The Glasgow band's debut album taking home coveted Scottish Album of the Year

Kai Reesu’s debut album KOMPROMAT vol.i has been announced as winner of the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award,

The band took home the £20,000 first prize as the country’s national music prize ceremony took place in Dundee’s Caird Hall for the first time. The hip-hop and jazz outfit claimed the bespoke trophy and coveted title ahead of a shortlist that included Kathryn Joseph, Jacob Alon and Brooke Combe.

KT Tunstall’s debut album Eye to the Telescope was awarded the Modern Scottish Classic Award, presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA). The singer-songwriter performed a special three-song set at the SAY Award Ceremony to celebrate.

Kai Reesu

Alice Faye was named The Sound of Young Scotland, winning a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the creation of her debut album.

Kai Reesu’s debut album blends jazz and hip-hop, psychedelia and grime, led by Paul Copeland on keys and featuring vocals from Glasgow-based LA rapper Jurnalist.

Band members hail from Paisley, Thurso, Glasgow and LA, with the sextet releasing their first single back in 2023, before their debut album was released in May 2025.

KT Tunstall has been awarded the Modern Scottish Classic for her 2004 album Eye to the Telescope’ | Supplied

Robert Kilpatrick, chief executive and creative director of the SMIA, said: “Massive congratulations to Kai Reesu, with KOMPROMAT Vol. i claiming 2025's coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year for a bold, genre-blending record that moves effortlessly between jazz, hip-hop, grime and psychedelia.

“Rich with live instrumentation and storytelling, it traces Jurnalist’s journey to Scotland and the collaborative spark at the heart of the group. It’s prophetic, propulsive and defiantly inventive – a truly well deserved SAY Award winner.”

Co-hosted by Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway, the ceremony featured live performances from 2024 SAY Award winners redolent, 2024’s Sound of Young Scotland Dillon Barrie, corto.alto, Combe and a special set from Ms Tunstall to close the night.

Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland, said: “Jazz and hip hop are arguably the most inventive scenes in Scottish music at the moment, and they combine magnificently in Kai Reesu’s dynamic debut album.”