Feist performs during the Polaris Music Prize Gala September 18, 2017 in Toronto. New albums from some of Canada’s finest pop, electronic and R&B talent have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Donovan
New albums from some of Canada’s finest pop, electronic and R&B talent have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.
Indie-pop singer-songwriter Leslie Feist and R&B singer Daniel Caesar are among ten nominees for this year’s $50,000 Best Canadian Album award.
The group of finalists were chosen from a long list of 40 candidates, which also included Jessie Reyez and Dylan Sinclair.
Raised in Calgary, Feist made it with Multitudes, an album showcasing new material written during the pandemic as she adjusted into motherhood.
Born and raised in the Toronto area, Caesar is nominated for his latest album Never Enough – a self-reflection featuring collaborations with Raphael Saadiq, Ty Dolla $ign and more.
Also on the shortlist is Nigerian-Canadian genre-bender Debby Friday, whose debut album Good Luck earned her her first Polaris nomination. The Toronto-based musician, who usually raps to industrial beats, chose a more wistful and soulful direction this time.
Aysanabee, alternative soul singer-songwriter from Oji-Cree, also received his first nomination for “Watin.” He is the first artist signed to an Ottawa-based Indigenous label, Ishkōdé Records.
Haitian-Canadian artist Gayance made the list with her electronically influenced album Masquerade, while Winnipeg’s Begonia was picked for her sophomore album Powder Blue.
Also competing for the album’s grand prize are “Being Somewhere” by British Columbia-born musician and two-time Juno winner Dan Mangan; “Colder Streams” by Toronto-based rock band The Sadies; “I’m Fine HBU?” by BC hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids; and “Blue Rev” by guitar pop band Alvvays, which originated in Prince Edward Island.
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, will be presented at a gala at Toronto’s Massey Hall on September 19th.
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