| Mogwai’s As The Love Continues has claimed the Scottish Album of the Year award at a ceremony in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, as the country’s music industry reunited once more after a turbulent 18 months. Mogwai’s tenth studio album is the band’s first SAY Award win, having been Shortlisted four times previously and Longlisted in 2015. It is their third UK Top 10 charting album and reached Number 1 in the UK album charts within the first week of its release in February 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2021 and now holds the coveted SAY title, with the band collecting a £20,000 prize and bespoke trophy. Collecting the prize, Stuart Braithwaite said, “I really was not expecting this, I have not thought of anything to say other than thank you and I wish I’d got steaming! This has been a really mental year for the band and this is just another thing we never thought would happen. I want to thank everyone who has bought and played the album, I’d like to dedicate this to Mick our booking agent who passed away last week. I’d like to thank everyone, the SMIA and you all for being here. This is nuts!” Listen to 2021’s Scottish Album of the Year HERE. |
| Celebrating 10 years of The SAY Award, the event recognised Scotland’s musical past while looking to the future, awarding Frightened Rabbit – ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ the Modern Scottish Classic Award while LVRA was named the Sound of Young Scotland. With special performances from 2020’s winner Nova plus Sacred Paws, Bemz and more to commemorate each previous SAY Award winning album, the ceremony was a poignant mix of reflection, celebration and recognition of the strength and diversity of Scotland’s musical output. This year’s inaugural Modern Scottish Classic winner was chosen by 2021’s Longlisted artists as an album from Scotland’s past that still inspires music being made today. The winner was ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ by Frightened Rabbit. Presenting the award was Sandra Gordon (Fundraising Officer, Tiny Changes) and James Graham (Twilight Sad). Sandra Gordon said, “It is such an honour for us to stand here tonight and to present this award to our friends and to celebrate an album that means so much to us and to many of you here tonight. I’m feeling really emotional so bear with me! This album and the people who wrote it enriched our lives and soundtracked the very best of our lives. ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ is the most honest and heartbreaking record that I know. This record should be the benchmark of the Scottish Album of the Year Award and this level of songwriting reflects years of hard work. It’s more than just a record, it’s made us feel less alone and it saved many of us. And built a community of FRABBITs who continue to do really brilliant things in Scott’s memory.” James Graham said, “I’m honoured to be here. My life wouldn’t be the same without the amazing human beings who created this record. Frightened Rabbit and this album changed my life for the better and I know I’m just one of thousands connected with like minded souls across the globe, but they never forgot their roots and where they’re from. I remember being in Scott and Grant’s flat a couple of days after they mixed the record – he pressed play and from the opening guitar lines of ‘The Modern Leper’ I knew my friends had created something very special. Frightened Rabbit didn’t make music to win awards, the biggest award we can give them is to listen to their music. Imagine introducing ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ to someone new and the possibility of them finding their new favourite album. Pass it on – make tiny changes like Scott said. ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ was said to be a breakup album – I’ve never seen a breakup album bring so many people together.” |
| As the band collected the award, Grant Hutchison said, “I don’t why you’re clapping for us we didn’t write any of it! All of us can come at it from the same place that all of you can – this was and is Scott’s album. These are his words and they should be shared by all of us. It’s amazing to have an album that’s 13 years old and still inspires artists today, because it still inspires me everyday. We recently put a book of Scott’s lyrics out and I listened to every single song and read every single lyric and was still like – f*****g hell. He got all the talented genes. This shouldn’t be a sad and sombre remembrance award, it’s not what he would have wanted, he would want us to get drunk! He would want us to sing and dance and get sweaty. Also how brilliant is this – Scotland has a music award ceremony that can fill the Usher Hall! 10 years ago I was at the first one in Govan and everyone was like ‘what even is this? we’re being told we’re good at what we do?!’ which in Scotland we’re not used to! SAY Award – well done and thank you for everything that you have done for Scottish music and artists, especially after the year that we’ve all just had. Thanks to Scott, what a f*****g guy. He’s already thinking that I’ve spoken for too long so I’ll leave it there and if everyone here tonight could do one thing – if you could text someone in your phone book who might need to hear from someone. Just ask them how they are or if they want to meet up. Just say hi, it might change their path. Thank you to all of you, you’re all amazing and this means so much to us.” |
2021’s The SAY Award Shortlist
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 – ‘Cubicle’
Mogwai – ‘As The Love Continues’
Rachel Newton – ‘To The Awe’
Stanley Odd – ‘STAY ODD’
The Ninth Wave – ‘Happy Days!’
The Snuts – ‘W.L.’