Backxwash has been announced as the 2020 winner of the Polaris Music Prize. The Montreal artist won the prestigious award this evening for the album God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It.
The announcement was made during a "special cinematic tribute" hosted by CBC Music's Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe.
Backxwash beat out some stiff competition. After a long list of 40 Canadian albums was revealed earlier this year, this was further whittled down to a 10-album shortlist. The shortlist included the likes of Pantayo, Caribou, U.S. Girls, Junia-T, nêhiyawak, Lido Pimienta, Kaytranada, Jessie Reyez and Witch Prophet.
The Polaris winner receives a $50,000 grand prize, while the nine other shortlist artists will receive prizes of $3,000 each.
You can listen to the Polaris-winning God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It below, as well as read Exclaim!'s review of the album.
Backxwash graced Exclaim!'s cover back in September, as well as topped our list of Best Albums of 2020 So Far.
2020 Polaris Prize Short List:
Backxwash - God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
Caribou - Suddenly
Junia-T - Studio Monk
Kaytranada - Bubba
nêhiyawak - nipiy
Pantayo - Pantayo
Lido Pimienta - Miss Colombia
Jessie Reyez - Before Love Came to Kill Us
U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
Witch Prophet - DNA Activation
The announcement was made during a "special cinematic tribute" hosted by CBC Music's Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe.
Backxwash beat out some stiff competition. After a long list of 40 Canadian albums was revealed earlier this year, this was further whittled down to a 10-album shortlist. The shortlist included the likes of Pantayo, Caribou, U.S. Girls, Junia-T, nêhiyawak, Lido Pimienta, Kaytranada, Jessie Reyez and Witch Prophet.
The Polaris winner receives a $50,000 grand prize, while the nine other shortlist artists will receive prizes of $3,000 each.
You can listen to the Polaris-winning God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It below, as well as read Exclaim!'s review of the album.
Backxwash graced Exclaim!'s cover back in September, as well as topped our list of Best Albums of 2020 So Far.
2020 Polaris Prize Short List:
Backxwash - God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
Caribou - Suddenly
Junia-T - Studio Monk
Kaytranada - Bubba
nêhiyawak - nipiy
Pantayo - Pantayo
Lido Pimienta - Miss Colombia
Jessie Reyez - Before Love Came to Kill Us
U.S. Girls - Heavy Light
Witch Prophet - DNA Activation