The Polaris Music Prize has named its 2021 winner: Parallel World by Cadence Weapon.
Cadence Weapon beat out short-listed nominees DijahSB, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Klô Pelgag, Mustafa, the OBGMs, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, TOBi, the Weather Station and Zoon.
The artist takes home the grand prize of $50,000. All of the runners-up received $3,000 courtesy of Slaight Music.
The nominees were determined by a cross-Canada jury of journalists and industry professionals. The ultimate winner was determined by a grand jury that included Exclaim! writers Calum Slingerland and Yasmine Shemesh. The winner is typically named at a gala event, but Polaris opted to skip the gala this year due to the pandemic.
This is the 16th year of the Polaris Music Prize, which recognizes the best Canadian album of the past year based solely on artistic merit. Past winners include Backxwash, Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher, Feist, Arcade Fire and more.
Listen to Parallel World below, and read Exclaim!'s review of the album here.
2021 Polaris Music Prize Short List:
Cadence Weapon - Parallel World
DijahSB - Head Above the Waters
Dominique Fils-Aimé - Three Little Words
Mustafa - When Smoke Rises
The OBGMs - The Ends
Klô Pelgag - Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson - Theory of Ice
TOBi - ELEMENTS Vol. 1
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Zoon - Bleached Wavves
Cadence Weapon beat out short-listed nominees DijahSB, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Klô Pelgag, Mustafa, the OBGMs, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, TOBi, the Weather Station and Zoon.
The artist takes home the grand prize of $50,000. All of the runners-up received $3,000 courtesy of Slaight Music.
The nominees were determined by a cross-Canada jury of journalists and industry professionals. The ultimate winner was determined by a grand jury that included Exclaim! writers Calum Slingerland and Yasmine Shemesh. The winner is typically named at a gala event, but Polaris opted to skip the gala this year due to the pandemic.
This is the 16th year of the Polaris Music Prize, which recognizes the best Canadian album of the past year based solely on artistic merit. Past winners include Backxwash, Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher, Feist, Arcade Fire and more.
Listen to Parallel World below, and read Exclaim!'s review of the album here.
2021 Polaris Music Prize Short List:
Cadence Weapon - Parallel World
DijahSB - Head Above the Waters
Dominique Fils-Aimé - Three Little Words
Mustafa - When Smoke Rises
The OBGMs - The Ends
Klô Pelgag - Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson - Theory of Ice
TOBi - ELEMENTS Vol. 1
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Zoon - Bleached Wavves