SAY Award Longlist announced including Jacob Alon, Kathryn Joseph, Mogwai and more
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, Scotland's national music prize, has today revealed the 20 outstanding albums on 2025's Longlist.
Article Source: SAY Award
Last Updated: 25 September 2025 14:54
Image: Grant Anderson
Spanning a range of genres, and featuring two previous SAY Award winning artists, one 2025 Mercury Prize nominee and 10 debut albums, The SAY Award Longlist for 2025 in alphabetical order is:
Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman Ash Grey and the Gull Glides On
Be Charlotte Self Help and Fictional Doubts
Brooke Combe Dancing At The Edge Of The World
Cloth Pink Silence
Constant Follower The Smile You Send Out Returns To You
corto.alto 30/108
Faith Eliott dryas
Hamish Hawk A Firmer Hand
Jacob Alon In Limerence
Kai Reesu Kompromat vol.i
Kathryn Joseph WE WERE MADE PREY.
kitti Somethin' In The Water
Maranta Day Long Dream
Matt Carmichael Dancing with Embers
Mogwai The Bad Fire
Rebecca Vasmant Who We Are, Becoming
TAAHLIAH Gramarye
The Joy Hotel Ceremony
Walt Disco The Warping
Zoe Graham TENT
All 20 albums are now in the running for the £20,000 prize and coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year, with the winner set to be unveiled at this year’s Ceremony, taking place on Thursday 6th November at the new location of Dundee’s Caird Hall. Buy tickets for The SAY Award Ceremony now via www.sayaward.com. Plus, an outstanding line-up of Scottish talent will perform on the night including Brooke Combe, corto.alto, Dillon Barrie, rEDOLENT.
The SAY Award Longlist is a result of an extraordinary nationwide consultation amongst Scotland’s music and arts communities. 100 impartial ‘Nominators’, chosen from sectors including journalism, music retail and music venues across Scotland, nominate and rank their five favourite eligible albums in order of preference. The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) – who produce the award – assigns a score to each title in a Nominator’s Top 5, with the 20 highest scoring albums forming The SAY Award Longlist.
Whittled down from 401 eligible album submissions, this year’s Longlist showcases Scottish talent from across the country with artists from Glasgow, Fife, Edinburgh, Dundee and more. The Longlist features two former SAY Award winners, one 2025 Mercury Prize nominee and genres from indie pop to R&B/soul, folk, jazz, dance and more.
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said: “What does it mean to be alive in Scotland right now? To get a sense of that, in all its idiosyncratic glory, take a deep dive into this year’s 20-strong SAY Award Longlist.
“In an industry increasingly driven by algorithms and metrics, each year the announcement of the Longlist reaffirms the intrinsic value of the album – artistic works that soundtrack our lives, tell our stories and shape both who we are and who we can become. Records let us enter an artist’s inner world, and through doing so, often reflect something back within ourselves – sometimes even things we never knew were there. To me, it’s that intimate dance and unique connection that gives them their magic.
“With 401 eligible submissions this year, today’s announcement is about celebrating the 20 outstanding Scottish albums that are now in the running for the coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year, as well as the £20,000 first prize. We implore you to listen to them, and through doing so, maybe you'll find something more than a few new favourites.
“On behalf of the SMIA, I’d like to say a massive congratulations to each of this year’s nominees. We look forward to celebrating them – and the strength and diversity of Scottish music – at The SAY Award Ceremony on Thursday 6 November at Dundee’s Caird Hall. I hope you can join us.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said: “This year’s SAY Award Longlist proves that the album will always triumph over an industry driven by AI and algorithms. These 20 works of art are where true musical creativity is to be found – beyond easy categories, across genres and genders. It is encouraging to see so many debut releases included here and to know that the album remains such a valid format for anyone making their first artistic statement in an ever-changing world. It’s also why The SAY Award, supported by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland funding of the SMIA, continues to grab the attention of music-loving audiences and industry alike.”
Anna Day, Head of Libraries and Cultural Services at Leisure & Culture Dundee said: “This is a Longlist of real quality and marks another exciting milestone as we build momentum towards The Scottish Album of the Year Award Ceremony at Dundee’s iconic Caird Hall.
“We’re absolutely delighted that The SAY Award will call Dundee home for the next three years, thanks to a partnership with Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and UNESCO Dundee City of Design.
“Hosting Scotland’s most anticipated night in music is a real honour for the city. We can’t wait to welcome the nation’s finest artists, industry leaders and music fans to Caird Hall this November for one of the standout events in the country's cultural calendar.”
In a few weeks time,the Longlist will be whittled down to a Shortlist of 10 albums, one of which will be chosen by music fans via a 72-hour online public vote. The remaining nine albums will be chosen by The SAY Award judging panel, with the Shortlist announced on Thursday 16th October. Along with The SAY Award Shortlist Announcement, the five nominees for 2025’s Sound of Young Scotland Award will be exclusively revealed; all in the running to win a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the creation of a debut album.
One of the most highly anticipated nights in Scotland’s musical calendar, music fans can buy tickets to attend The SAY Award Ceremony, joining an audience of artists, industry professionals, press and cultural tastemakers to celebrate outstanding Scottish music, with a series of special live performances on the night including: 2024 SAY Award winners rEDOLENT, 2024’s Sound of Young Scotland winner Dillon Barrie, Brooke Combe and corto.alto, both of whom are Longlisted for this year’s award. The SAY Award judging panel will reconvene to select 2024’s Scottish Album of the Year Award winner, exclusively announced at 2025’s ceremony, alongside this year’s Modern Scottish Classic and Sound of Young Scotland winners.
The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2025 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, UNESCO Dundee City of Design, Seabass Vinyl, PPL, HMV, FOPP, Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, 71 Brewing, Bon Accord, Apex Hotels, Malmaison and Music Declares Emergency. The project is part-funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Previous winners of The SAY Award include; redolent ‘dinny greet’ (2024), Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’ (2023), Fergus McCreadie ‘Forest Floor’ (2022), Mogwai ‘As The Love Continues' (2021), Nova ‘Re-Up’ (2020), Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
Early-bird SAY Award Ceremony tickets on sale now via www.sayaward.com £28 + booking fee
Don’t miss The SAY Award 2025 news - follow the award on social media across Instagram @sayaward, Facebook @SAYaward , TikTok @thesayaward and X @SAYaward
Sponsored Links
Latest Lanarkshire News
Medea to tour Scotland in 2026
Bard in the Botanics will be launching their 25th Anniversary year with a Scotland-wide tour of their award-winning version of Medea, by Kathy McKean (after Euripides).
READ MORE
Imagine Theatre prepares for an exciting season of pantomimes across Scotland
Imagine Theatre proudly presents a spectacular lineup of family pantomimes across Scotland bursting with laughter, music, sparkle, and dance starring some of Scotland's best-loved entertainers!
READ MORE
South Lanarkshire Council announces dates for their 2025 Christmas Lights switch on events
The countdown to Christmas is underway with lights scheduled to be switched on at events across South Lanarkshire!
READ MORE
Step into the magic at Dobbies Garden Centres
Dobbies Garden Centres has a fantastic line up of Santa’s Grotto and Quiet Grotto experiences, with an exciting North Pole adventure inspired theme, running from 23rd November - 24th December.
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble announce projects for Spring and Summer 2026
Scottish Ensemble, a pioneering collective of musicians championing music for strings, announces its series of events for Spring/Summer 2026.
READ MORE
Aldi Scotland is turning up the Christmas cheer with its first ever festive Supermarket Sweep
Aldi Scotland is giving one lucky customer the chance to take part in a seasonal edition of its popular shopping challenge, all while raising vital funds for Children's Hospices Across Scotland.
READ MORE
Hidden treasures of Murrayfield
Murrayfield heritage lead Laura Tinch reveals hidden collection of 5,000 artefacts charting a century of Scottish rugby history.
READ MORE
Santa clocks in early: Scotland shift heroes among 30,000 invited to claim free festive meal
Greene King pubs is raising the spirits of Scotland's hardest workers this festive season, hosting 'The Big Christmas Shift' across 700 pubs nationwide, giving away 30,000 meals on Monday 1st December
READ MORE
Festive days out to make the most of the season
From wreath-making workshops through to New Year’s Eve street parties, here's a rounded up some of the best events to help make the most of the season with loved ones in a fun and creative way.
READ MORE
SAY Award winner announced as Kai Reesu
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.
READ MORE
Public vote opens for Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 as scene flourishes
A stellar lineup of nominees has been announced for the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025, showcasing the exceptional talent flourishing across Scotland's vibrant jazz scene.
READ MORE
Michel Roux unveils new laidback menu at Crossbasket Castle
Crossbasket Castle, one of Scotland's most enchanting five-star destinations, has unveiled a new Market Menu at its Foveran's restaurant.
READ MORE
Heroes call on Scottish rugby fans to vote for the greatest Murrayfield rugby moment
SCOTTISH rugby fans have been called upon to cast their vote for the greatest ever Murrayfield rugby moment as part of celebrations marking the national stadium’s centenary.
READ MORE
The Christmas tradition of the year is back...
Scotland's biggest Christmas drive-in returns: 11 days of Elf, Home Alone & more at Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MORE
Beat the Street CamGlen winners announced!
The Beat the Street challenge taking place across Cambuslang and Rutherglen has now concluded and the winners have been announced!
READ MORE
Pumpkin drive for pigs at the National Museum of Rural Life to reduce waste this Halloween
Visitors to the National Museum of Rural Life are being encouraged to donate their Halloween pumpkins and turnips on November 1st.
READ MORE
First Bus gives Remembrance free travel for all Armed Forces, veterans and cadets
First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
READ MORE
Scotland Meats Germany
Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble brings warmth to wintry nights with Concerts by Candlelight tour
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
Crossbasket Castle unveils festive events for 2025
As the festive season approaches, five-star Scottish castle, Crossbasket Castle, has unveiled its calendar of seasonal events and experiences.
READ MORE
Feel the festive cheer at Dobbies Charity Christmas Shopping Night
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Autumn Offers at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
The Scottish Excellence Awards are open for entries
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres hosts free to attend winter gardening workshop for kids
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORE
Theme park set to host Miss Rachel shows
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, in partnership with Wicked Entertainment, is to host Miss Rachel inspired shows following sell out performances earlier in the year.
READ MORE
Potential changes to permitted development rights are putting beloved live music venues at risk
The public are urged to take part in the Scottish Government's consultation on planning laws, warning that the changes could put the country's live music venues and pubs at risk.
READ MORE
Community group celebrates four years of success thanks to green funding
A once little-known and unmanaged woodland in South Lanarkshire is now a vibrant outdoor learning space, thanks to a £117k renewables grant.
READ MORE
Enjoy the inaugural Haunted Hatchlings Duck Dash: Curse of the Black Lade at New Lanark World Heritage Site this Halloween
For the first time this Halloween, the quiet world heritage village of New Lanark will gather for a Haunted Duck Race down the 'eerie' Lade, the water channel conveying water to the mill-wheel.
READ MORE
The Saltires 2025 Shortlists Announced
The shortlisted titles for this year’s Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, were announced at Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
KT Tunstall wins Modern Scottish Classic Award, plus SAY Award Shortlist reveal
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2025’s title and £20,000 prize, as well as five Sound of Young Scotland finalists.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links