'Paris is very dear to me': Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine dedicates accolade to terror tragedy victims after living homeless in French capital

Published: 03:55 EST, 21 November 2015 | Updated: 08:19 EST, 21 November 2015

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Benjamin Clementine was named the worthy winner of the prestigious Mercury Prize Album of the Year Award on Friday.

The little-known incredibly talented composer and pianist from Edmonton, North London, beat off stiff competition from the likes of bookies' favourite Jamie XX and much-shouted-about Slaves to have his debut record - At Least for Now - hailed in the Mercury hall of fame.

Clementine, 26, dedicated the award to all those affected by the terror massacre that rocked the streets of his adoptive home town last Friday night, explaining: 'Paris is very dear to me,' after having lived homeless on its streets for six months.

'Paris is very dear to me': Mercury Prize 2015 winner Benjamin Clementine dedicated the Album of the Year accolade to the terror tragedy victims after having lived on the streets of the French capital for three months before finding a way out through music

On collecting the silver trophy from host Lauren Laverne and surrounded by his fellow nominees, he quipped: 'Before I finish, I just want to say that I dedicate this - I know this is about music - but I dedicate it to what happened about four or five days ago in Paris,' before breaking down in tears.

In the following press conference, Clementine spoke of his devastation on hearing of the horror that left 129 people - 89 of which were Eagle of Death Metal fans who'd been watching the band in the Bataclan Theatre when four gunmen stormed the building - dead.

'I was very sad. Heartbroken.

'I went there on Saturday [the next day]. I went there and sent my condolences by going to the Bataclan Theatre and mourned for a little bit, then I felt free, like a weight had been pulled off my shoulders.'

'I was very sad. Heartbroken': Clementine, 26, spoke of his devastation on hearing of the horror that left 129 people - 89 of which were Eagle of Death Metal fans who'd been watching the band in the Bataclan Theatre when four gunmen stormed the building - dead

He added: 'I grew up as a man because I was by myself. Paris is very dear to me and I'll never forget Paris.'

Reflecting on the win, he said: 'I always believed in my music but after Paris happened, I was very down.

'I didn't think I would win. I always wanted to be nominated for this award, but I didn't think to myself that I'd win it. I always made a joke about it!'

The acclaimed artist said he would divide his £20,000 prize money between helping homeless people and covering costs of his current tour.

The Mercury Prize is highly regarded as the winner is not determined by commercial success.

Instead, the decision is left to a panel of 12 music-industry professionals, including former nominee Corinne Bailey Rae. and ,

Benjamin Clementine's debut album 'At Least for Now' is out now

'I always made a joke about it!': The British-French composer and pianist was lost for words on collecting the silver trophy from host Lauren Laverne, saying, 'I don't know what to say', before admitting he'd previously joked about making it into the Mercury Prize hall of fame