The nominees are out for the first-ever SOCAN Polaris Song Prize
For almost 20 years, the Polaris Music Prize has been dedicated to finding the best Canadian albums regardless of genre or commercial success. This year, there’s a new edition: The SOCAN Polaris Song Prize.
SOCAN turns 100 this year, so this is a way to further honour Canadian songwriters. As sponsors of this new initiative, they’re going to pony up $10,000 to the winner. Again, the sole criterion is artistic merit. A short list of five songs will be unveiled July 29. There will be no Grand Jury. Whatever song gets the most votes wins. We’ll find out who gets the $10K on September 16 at the Polaris Gala.
Here are the nominees. Some 200 music boffins (including me) are voting on these songs.
Art d’Ecco — The Traveller
Backxwash — History Of Violence
Backxwash — 9th Heaven
Caribou — Honey
Lou-Adriane Cassidy — Dis-moi dis-moi dis-moi
Marie Davidson — Fun Times
Yves Jarvis — Gold Filagree
Kaytranada ft. Lou Phelps — Call U Up
Richard Laviolette — Constant Love
Mustafa — Gaza is Calling
The OBGMs — Changes ft. Sate
Klô Pelgag — Le goût des mangues
Propagandhi — At Peace
Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers — Powerful
Ribbon Skirt — Wrong Planet
Saya Gray — Shell (Of A Man)
Snotty Nose Rez Kids — FREE (ft. Aysanabee, Drezus, Rueben George)
Colin Stetson — The love it took to leave you
The Weather Station — Neon Signs
Rick White and The Sadies — Fly Away
