ARAB Strap, the Snuts, Rachel Newton and Josef are among those who will battle it out for this year’s Scottish Album of the Year Award (SAY).
Alongside the announcement of the 2021 shortlist it was revealed that the inaugural Modern Scottish Classic Award has been given to Frightened Rabbit’s The Midnight Organ Fight.
Celebrating its 10th year, the main award saw 327 eligible album submissions whittled down to a longlist of 20 before being cut to the final 10. The winner will pick up £20,000 at this month’s ceremony in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
The SAY Award shortlist nominees are: AiiTee – Love Don’t Fall, Arab Strap – As Days Get Dark, Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings, Joesef – Does It Make You Feel Good?, Lizzie Reid – Cubicl, Mogwai – As The Love Continues, Rachel Newton – To The Awe, Stanley Odd – STAY ODD, The Ninth Wave – Happy Days!, The Snuts – W.L.
The winner of this year’s public vote was Stanley Odd, with the remaining nine albums chosen by the judging panel.
This year’s panel includes the likes of Ian Rankin, Jackie Kay, Daniel Portman and Ashley Storrie, as well as Tim Burgess, whose Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties sound-tracked the UK’s lockdown for many by bringing artists and audiences together to listen, discuss and celebrate albums both past and present.
Robert Kilpatrick, creative projects and communications director at the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said : “The SAY Award Shortlist comprises 10 of the best Scottish records of the last year – all released throughout the pandemic.
“With some of the biggest names in Scottish music featured alongside some of our nation’s most exciting rising talents, 2021’s shortlist showcases the exciting, diverse and resilient nature of our music community despite 18 months of significant challenges.
“It firmly recognises music’s cultural impact and life-changing value, and brings to the forefront a recorded output that all of us in Scotland can – and should – feel proud of.
“Along with this year’s shortlist announcement, we’re delighted to reveal the winner of the inaugural Modern Scottish Classic Award, as chosen by the 20 artists that made up this year’s longlist. The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit is a record that many of us hold close to our hearts, and for it to claim the inaugural prize is a special moment for both The SAY Award and Scotland’s music community as a whole.”
The SAY Award Design Commission, in association with OVO Energy and curated by Local Heroes, highlights the enduring links between music, art and design and will provide a lasting tribute for all 10 shortlisted artists, as well as the inaugural winners of both the Modern Scottish Classic Award and the Sound of Young Scotland Award.
Each year, an emerging designer is commissioned to create bespoke prizes for the artists and the trophies will have a major sustainability focus. Stay tuned for the first look at 2021’s awards via SAY socials.
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