Two Quebec musicians delivering urban music have made it to the 10 finalists for the prestigious Polaris Prize, which rewards the best record in Canada. This is the Montreal composer and DJ Gayance, who is carving out a place for herself among the crème de la crème thanks to her first album, titled Masqueradeand electronic artist Debbie Friday, named for her record Good Luck.
Gayance, whose real name is Aïsha Vertus, is not a newcomer to the music scene, where she has officiated for almost a decade behind the turntables. In 2020, she released a mini album. The Haitian-born musician lives in Amsterdam, but grew up in Montreal North. Songs from his CD Masqueradereleased in March, features vocal guests, in English, including Janette King and Judith Little D. The ensemble is jerky, danceable and infectious, mixing hip-hop, jazz and Caribbean rhythms, among other things. .
As for singer and songwriter Debbie Friday, she was born in Nigeria, but grew up in the Quebec metropolis, where she began her musical journey. She lived in Vancouver before settling in Toronto. She describes her music as “hybrid”, the result displaying industrial textures.
No French-language record has earned a place on the charts, a first since 2020 – but not a rare occurrence since the creation of Polaris, which is in its 18e editing. Thierry Larose, Philippe Brach and N Nao had climbed this year into the shortlist of 40 names.
Among the finalists, Gayance and Debbie Friday are joined by some regulars of the award, given regardless of sales, such as singer Feist, who is there for the fourth time — she won the $50,000 award in 2012 with his album Metals.
Hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids also see their record I’m Good, HBU? appear on this shortlist. The prolific Aboriginal group from British Columbia has achieved the feat of climbing there for the fourth time since 2018. The rock group Alvvays, for its part, qualifies for the third time in as many releases.
The list also includes the most recent releases from Dan Mangan, Daniel Caesar and The Sadies, all of whom are making their second appearance in the final selection. The list is completed by Begonia and Aysanabee, an up-and-coming, deep-voiced Oji-Cree artist.
The choice of finalists was determined by the vote of some 200 members of a jury from various spheres of the music industry, including many journalists. A select group of 11 of them will determine the winner, who will be announced on September 19 at a gala in Toronto. Two Montreal artists recently won the Polaris, Pierre Kwenders (2022) and Backxwash (2020).