Glasgow band Kai Reesu have won the 2025 Scottish Album of the Year award for their debut album ‘Kompromat vol.i’.
Led by keyboard player Paul Copeland, the group were praised for a “bold, genre-blending record” with elements of jazz, hip-hop, psychedelia and grime.
They collected the £20,000 prize at a ceremony at the Caird Hall in Dundee on Thursday night.
KT Tunstall’s debut album ‘Eye to the Telescope’ was also awarded the Modern Scottish Classic award in the 14th year of the annual event.
Kai Reesu took the title ahead of a shortlist including Kathryn Joseph, Hamish Hawk, Jacob Alon, Brooke Combe and others.
Band members hail from Paisley, Thurso, Glasgow and feature vocals from Scotland-based LA rapper Jurnalist.
Their winning album tells the story of how Jurnalist came to Glasgow, linked up with Kai Reesu and their musical journey together as a group.
The group’s Paul Copeland said: “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 chosen by a panel of judges from across the creative industries, chaired by music journalist Arusa Qureshi.
Robert Kilpatrick, creative director of the Scottish Music Industry Association, said Kai Reesu’s album was a “truly well-deserved” winner.
He added: “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 included live performances from 2024 winner Redolent and a set from KT Tunstall to close the night.
Tunstall, who grew up in St Andrews, performed three songs from 2005 album Eye to the Telescope.
She said: “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.”
Previous winners of the award include Young Fathers in 2023, Fergus McCreadie in 2022 and Mogwai in 2021.
