SAY AWARDS

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AIDAN MOFFAT

RM HUBBERT

ALLY MASSAQUOI KATHRYN JOSEPH

King Creosote and Jon

It was a big deal for me it It was dei nitely a surprise

Hopkins were expected to win, because they’d made a great record and been nominated for the Mercury, but right from the start it seemed the SAY was independent of any outside inl uence; it seemed like it was judged solely on the music. I can’t say it felt like a big deal

was a lot of money, for a start, enough that even after I shared it with my

collaborators I knew I’d be i nancially solvent for a while. I realised pretty quickly that it would open doors; I did 90 minutes of interviews right

on the night, as I don’t think we i t into any categories, so it was validation that our music could resonate on some level. The fact we didn’t have to play guitars for our music to be deemed credible is a positive thing,

after, mostly with publications plus we’re a multi-racial group

at the time, it was just the

and radio stations that had and our presence helped

never written or spoken about open up the competition and

RACHEL AGGS

‘We never imagined we’d win an award for anything! It felt like we were being taken a lot more seriously than we’d ever imagined, we’re both good at worrying we aren’t good

enough, so it was great for our coni dence. Financially it was pretty life-changing for Eilidh and myself, and It’s dei nitely affected our touring, we’ve had a lot more show offers and festival opportunities since

winning. Culturally, I think it says a lot about the Scottish

music scene that there’s this platform for musicians that feels accessible and not bogged down in music

industry popularity, coolness or bravado. It genuinely seems to be about rewarding musicians

who are working hard at making exciting music.’ Strike a Match by Sacred

Paws won in 2017.

Before it, hardly anyone knew who I was it still makes me

feel very proud, especially of Claire Mackay of Hits the Fan Records, because she did all of the promotion and distribution herself. Also, I could suddenly do music as a job and pay my rent. The money side of things is tricky and sometimes non-existent, and it’s hard to make things

very strange circle that relies on people being addicted to doing it, even though we can’t really afford to live our lives. Winning gave me so much, things I’ve got to be

part of and people that I’ve got to work with, and I feel very grateful for that. We’re lucky

to have it, and I feel proud that it’s not like the Mercury, that no one has to pay to be entered.

Although Young Fathers

should have been nominated

for that again this year. Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I’ve Spilled by Kathryn Joseph won in 2015.

make it more inclusive. It’s and still feel like being creative

an important and useful in any way matters, it’s a

the album previously. The best thing the SAY Award

does is give direct exposure

to albums and artists that aren’t part of any particular scene, it’s a level playing

i eld that’s nothing to do with sales, genre or popularity. It had a very positive effect for me, there was a good bump in sales for Thirteen Lost & Found, and my next album got reviewed and promoted

award; important because there’s all types of music being made, and it’s always

more interesting when a competition chooses to

rel ect that; useful because it shines a light on a particular

artist, and could be the catalyst in helping them establish themselves.

Tape Two by Young Fathers

more widely. It was a lot won in 2014.

easier to book tours as well. Thirteen Lost and Found by RM Hubbert won in 2013.

very i rst one, but we were in a big room with free booze

and loads of friends, so it was a great night. To be frank, the money couldn’t have come at a better time. You don’t make records with awards in mind, and music’s not a competition but I’m still glad we won! I

think it’s a great event to have,

the only comparable music prize is the Mercury, which simply doesn’t have enough space to accommodate the whole of the UK, especially Scotland. We produce an

awful lot of music for such a small nation, and I think the award itself is one of the least important parts the exposure for the longlist and the focus

on our own music is what makes it important. There’s more cachet attached to it

now than when we won, and I

hope it continues to grow. Everything’s Getting

Older by Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat won the i rst SAY

Award in 2012.

THE SHORTLIST FOR THE SAY AWARD 2018

BABE Kiss & Tell FRANZ FERDINAND Always Ascending

BEST GIRL ATHLETE Best Girl Athlete GOLDEN TEACHER No Luscious Life

KARINE POLWART WITH PIPPA MURPHY A Pocket of Wind Resistance KOBI ONYAME Gold

MOGWAI Every Country’s Sun SIOBHAN WILSON There Are No Saints

OUT LINES Confl ats YOUNG FATHERS Cocoa Sugar

32 THE LIST 1 Sep–31 Oct 2018 SAY Award ceremony, Paisley Town Hall, Thu 6 Sep.