Today is the day that Polaris Music Prize reveal their long-list for 2020.
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, has revealed its 40 album Long List. This year’s Long List is presented by Canada Council for the Arts.
The 2020 Polaris Music Prize Long List is (* represents my prediction on who will be on the shortlist) :
- Allie X – Cape God
- Anachnid – Dreamweaver
- Aquakultre – Legacy *
- Marie-Pierre Arthur – Des feux pour voir
- Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It *
- Badge Époque Ensemble – Badge Époque Ensemble
- Begonia – Fear
- P’tit Belliveau – Greatest Hits Vol. 1
- Caribou – Suddenly *
- Daniel Caesar – CASE STUDY 01 *
- Chocolat – Jazz engagé
- Louis-Jean Cormier – Quand la nuit tombe
- Corridor – Junior *
- dvsn – A Muse In Her Feelings
- Jacques Greene – Dawn Chorus
- Sarah Harmer – Are You Gone
- Ice Cream – FED UP
- Junia-T – Studio Monk
- Kaytranada – Bubba
- Flore Laurentienne – Volume 1
- Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight To Eternity? *
- Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz
- nêhiyawak – nipiy
- OBUXUM – Re-Birth
- Owen Pallett – Island
- Pantayo – Pantayo *
- Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia
- Joel Plaskett – 44
- William Prince – Reliever
- Jessie Reyez – BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US
- Riit – ataataga
- Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline *
- Super Duty Tough Work – Studies in Grey
- U.S. Girls – Heavy Light *
- Leif Vollebekk – New Ways
- Wares – Survival
- The Weeknd – After Hours
- WHOOP-Szo – Warrior Down *
- Witch Prophet – DNA Activation
- Zen Bamboo – GLU
About the Polaris Music Prize:
In total, 223 albums were considered for the Long List by the 201 member jury.
“This period of reflection is leading to the creation of strong new work by strong new voices in music. The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to associate itself with the Polaris Prize through the Council’s presentation of the Long List,” said Carolyn Warren, Director General, Arts Granting Programs Division / Directrice générale, Division des programmes de subventions aux arts.
This year’s Long List was unveiled in a video broadcast via the Polaris Facebook page and YouTube channels. An exceptional cast of past Polaris nominees were enlisted to present each Long List album. These presenters included a l l i e, Tim Baker, Art Bergmann, Jean-Michel Blais, Bonjay’s Alanna Stuart, Braids’ Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Cadence Weapon, Charlotte Cornfield, Le Couleur’s Laurence Giroux-Do, D-Sisive, Dilly Dally’s Katie Monks, Elephant Stone’s Rishi Dhir, Kathleen Edwards, Elisapie, Eternia, Faith Healer’s Jessica Jalbert, Great Lake Swimmers’ Tony Dekker, Hannah Georgas, Haviah Mighty, Zaki Ibrahim, iskwē, B.A. Johnston, KEN mode’s Jesse and Shane Matthewson, Kimmortal, LAL, Lisa Leblanc, Greg MacPherson, Kalle Mattson, Milk & Bone, Safia Nolin, Partner, Klô Pelgag, PUP, Radio Radio’s Gabriel L.B. Malenfant, Shad, Snotty Nose Rez Kids’ Darren Metz, White Lung’s Mish Barber-Way, Wintersleep’s Paul Murphy, Hawskley Workman and YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN’s Alaska B.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. Additionally, the nine other nominated acts whose albums make the 2020 Short List will receive $3,000 each courtesy of Slaight Music.
Albums eligible for 2020 Polaris Music Prize consideration must be released between May 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020. An independent jury of music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury will select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The past winners are Haviah Mighty (2019), Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
Polaris Music Prize acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
