Berta Kennedy is an enthusiast and a realist. The alt.pop singer-songwriter has been performing since her mid-teens but first hit wider recognition when she was named as the SAY Award’s Sound Of Young Scotland winner for 2022. It’s an accolade she describes as ‘probably the most monumental thing to happen in my career so far’.

Yet at the same time she provides the reality check. ‘Any up-and-coming artist is probably waiting on at least three applications for something coming back to them, putting yourself out there, trying to get a wee step ahead with a bit of funding or a bit of status or an opportunity. I just got that one.’

Likewise, her auteur abilities as writer, performer and producer of her own material is an impressive calling card, but for Kennedy it’s purely practical. ‘I’m not saying someone should do all of it themselves; it’s not a pride thing, it’s a financial thing, just to put that out there,’ she says. ‘I love working with and for people, and I know how important perspective and inspiration and communication is. Making music shouldn’t be an isolating situation; but for the sake of financial ease I chose to do it on my own.’

Kennedy spent much of lockdown honing her self-sufficient production skills, but prior to the pandemic she was very much plugged into the community which comes from studying music (in her case popular music composition at Edinburgh Napier University). She’s been based in the capital ever since. ‘I just think Edinburgh’s lovely,’ she says. ‘I don’t know if you’ve been to Greenock but you tend not to move back . . . ’

In the same breath, she acknowledges that her first musical opportunities came via Greenock music-mentoring charity GAIN while her path was also shaped by her sisters’ contrasting tastes in rap and rock. ‘I love chunky riffs but I like putting beats on top of it and it’s all down to growing up with that. Also, everyday life inspires me. Usually, if I’m writing it’s about how I’m feeling day-to-day. Now, I’m not that precious about songs I wrote. I just love making stuff; I would work with anyone and give a song to anyone.’

The Sound Of Young Scotland Award exists to fund a debut album. Kennedy was due to start recording hers the day after we spoke and is eyeing a late 2024 release. In the meantime, she plans to debut some new material at Hidden Door. ‘I’ve been as an audience member and it’s bloody great,’ she says. ‘It just makes you feel so creative and inspired while you’re there, and I can’t wait to play it.’

 Berta Kennedy plays Hidden Door (Wednesday 31 May–Sunday 4 June) on Thursday 1 June.