Scottish Album of the Year Award 2025: Dundee hosts the coveted award ceremony for the first ever time

Dundee played host to one of Scotland’s biggest music celebrations as Kai Reesu’s KOMPROMAT vol.i was crowned winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award 2025.

The national music prize took place at the city’s Caird Hall for the first time, marking a major moment in Dundee’s growing cultural profile.

Kai Reesu wins the overall award

Kai Reesu won the main award (Picture: Grant Anderson)

The Glasgow band took home the £20,000 first prize, a bespoke trophy, and the coveted SAY Award title, beating a strong shortlist that included Kathryn Joseph, Jacob Alon and Brooke Combe.

Their debut album blends jazz, hip-hop, psychedelia and grime, led by Paul Copeland on keys and featuring vocals from Glasgow-based LA rapper Jurnalist.

Kai Reesu, represented by Paul Copeland, 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.”

Bandmate Jurnalist added: “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 celebrated in true Scottish style

KT Tunstall, who started busking in Dundee, was awarded the Modern Scottish Classic Award (Picture: Grant Anderson)

The night also saw KT Tunstall’s debut album Eye to the Telescope recognised with the Modern Scottish Classic Award, presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association.

The singer-songwriter performed a special three-song set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the record. “This is such a surprise - I had no idea this was coming so the phone call was a total thrill,” she said. “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.”

Reflecting on her early connection to Dundee, she added: “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 scoops Sound of Young Scotland Award

Alice Faye won the Sound of Young Scotland Award which will help towards the creation of her debut album (Picture: Grant Anderson)

Meanwhile, 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.

Onstage, she said: “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!”

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First of three SAY Awards to be hosted in Dundee

The 2025 ceremony marked a milestone for The SAY Award, the first held outside 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.

Now in its fourteenth year, the award has distributed over £425,000 in prize money and celebrated 280 longlisted albums across genres.

Dundee Culture played a role in assisting the team to make a long list from the 401 albums eligible, becoming a nominator along with 99 other influential multimedia figures in Scotland.

Members of Kai Reesu after they won the award (Picture: Cameron Brisbane)

The Caird Hall event, co-hosted by Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway, featured live performances from redolent, Dillon Barrie, corto.alto, Brooke Combe, and KT Tunstall.

For Kai Reesu, whose members come from Paisley, Thurso, Glasgow and Los Angeles, the win caps off a breakthrough year following their debut album’s release in May 2025.