Seven Scottish acts were recognised last night at a prize-giving ceremony at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s.
After an industry nomination process, the seven winners were decided by an online public ballot. The ceremony in Glasgow’s East End also included live performances from Becky Sikasa, VLURE and The Honey Farm, with award presentations from Vic Galloway and Phoebe Inglis-Holmes of BBC Scotland, comedian and actress Karen Dunbar, and former SAMA Best Live Act winner and rap artist Bemz.
Hosted by new music champion Jim Gellatly and poet Leyla Josephine, the Creative Scotland-supported celebration saw Kintra – a DJ/violin duo formed by Dundee twin sisters, Frankie and Jozette , inspired by Celtic music and otherworldly sounds – win the Best Electronic award. Their debut EP ‘Heliopause’ features a mix of ethereal sounds, driving violin and euphoric techno.
Best Live Act category was won by Hannah Laing, the Dundee-born DJ/artist who scored an Ibiza residency aged 19. Having made her BBC Introducing debut at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May 2022, Laing still works at her dental practice as well as hosting her own podcast and Hannah’s Choice club night.
Best Metal was taken by Catalysis, an accomplished band unafraid to tackle difficult topics from xenophobia to environmental collapse. Having taken their relentless groove-metal to Bloodstock Open Air this year as winners of the Scottish Metal 2 The Masses Grand Final, Catalysis plan to follow their recent fifth EP ‘Innova’ with a new release and live shows in 2023.
The winner of Best Acoustic was Linzi Clark, the Paisley musician behind ‘All I Have Now’, a debut album of glimmering story songs about identity, relationships and navigating life as a woman.
Best hip hop winner was Glasgow artist Becca Starr known both for her debut album ‘Speak Of No Evil’ as well as for breaking the silence around abuse in relationships and raising funds for Scottish Women’s Aid.
Leith’s Pocket Monica were named as Best Newcomer. Comprised of multi-instrumentalist Erez Yotam Bertrand and vocalist/songwriter Iona Zawinski – a pair of former strangers who found their weird-pop bliss while flat-sharing in lockdown – Pocket Monica describe their music as packing “big punchy beats from tiny wee calculator synths, middle-eastern flavoured harmonica, ripping flute, slip n slide-guitar, a banjo if you’re lucky, and a voice that might just take you by surprise”.
Indie-punks Gallus won Best Rock/Alternative. Having formed in the Glasgow pub of the same name, Gallus played across seven different countries and two continents in 2022. They have more ambitious releases and touring plans for 2023, including their biggest headline show to date at the city’s SWG3 in March and an upcoming performance at Eurosonic-Noorderslag (ESNS) in the Netherlands.
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland, said: “(…) This year’s award winners aren’t just champions of alternative genres, they also draw attention to vibrant pockets of activity in overlooked parts of the country. It’s great to see Dundee get recognition in several categories for its diverse scene, reminding us that this truly is the city of discovery. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees who keep our listening habits fresh and exciting.”
