Bat For Lashes reveals Mercury ambitions

Bat For Lashes has revealed that she wants her album Two Sun to win the Mercury Music Prize so that she can buy her own studio.

The singer, whose debut LP Fur And Gold was nominated for the award two years ago, admitted that she hopes to finally scoop the £20,000 prize.

"If I did win, it would be great because I'd make my own studio and it would mean that I had more freedom creatively to do more production and work in my own time, which is my idea of heaven really," she told The Independent.

"So that's what I would spend the money on and if I did win, it would be really nice after being nominated [in 2007]."

The star, real name Natasha Khan, refused to make any predictions on who will pick up the gong on September 8.

"I've got absolutely no idea, I don't feel that confident but I feel confident in my album," she said." I've been nominated and that's good enough for me really, but I have absolutely no idea where they're gonna go. Last time, I thought it was going to be Amy Winehouse, I was sure of it and then it was the Klaxons.

"I was a bit shocked so it seemed a bit of a strange one to me, and I love the Klaxons - sweethearts, obviously - but so I don't really know where they're gonna go. There's so much diverse music, this year's a strong list."

> Click here to see the full list of nominated albums