Here is the Short List for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize

You know we’re deep into summer when we start talking about the finalists for the Polaris Music Prize.

We started with over 200 albums nominated by more than 200 music wonks across the country (full disclosure: I am one). After months of debating and lobbying, there was the first round of voting, which brought things down to the Long List last month. More discussions commenced leading to another culling of the herd. Those votes are now in and here is the Short List for 2021.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Theory of Ice
Cadence Weapon – Parallel World
DijahSB – Head Above The Waters
Dominique Fils-Aimé – Three Little Words
Mustafa – When Smoke Rises
The OBGMs – The Ends
Klô Pelgag – Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
TOBi – Elements Vol. 1
The Weather Station – Ignorance
Zoon – Bleached Wavves

This is a fascinating cross-section of Canadian music. We now have to wait until September 27 when the Grand Jury picked from the entire Jury pool will be entrusted with picking a grand prize winner. That’s worth $50,000 while everyone else on the Short List will receive $3,000.

If you want to listen to everything on the Short List, go here.