GLASGOW BAND CLAIM COVETED SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Kai Reesu’s ‘KOMPROMAT vol.i’ was tonight announced as winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, as the country’s national music prize Ceremony took place in Dundee’s Caird Hall for the first time. Kai Reesu took home the £20,000 first prize, bespoke trophy and coveted title ahead of the shortlist including Kathryn Joseph, Jacob Alon, Brooke Combe and more.
The Glasgow band’s debut album blends jazz and hip-hop, psychedelia and grime, led by Paul Copeland on keys and featuring vocals from Glasgow-based LA rapper Jurnalist.
Co-hosted by Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway, the Ceremony featured live performances from 2024 SAY Award winners redolent, 2024’s Sound of Young Scotland Dillon Barrie, corto.alto, Brooke Combe and a special set from Modern Scottish Classic winner KT Tunstall to close the night. The iconic singer, who grew up in St Andrews, performed three songs from her 2005 album; ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’, ‘Suddenly I See’ and ‘Eye to the Telescope’.
Alice Faye was named The Sound of Young Scotland, winning a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the creation of her debut album.
Following 2025’s Ceremony, The SAY Award will have distributed over £425,000 in prize money. Now in its fourteenth year, it has recognised and championed 280 Longlisted albums across a wide range of genres. 2025’s Ceremony was the first to take place outside of the Central Belt, as part of a three year partnership with Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and UNESCO Dundee City of Design to make Dundee the new home of The SAY Award.
Kai Reesu, (Paul Copeland) winners of The Scottish Album of the Year Award 2025 said onstage,
“Thank you so much, this is quite unexpected because we were honestly just having fun with this album. It’s so good that it resonated with people.I want to thank my mother, who’s here…and without her honestly none of this could be possible. We recorded a lot of this stuff in her living room. I think people should have more fun when they’re making music and just make more music right now. ”
Kai Reesu, (Jurnalist) said,
“This has been a magical moment for me. We’re just going to keep making music! I think people should have more fun when they’re making music and just make more music right now. “
KT Tunstall, winner of 2025’s Modern Scottish Classic Award for ‘Eye to the Telescope’ said,
“This is such a surprise – I had no idea this was coming so the phone call was a total thrill and it’s just so lovely because we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album. It means a lot to me being a Scottish musician – I live in America and I travel all over the world and people love Scottish musicians, so I’m just very proud to be in that lineage of amazing Scottish artists that have contributed an awful lot to the world, even though we’re such a wee country.
“I started busking here in Dundee when I was 15 – you didn’t make any money and I got moved on by the police!
“I love the albums that have been awarded this in the past – Cocteau Twins was the first album I ever bought myself and it was in Dundee, so it’s a special connection to be in a category that they have won.”
Alice Faye winner of The Sound of Young Scotland Award said onstage,
“Thank you so much. I didn’t think I was going to get it. I love making music, and I love Scotland so much, and I love the Scottish music scene, and before I was a part of it, I wasn’t very happy and I’d say I’m a lot happier now! I just want to say congratulations to the other four finalists – I think you’re all so incredible and I really didn’t think I’d get so thank you thank you so much!”
The SAY Award Shortlist for 2025 was:
Brooke Combe – Dancing At The Edge Of The World
Cloth – Pink Silence
Hamish Hawk – A Firmer Hand
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
Kai Reesu – KOMPROMAT vol. I
Kathryn Joseph – WE WERE MADE PREY.
Matt Carmichael – Dancing with Embers
TAAHLIAH – Gramarye
The Joy Hotel – Ceremony
Zoe Graham – TENT
