Big names from the Quebec music scene are among the semi-finalists for the 2024 Polaris Prize, including Charlotte Cardin, Elisapie, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Karkwa. The 40 albums that make up the long list for the prestigious award were announced Tuesday in Toronto and nearly half of them are the work of Quebecers of origin or adoption.
This prize, worth $50,000, rewards the best Canadian album released between 1er April 2023 and 1er May 2024, all genres combined. The albums appearing on the long list were selected by a jury of 207 members.
This year, 16 groups or artists are nominated for the first time. The long list also includes 3 former winners: Jeremy Dutcher, the Quebec band Karkwa and KAYTRAMINÉ, a duo formed by the American rapper Aminé and the Canadian-Haitian musician Kaytranada.
Allison Russell, born in Montreal, is also on the list for her album The Returner. She won her first Grammy award last February for Best Performance in the American Roots Music category (American roots), with his song Eve Was Black.
Let us also note the names of Peter Peter, Arielle Soucy, NOBRO and TEKE::TEKE, among other Quebec artists who were among the semi-finalists.
Last year, Debby Friday, an artist born in Nigeria and raised in Montreal, won the Polaris Prize for her debut album, Good Luck. The previous year, it was Quebecer Pierre Kwenders who won top honors for José Louis And the Paradox of Love. Other artists from la belle province have distinguished themselves in the past, including Backxwash in 2020, Kaytranada in 2016 and Godspeed You! Black Emperor in 2013.
The short list of 10 finalist albums will be revealed on July 11 and the big winner will be announced on September 17 at the legendary Massey Hall in Toronto.