SAY Award 2023's nominees explained: Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy
As 2023's Scottish Album Of The Year Award draws near, we're penning some handy primers on each shortlisted album to help you wade through this avalanche of musical goodness. Next up is an album that’s caused a huge splash well beyond Scotland’s music scene this year, Heavy Heavy by Young Fathers
Act: Young Fathers
Album: Heavy Heavy
How it sounds: Like a joyful exorcism of collective grief and anger. From rallying beats in songs like ‘I Saw’ and ‘Drum’ to euphoric climaxes in ‘Geronimo’, ‘Tell Somebody’ and ‘Rice’, Heavy Heavy is an album of seismic moment after seismic moment. Fans of Young Fathers know this band doesn't shy away from layering musical influences and styles and this fourth LP is their boldest amalgamation of sound yet, miraculously fusing hammering gospel keys, folky melodies, bluesy rock ‘n’ roll and aggressive electronic drums throughout its chaotic yet cohesive ten tracks. Self-produced by the trio (made up of Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings), it's testament to their collaborative skills in the studio that the delicate balance was struck so perfectly. It’s one thing to create hooks and rhythms that are as delightful as the ones on this album but quite another to convey the palpable emotion that adds to their weight. In an interview with Massaquoi earlier this year, he told us, ‘Because we’ve not put anything out in the last few years, and because of what was happening in the world and to our lives individually, we had this sort of heavy feeling. There’s a lot that we’re processing throughout the record.’ This sentiment certainly translates, especially when the group bring it to life on stage. Receiving a five-star review from us back in March, it seems the only thing better than this album is seeing it performed live.
Top track: ‘I Saw’ is a great entry point to Heavy Heavy, showcasing Young Fathers’ many sounds and textures as it builds and swells into a glorious wall of sound.
Do you come here often? This is far from Young Fathers’ first rodeo. They've been SAY Award nominated for all three of their previous albums and took home 2018’s top prize for Cocoa Sugar.
Why Young Fathers should win: If Fergus McCreadie’s win last year is anything to go by, being up for a Mercury Prize seems to give artists a solid chance of snatching a SAY. That aside, this album caused a huge splash upon its release and continues to be bold, moving and totally singular.
The SAY Award winner will be announced on Thursday 26 October. Young Fathers are touring the UK now.
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