The SAY Award: The 2024 Longlist

The Scottish Album of the Year Award 2024 will be awarded at Stirling’s Albert Halls next month, and today a longlist of 20 records has been announced. The qualifying albums, whittled down from 370 entries by a panel of 100 referees, reflect the work of Scottish artists new and old, hailing from all corners of the country and all sectors of its music scene. The longlist in the SAY Award’s 13th year contains bagpipers, jazz composers, electronic musicians and pop punks – regardless of who takes home the £20,000 prize, the longlist proves that Scotland is overrun with truly talented artists.

Trad instruments, modern sounds, and Mercury nominees

Among the longlisters this year is Amy Laurenson, whose lively piano style has completely transformed the traditional Shetland compositions featured on her debut album Strands. Malin Lewis was, like Laurenson, a guest at this year’s Celtic Connections festival, and is also in the running with their album Halocline, named for the saline layer that separates freshwater and saltwater, emphasising liminality and nonbinary ideas. Folk rock duo Afterlands have also been looking to the natural world for inspiration, as We Are the Animals in the Night grew from a simple lockdown project into a sweeping, pastoral collection of songs. 

We’re buzzing that Mercury Prize shortlister Barry Can’t Swim’s When Will We Land? is now up for the SAY award, and right there with him at the Mercurys last week was jazz composer Liam Shortall AKA corto.alto, also up for the SAY Award. Bad With Names was our album of the month just after last year’s ceremony, so it’s been a long wait for the good news. On the nomination, Shortall said: “Just like many Scottish artists and music producers, being on The SAY Award Longlist has been a dream of mine since as long as I can remember.”

Theo Bleak, whose dreamy debut album Pain has landed her on the list, is someone we’ve long been listening out for. Goodness, Gracious is the genre-shifting debut by Bee Asha, and its unique blend of R’n’B and spoken-word have earned her the nomination. Viral pop punk outfit Dead Pony are also on the SAY longlist with their debut album IGNORE THIS. The Glasgow band have opened for Chvrches and played TRNSMT; if they make the shortlist, the Albert Halls better be ready for their in-your-face attitude. Same goes for glam powerhouses Lucia & the Best Boys, whose nominated record Burning Castles has the sort of name that might pose a threat to the Stirling skyline. Other premier releases in competition include The Summoned by acid jazz ensemble Mama Terra, and Rivers of Heresy by Empire State Bastard, the metal band fronted by Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil.

Past SAY Award winners and nominees

Returning to the SAY Award longlist are a number of established virtuosos. Fergus McCreadie‘s visionary jazz style already earned him the SAY Award in 2022 for Forest Floor, so it makes sense the selectors had their ears on Stream. Arab Strap, nominated this year for I'm totally fine with it don't give a fuck anymore said: “We've always seen The SAY Award as more of a celebration than a competition, and we’re chuffed we’ll be part of the party this year.” Blue Rose Code are back with Bright Circumstance, their first nomination since The Water of Leith in 2018, and we’re pleased to see a nomination for Willson and Williams, the collaborative album between Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand.

Previously longlisted for the award as part of Kid Canaveral in 2014, David Macgregor has found his way onto this year's list for Chorus of Doubt, his third album as Broken Chanter, while Rachel Sermanni returns for a second time with Dreamer Awake. Two artists are in the running for the second year in a row – West Lothian indie rockers The Snuts and soul singer-songwriter Becky Sikasa were both nominated in 2023, but this year bring Millenials and The Writings and the Pictures and the Song respectively. Sikasa was one of The Skinny’s Pyramid Stage bookings at Kelburn Garden Party this year, alongside rEDOLENT, who have been nominated for their album dinny greet. rEDOLENT said: “We're all grateful things like The SAY Award exists and even more grateful to be involved.”

The 2024 SAY Award Longlist in full

Afterlands – We Are the Animals in the Night
Amy Laurenson – Strands
Arab Strap – I'm totally fine with it don't give a fuck anymore
Barry Can't Swim – When Will We Land?
Becky Sikasa – The Writings and the Pictures and the Song
Bee Asha – Goodbye, Gracious
Blue Rose Code – Bright Circumstance
Broken Chanter – Chorus Of Doubt
corto.alto – Bad With Names
Dead Pony – IGNORE THIS
Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy
Fergus McCreadie – Stream
Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand – Willson Williams
Lucia & The Best Boys – Burning Castles
Malin Lewis – Halocline
Mama Terra – The Summoned
Rachel Sermanni – Dreamer Awake
rEDOLENT – dinny greet
The Snuts – Millennials
Theo Bleak –  Pain