The Irish actor/singer-songwriter and the former Suede guitarist turned solo star and record producer were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their collaborative album ‘For All Our Days That Tear That Tear The Heart’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more. Asked what spirit of the times the shortlist captured, Butler replied: “I don’t think it says anything about music in 2022. I don’t think there are any effective soundbites that work. “Music is supposed to last forever. It’s supposed to go past its time, it can represent the times in some way – but it also needs to work for people in future times as well. I never look for what works as a zeitgeist. I don’t think it’s a very effective way of looking at music. I never look at the date of it and go, ‘Ooh, ‘83? I can’t listen to that!’” The musician added: “Music is something you should feel and let it into your life. That’s all. It doesn’t matter where it comes from, who’s making it or where or when they come from.”