RM Hubbert wins Scottish Album of the Year award

Glasgow guitarist and singer RM “Hubby” Hubbert has won the Scottish music industry’s flagship prize - for an album he made after the break-up of his marriage.
RM Hubbert, who picked up the SAY award last night. Picture: ComplimentaryRM Hubbert, who picked up the SAY award last night. Picture: Complimentary
RM Hubbert, who picked up the SAY award last night. Picture: Complimentary

A stalwart of Glasgow’s music scene for the last two decades, Hubbert landed the prestigious ‘Scottish Album of the Year’ prize, after fending off challenges from a string of better-known acts.

The awards, which The Scotsman is a media partner of, are decided on by a different panel of industry experts every year from dozens of submissions put forward across all sections of the Scottish music industry.

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Hubbert’s winning album Thirteen Lost & Found - hailed by the judges for his “extraordinary” guitar playing - was produced by Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos.

'Thirteen Lost & Found'. Picture: Contributed'Thirteen Lost & Found'. Picture: Contributed
'Thirteen Lost & Found'. Picture: Contributed

Hubbert called in a group of friends, all leading singers, to help create what was described as a “beautifully eclectic album.”

They included Aidan Moffat, one half of last year’s award-winning duo at the same event, Alasdair Roberts, Luke Sutherland and Emma Pollock, as well as Kapranos himself.

Hubbart previously played for the Glasgow rock band El Hombre Trajeado, who were feted by DJ John Peel and supported the likes of Nick Cave and The Delgados.

Among the other 9 finalists were Blue Nile singer Paul Buchanan, Mercury Music Prize nominees Django Django, indie darlings Admiral Fallow and The Twilight Sad, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and rap group Stanley Odd.

Paisley-born Hubbert, 39, told The Scotsman: “It feels really good to win, but I honestly wasn’t expecting it. I thought somebody like The Twilight Sad or Django Django would win it.

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“I thought it was a very strong representative shortlist. Just getting onto the longlist was the incredible part, because it is voted on by more than 100 different people from many parts of our music industry.

“The album was primarily about reconnecting with old friends.

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“My marriage had just ended, and I was feeling isolated and I thought it would be easier to reconnect with these people by going into the studio with them and just making music.

“I’m just lucky that I know a lot of really talented people.

“I just really want to keep touring and making records, and maybe a few more people will buy the album, or even just hear it at least. The most difficult thing for musicians these days is to get people to listen to them in the first place.”

Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland venue played host to the awards ceremony, which was launched last year by the Scottish Music Industry Association, with financial backing from arts agency Creative Scotland.

Aidan Moffat and Bill Wells, who won the inaugural honour with their collection of jazzy love songs, Everything’s Getting Older, opened this year’s event. Other performers included rap outfit Young Fathers and electronic collective Hidden Orchestra.

The overall winners landed a £20,000 cash prize with the nine other shortlisted titles picking up £1,000 each.

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An original longlist of 20 had been revealed in April after being chosen by an expert panel from more than 130 nominations made by journalists, bloggers, radio presenters, promoters, retailers, venues, festival organisers and even academics.

The award was open to albums of any musical genre as long as they were released during 2012 and 270 albums in total were considered eligible.

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Judges for this year’s award included Glasgow University music expert John Williamson, broadcaster Douglas Anderson, author Christopher Brookmyre, artist Douglas Gordon and journalist Sue Wilson, a music critic for The Scotsman.

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Scottish Album of the Year award highlights Scotland’s world reputation as a creative nation and celebrates our flair for producing great music from exceptionally talented artists.

“All those shortlisted this year can be rightly proud of their contribution to Scotland’s vibrant music scene.

“Huge congratulations to RM Hubbert on winning the award for his brilliant album, Thirteen Lost and Found. Hubbert is a wonderful guitarist and well deserves this prestigious award.”

Awards organiser Stewart Henderson, chair of the SMIA, said: “Congratulations to Hubby. We’ve got another worthy winner and an exceptional album to have emerged from such a strong field.”

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