THE ten shortlisted albums for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award were revealed yesterday at a special BBC Music Day programming of the BBC Radio Scotland Quay Sessions.
The shortlist includes artists such as Honeyblood (Babes Never die), Mogwai (Atomic) and Ela Orleans (Circles of Upper and Lower Hell).
Beginning in March, the process has taken almost 300 public submissions to 20 longlisted records, chosen by a panel of 100 impartial nominators, to the shortlist of 10 albums; one of which — Pictish Trail — was chosen by the public through a 72-hour online vote, and the others by an independent judging panel.
This year’s shortlisted artists have each won £1000, provided by long-term award partner Creative Scotland. In addition to this, each artist will be awarded with an exclusively designed trophy created by the winner of The SAY Design Commission, Lisa Crockard.
The SAY Award winner will be announced on June 28 in Paisley Town Hall in support of Paisley’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021.
The award, which was launched in 2012, celebrates, promotes and rewards the most outstanding Scottish albums released each year.
Creative Scotland’s head of music Alan Morrison said: “One of the best things about the SAY Award shortlist is that it encourages music fans to take their ears into another territory and listen to something they haven’t heard before.
“Other awards can only look on in envy as the SAY Award puts traditional harp and flamenco-hued guitar next to thunderous power-pop and soundscape electronica."
The full shortlist can be found on http://www.sayaward.com/
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