Scottish Alternative Music Awards: The 2021 nominees

Helping shine a light on up-and-coming talent across Scotland’s diverse music scene, the nominees for the 12th edition of the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMAs) have been announced today. The awards are spread across seven categories – Best Acoustic, Best Electronic, Best Hip Hop, Best Live Act, Best Metal, Best Newcomer and Best Rock/Alternative – meaning that artists in more niche genres, that might otherwise get overlooked, are given the recognition they deserve. This year's shortlist includes a selection of artists nominated for the 2021 SAY Award, including Bemz, Lizzie Reid, AiiTee and Andrew Wasylyk.

Following a breakthrough year, which saw him SAY-longlisted for his record Saint of Lost Causes, Glasgow-based Ayrshire rapper Bemz is up for two SAMAs, the first of which being Best Hip Hop, alongside three other super-talented young artists – Clarrisa Woods, K4cie and Chef. Like Bemz, Chef is also nominated in two categories this year with his second for Best Newcomer alongside fellow Aberdeen artist AiiTee, The Honey Farm's Bee Asha and Edinburgh-based neo-soul artist Danny Cliff.

Meanwhile Lizzie Reid, who released the sumptuous Cubicle earlier this year, is up for Best Acoustic alongside fellow Glaswegian Christy, Romanian-born, Edinburgh-based Lizabett Russo and Stirling’s Constant Follower.

The final SAY Award nominee to feature in the SAMAs this year is Idlewild bassist, and artist in his own right, Andrew Mitchell – aka Andrew Wasylyk – who you’ll find in the Best Live Act category alongside Sacred Paws’ Rachel Aggs, Glasgow reggae MC Tom Spirals, and a second nomination for Bemz. Elsewhere, Skinny faves Swim School and MEMES have both been nominated in the Best Rock/Alternative category, Glasgow producer and Animal Farm resident AISHA is up for Best Electronic and Edinburgh’s Frontierer’s mathcore sees them nominated in the Best Metal category.

Hosted by Leyla Josephine and Jim Gellatly, the 2021 SAMAs will take place at St Luke’s on 27 November with live performances from 2020 double winner TAAHLIAH, the recently crowned Sound of Young Scotland LVRA and cult noughties band Union of Knives who are soon to celebrate the release of Endless From the Start, their first album in 15 years.

The full list of 2021 SAMAs nominees

Best Acoustic 
Christy
Constant Follower
Lizabett Russo
Lizzie Reid

Best Electronic
AISHA
Barry Can’t Swim
KAVARI
Macka

Best Hip Hop
Bemz
Chef
Clarissa Woods
K4cie

Best Live Act
Andrew Wasylyk
Bemz
Rachel Aggs
Tom Spirals

Best Metal 
Dvne
Frontierer
Godeater
Hellripper

Best Newcomer
AiiTee
Bee Asha
Chef
Danny Cliff

Best Rock/Alternative 
Dictator
MEMES
Spyres
Swim School