rEDOLENT SCOOP PRESTIGIOUS SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD

rEDOLENT ‘dinny greet’ was tonight announced as winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award in Stirling’s Albert Halls. rEDOLENT took home the £20,000 first prize and a bespoke trophy as part of Scotland’s national music prize, claiming the title ahead of a Shortlist including Arab Strap, corto.alto, Rachel Sermanni and more. The Edinburgh five piece won for their electronic indie-pop debut album at the beginning of what is set to be a hugely exciting career for the Scottish newcomers.

“This feels like the dream of a 7 year old child – it’s making me question all of existence and reality! I always feel like we’re sprinting behind the pack trying to keep up and all I’ve wanted to do is contribute something. I’m potentially also gonna greet right now which is ironic. We’re just so grateful this helps us keep this wee club that we’ve got going.Thank you also to Young Fathers for all the cool tunes and for not releasing one this year!” – rEDOLENT on their win.

The Edinburgh five piece, made up of brothers Danny and Robin Herbert plus Andrew Turnbull, Robbie White and Alice Hancock, claimed the prize for their debut album. rEDOLENT won the coveted title from a Shortlist including Barry Can’t Swim, Becky Sikasa, Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, all of whom collected runner-up prizes of £1,000 each and unique glass trophies, created via The SAY Award Design Commission by Dunblane artist Elin Isaksson.

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said, “Tonight, rEDOLENT’s debut album ‘dinny greet’ claims Scotland’s national music prize with a powerful and resonant body of work. The album’s experimental indie pop sound draws on both sharp social commentary and inventive electronic textures, firmly establishing them as a unique and important voice in Scottish music. By writing and singing in their own demotic, ‘dinny greet’ carries an unmistakable self-assurance, reflecting not just the band’s journey, but where we are culturally as a nation in 2024. rEDOLENT’s win is a testament to the importance of recognising and investing in Scotland’s diverse creative talent. The band’s distinct sound and voice, honed over a decade, speaks to the power of DIY ethos and creative evolution, showing us the impact of emerging artists in shaping our ever-evolving cultural identity.“

Now in its thirteenth year, The SAY Award has distributed over £390,000 in prize money, recognised 260 Longlisted albums and championed musicians from the country’s past, present and future.

The SAY Award Ceremony returned to The Albert Halls in Stirling for the third consecutive year, welcoming Scotland’s biggest and best from across the music industry, with fans gathering alongside artists, managers, labels and more to celebrate the country’s outstanding music scene. Hosted by broadcasters Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway, the night was a striking reminder of Scotland’s diverse music industry with albums from across genres honoured on the night.

Head of Music at Creative Scotland, Alan Morrison, said, “‘dinny greet’, rEDOLENT’s SAY Award-winning album, is a perfect example of off-centre alt-pop, meshing together intimate lyrics, catchy tunes and leftfield rhythms to create one of the most memorable debuts by a Scottish band in recent years. It’s also nice to see a bit of Scots language upfront in the title, underlining everything that gives our music scene such a distinctive identity. Congratulations too to Dillon Barrie, whose Sound of Young Scotland Award highlights the magnificent new generation of talent that’s making Scotland’s jazz sector one of the most vibrant creative spaces in the country. Creative Scotland is proud to support the SMIA and The SAY Award, and to champion the album as an invaluable form of artistic expression.”

Martyn Bennett’s final record ‘Grit’ was awarded the Modern Scottish Classic Award, presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), with Martyn’s wife Kirsten Bennett and close friend BJ Stewart accepting the award on his behalf.

“This is a very special award. Martyn would have loved that this represents so much of what is outstanding about Scottish music that’s happening now, no matter what genre.” Kirsten Bennett

BJ Stewart adds, “It’s unbelievably 20 years this coming January that Martyn died, but his music lives on and we’re so grateful to everyone here for putting this on – The SAY Award has been amazing so thanks so much for that. 2025 is going to be a big year for Martyn’s legacy – the Martyn Bennett Trust is finally releasing the official biography and it’s been a long time coming. Please keep listening.”

Chosen as the winner by this year’s 20-strong SAY Award Longlist, tonight we celebrated ‘Grit’ through a specially curated unique performance – one which will undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come. “Scottish music is the soundtrack and stories of our lives. The SMIA is proud of its ongoing commitment to strengthen, empower, and unite our music industry, and tonight’s Ceremony highlights both the cultural significance and global contribution of Scotland’s outstanding creative talent.”

Dillon Barrie was named The Sound of Young Scotland, winning a funding package worth up to £10,000 to create his debut album.

Dillon says, “Thank you so much to the four amazing other finalists!”

Winners of each prize, The SAY Award, Modern Scottish Classic and Sound of Young Scotland, collected bespoke sand-casted glass sculptures, with The SAY Award trophy enhanced with 23.5 carat gold created via The SAY Award Design Commission by Dunblane artist Elin Isaksson. The awards were cast from naturally occuring rocks found by the artist close to her Dunblane studio, hand poured with molten glass, using recycled coloured shards of glass as a result of a sustainability-focussed brief.

This year’s Ceremony was opened by No Windows, 2023’s Sound of Young Scotland winners, before three-time SAY Award nominee Bemz took to the stage for a special set. Next came a celebratory set for Martyn Bennett (winner of Modern Scottish Classic award) delivered by Greg Lawson, founder of the Grit Orchestra and Martyn Bennett’s close friend who curated a stunning performance with Croft No.Five and Fiona Hunter. Greg laid down his conductor’s baton to join Croft No. Five on violin, with Fiona Hunter taking on Sheila Stewart and Lizzie Higgins vocal contributions, performing ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Move’ in a triumphant nod to an album widely credited for beginning the musical evolution of Celtic fusion.

The SAY Award Shortlist for 2024 included

Arab Strap I’m totally fine with it 👍don’t give a fuck anymore 👍

Barry Can’t Swim When Will We Land?

Becky Sikasa The Writings and the Pictures and the Song

corto.alto Bad With Names

Dead Pony IGNORE THIS

Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand Willson Williams

Lucia & The Best Boys Burning Castles

Rachel Sermanni Dreamer Awake

rEDOLENT dinny greet

Theo Bleak Pain

A panel of industry experts and cultural tastemakers from across Scotland and the wider UKmet in Stirling to debate 2024’s Shortlist and choose the winner. Chaired by Arusa Qureshi, the judging panel was: Alistair Braidwood (Owner/Host, Scots Whay Hae!), Briana Pegado (Author & Founder, Good Trouble Co.), David Pollock (Journalist), Doug Johnstone (Author), Hazel Berry (Artist Relations & Amazon Originals Lead, Amazon Music), Karen Dunbar (Comedian/Actress/Entertainer), KevTame (Music Industry Professional, Welsh Music Prize Organiser), Leonie Bell (Director, V&A Dundee), Paul Bonham (Professional Development Director, Music Manager’s Forum), Sabrina Henry (Head of Programme, CCA), Stephanie Cheape (Singer/songwriter and BBC Introducing Presenter)

Listen to The Scottish Album of the Year, ‘dinny greet’ by rEDOLENT HERE.

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