Glasgow-based band Kai Reesu have been awarded the 2025 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award for their debut album, ‘Kompromat vol.i’.
Fronted by keyboardist Paul Copeland, the group garnered praise for a “bold, genre-blending record” incorporating elements of jazz, hip-hop, psychedelia, and grime.
The band received the £20,000 prize at a ceremony held at the Caird Hall in Dundee on Thursday evening.
During the 14th annual event, KT Tunstall’s debut album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’, was also honored with the Modern Scottish Classic award.
Kai Reesu emerged victorious from a shortlist that included acclaimed artists such as Kathryn Joseph, Hamish Hawk, Jacob Alon, and Brooke Combe, among others.
The band’s members hail from Paisley, Thurso, and Glasgow, and their music features vocals from Scotland-based LA rapper, Jurnalist.
Their award-winning album chronicles Jurnalist’s arrival in Glasgow, his collaboration with Kai Reesu, and their collective musical journey.
Paul Copeland of Kai Reesu expressed: “This is quite unexpected because we were honestly just having fun with this album. It’s so good that it resonated with people.”
“I think people should have more fun when they’re making music and just make more music right now.”
The winner was selected by a panel of judges representing diverse sectors of the creative industries, under the leadership of music journalist Arusa Qureshi.
Robert Kilpatrick, Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association, hailed Kai Reesu’s album as a “truly well-deserved” recipient of the award.
He further commented: “Massive congratulations to Kai Reesu for a bold, genre-blending record that moves effortlessly between jazz, hip-hop, grime and psychedelia.”
“It’s prophetic, propulsive and defiantly inventive.”
The ceremony featured live performances from 2024 winner Redolent, culminating in a set by KT Tunstall to close the evening.
Tunstall, who spent her formative years in St Andrews, performed three tracks from her 2005 album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’.
She remarked: “I live in America and I travel all over the world and people love Scottish musicians.”
“So I’m just very proud to be in that lineage of amazing Scottish artists that have contributed an awful lot to the world, even though we’re such a wee country.”
Past recipients of the award include Young Fathers in 2023, Fergus McCreadie in 2022, and Mogwai in 2021.
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