just brilliance.”
Presented by the Ivors Academy, the peer-judged award ceremony celebrates and recognises songwriting and composing.
Winners will be announced later on Thursday, with Irish singer CMAT, and British pop stars Olivia Dean and Lily Allen also among those nominated for awards.
Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalia has already been named as the awards’ international songwriter of the year, while 4 Non Blondes singer and guitarist, Linda Perry, is to receive a special international gong.
