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By: Gemma Mastroianni Tafari (pronounced Ta-far-eye) Anthony is a Toronto-based artist whose music blends Pop, R&B and Soul. He is an artist who embodies the spirit of the modern musician. Not just a musician, but a creator. Known for his sleek vocal tones, sultry melodies, and music which oozes with personality, Tafari leaves listeners in awe – somewhat apt considering his name means “He who inspires awe”. His influences range from artists like Prince, Brandy, and John Legend, to more contemporary artists like Khalid to Charlie Puth, among others. Often described as a mix of Sam Smith and MNEK, Tafari creates deeply emotional songs that resonate across generations. “All of these artists create music that is pop in its own right, but also so different from each other”, shares the musician. Tafari and I talk about his new EP “The Way You See Me”, stepping outside of his comfort zone, networking, and spontaneously recording a music video in London, England. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow Tafari Anthony on Instagram. Click here to support his vinyl crowdfunding campaign.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Tafari (pronounced Ta-far-eye) Anthony is a Toronto-based artist whose music blends Pop, R&B and Soul. He is an artist who embodies the spirit of the modern musician. Not just a musician, but a creator. Known for his sleek vocal tones, sultry melodies, and music which oozes with personality, Tafari leaves listeners in awe – somewhat apt considering his name means “He who inspires awe”. His influences range from artists like Prince, Brandy, and John Legend, to more contemporary artists like Khalid to Charlie Puth, among others. Often described as a mix of Sam Smith and MNEK, Tafari creates deeply emotional songs that resonate across generations. “All of these artists create music that is pop in its own right, but also so different from each other”, shares the musician. Tafari and I talk about his new EP “The Way You See Me”, stepping outside of his comfort zone, networking, and spontaneously recording a music video in London, England. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow Tafari Anthony on Instagram. Click here to support his vinyl crowdfunding campaign.

By: Gemma Mastroianni In these trying times, it’s important that we stick together on a local level. It’s officially that time of year where we are Christmas shopping, and I hope you can consider supporting some of these Canadian small businesses for some of your purchases. I have put together a list below featuring 13 small businesses you can shop at: Left for Davie Calgary based and online vintage finds for your home. Click here to shop. The Lake Store The Lake is all about boosting your intimate self-care routine. Their shop is curated with pleasure in mind so you can explore ways to feel good, every day. Click here to shop. The Organic Press Serving 100% organic cold-pressed juice and also carry a wide selection of plants. Open Monday to Sunday 9 am-6 pm. Visit 257 Augusta Ave in Toronto to shop! Blooms and Flora Plants, Florals, Decor, and Lifestyle with a modern and ethical approach. Click here to shop or visit them at 182 Woolwich Street in Guelph! Niagara Green Witch Unique plants and pots for your home hand-picked by B. Click here to shop. Ouid Blends Designed by a registered herbalist, Ouid blends are made from GMO-free, sustainably sourced herbs and flowers that come perfectly ground for mixing with your stash. Click here to shop. Made Homemade by Brit and Ash For just about everything homemade, cute, and crafty, all homemade by Brit and Ash. Click here to shop. The Silk Labs Luxury silk goods made in Toronto. Click here to shop. Muskoka Candle Company Soy candles made in Muskoka. Click here to shop. Paper Homes Custom watercolour home paintings. Click here to shop. Mirror Doodles Custom mirror doodles, big and small. Click here to DM and make an order! Buck Naked Soap Company ORIGINAL Naked Bath + Body Co. Natural Vegan Sustainable Handcrafted Click here to shop. Belle’s Bake Shop Custom cakesicles, cupcakes, cakes, and many more desserts Click here to shop.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Briston Maroney is an American Tennessee based alternative artist who has quickly risen to a big name in the alternative music scene. He took the time to chat with me regarding the transition from being an independent artist to working with a record label, music festivals, his brand new singles, and more! I discovered Briston Maroney simply by letting Spotify recommend new songs to me after a playlist finished a few months ago, and I haven’t stopped listening since. I think once you listen to this episode and check out his music, you will be the same! Huge thank you to Briston for taking the time to chat. Looking forward to when we can meet up at Bonnaroo with tons of glitter. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Follow Briston Maroney on Spotify, Apple Music, and Instagram.

By: Gemma Mastroianni As many of you may or may not know, I had the pleasure of working with Michelle Treacy to drop her latest song, “Time Off From A Letdown” which was her first ever independent release as she was previously signed to Sony. In this episode of the Wavy podcast, Michelle and I dive deep into the details of how we did this, and ultimately we talk about how to drop an Indie song. This was a learning experience for both of us, but ultimately it was a great success. Check out this episode by listening above, or on Spotify and/or Apple Podcasts. Please don’t forget to follow/subscribe so that you don’t miss the next episode! Follow Michelle Treacy on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Check out her merchandise here!

By: Gemma Mastroianni We are collectively living in some of the toughest of times. Thankfully, many of our favourite artists, both big and small, have been hosting digital concert’s on a variety of different user platforms such as Zoom, Instagram Live, Facebook Live, Twitch, and more. Are you thinking of hosting a digital show for your band? Or better yet, have you been hosting some throughout these times, and wondering how you can up the ante? I have some recommendations that I can share with you. Partner with a media outlet A variety of indie and funded media outlets have been hosting shows on their platforms, including The Soundtrack, for the first few months of quarantine. Not only is this an exciting announcement for your audience, however, an opportunity to be exposed to a new one. Take this opportunity and gain some media coverage which will add value to your band portfolio. Begin with networking by sending a friendly DM or e-mail with your band’s bio and press kit. Invite special guests Do you have other friends who are artists, or are you familiar with some others who would be a good fit to collaborate? Invite them to be a guest on your live stream! This is a win-win opportunity as you can both introduce each other to your respective audiences. This will also add a nice break and some flare into the show. Choose a platform that makes sense for your audience/what you are trying to accomplish Why do you want to do a live stream? Are you trying to make it something exclusive, or reach as many people as possible? Decide what your goals are, and act accordingly. If you want this to be exclusive, consider holding a private live stream in a zoom chat room, and only give out the code to a certain number of people. If you want to reach as many people as possible, it is probably best to stream on the platform where you have the most followers. Proper Lighting Ensure you are in a well-lit area and that there are no beaming lights coming from behind you. This will make it much more enjoyable for your audience, and also add a sense of professionalism. Consider buying a ring-light as well as we are going to be stuck inside for the next little while. If you are planning on doing plenty of content creation/live streaming, it’s a great investment! You can get them for as low as $20.00. Tease a special announcement that you will be saying on your show Worried about how many people will show up? If you have an announcement to share, this is a great way to get people on your stream. Advertise your concert and communicate that during the show, you will be making a very special announcement- people may want to be the first ones to hear! Additionally, you may get some people posting on social media about it after the fact. Visuals Make your space interesting. I know it can be challenging as we are all stuck at home, but consider adding some props or hanging up a cool table cloth in the background. So many people are live streaming and it is so easy to tune out. Make your space look as visually appealing as possible to keep those views. Consider playing with Instagram filters, or using a projector for your background if you own one. The second part of this recommendation is making a promo show poster! You can use Canva for free to do this, and there are plenty of templates you can use for inspiration. Share this on social media and get people hyped. Audio quality Unfortunately, I’m not an expert on this one but definitely do your research. I’ve seen some live streams with some poor delay issues, or everything sounded fuzzy because it was too loud. Do a test-stream with a friend to ensure that everything will go as planned. Don’t overdo it Lastly but certainly not least, do not host one too often if you want a good turnout. If you are hosting one every night of the week, it simply is not as exciting and your audience will not show up for every single one of those. Space them out, and make it more exclusive!

By: Gemma Mastroianni Revive The Rose is a rock band from my hometown, Welland, ON. They have released their very own beer called, the Bar Down Lager. Although their song “Bar Down” was released in 2018 as a single, it has now been revived and featured as a warm-up song in the brand new NHL 2021 game, hence the drop of this beer in collaboration with Taps Brewhouse. The beer is described as a crisp, easy-drinking Lager infused with Rosehips and Hibiscus Flowers. It has a rosy red colour, floral aromas, and a berry flavour. It also comes in two different sizes, 32oz for the “pre-drink”, or the 64 oz “full-tilt.” As for my opinion, when it comes to beer I am more of an IPA person. With that said, I was intrigued by hearing about a lager with a berry infused flavour. When I took the first sip, I could taste the crisp classic lager however, moments later I got the floral notes and very fruity after taste. This is by far the sweetest lager I’ve ever tried however, it’s not an overwhelming sweet. This is perfect for those who love a classic lager and are looking for a bit of a twist, as well as IPA lovers. You can try the Bar Down Lager at various bars across Niagara, and also order online and have it delivered directly to your door here. Follow Revive The Rose. Follow Taps Brewhouse.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Toronto based pop artist Michelle Treacy has taken a new route with her new single, “Time Off From a Letdown.” She strips down from the glitz and glamour and reveals a new side of herself, with this brand new shoegaze rock track and cinematic video. The song and video bring you on an emotional and visual journey through her new beginning of no limitations in her writing and style. This new song and video have truly blown my expectations out of the water. The song and visuals are absolutely breathtaking and I can’t get over the consistent build-up and excitement this song brings. It begins quite and builds up intensity through volume and bass right until the drop at the very end. She began her journey with music at the age of 16 performing live with Lady Gaga in Montreal and since then has topped the charts, recorded an EP, and also won an episode of CTV’s The Launch back in 2019. With all of the success thus far and this brand new track that has blown my expectations out of the water, I cannot wait to see what is next. Keep a close eye! Follow Michelle here. Note: I had the pleasure of working on the publicity for this song.

By: Amanda Mcmillan There is SO much incredible talent all around us, much of which might be just around the corner from you. Yes, 2020 has been a strange time, but it’s also been a very creative time. It’s been a time for discovery, and exploration, and getting stuff done because there are no excuses or other things to do. It’s been a time of unrest, and great and long overdue change. We are on the precipice of something, we are living history every single day. And that change, all those moments, they certainly need a soundtrack. Here is a collection of some incredible Local Talent to set your heart right. Wolf Saga Wolf Saga is a London, ON born Indigenous artist who makes sweet, fun, playful electro-pop songs that make you feel instantly in a good mood. He’s the kind of artist that seems to fit on nearly any playlist, always a delight when a track appears. Listen to: “Through This Night”, bonus: his cover of Bowie’s “Heroes” NYSSA NYSSA released her first LP, Girls Like Me, in late August. It’s an honest, experimental album that gives us a little bit of an 80s Sinead O’Connor vibe. Based out of Toronto, NYSSA has a distinct voice that instantly grabs the ear, and keeps you listening with story-telling that’s reminiscent of early Tegan & Sara. Our new self-proclaimed “patron saint of lost and lonely outcasts.” Listen to: anybodys Tafari Anthony Tafari Anthony always seems to write songs that we can all relate to. The Toronto artist fuses pop, R&B and soul into a perfect cocktail, shaking each song with his clever and engaging lyrics. This is the sound of the new Toronto pop! We have long been fans of Tafari’s work, and can’t wait to see what he has in store for us. Listen to: Centerfold The OBGMs Who said punk was dead? If it was, The OBGMs have revived it. Raucous, assertive, and in your face, the newest tracks from their upcoming album are everything you want in a punk band and more. Nods to an old school sound, but adding their own unique, Toronto-inspired spin, puts OBGMs in a league of their own. Listen to: Not Again, mid-90s punk vibes Rough Shapes Toronto-based Rough Shapes released their debut EP this summer, called Pattern No Frame. It’s a tight-five of tracks, packing a lot of punch and nuanced guitar. It’s gritty but methodical. It’s very 90s grunge-inspired, and fans of Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., or the Smoking Popes will certainly enjoy. Listen to: A Week’s Worth of Corporate Spam Mustard Tyger Based out of Toronto and Ottawa, Mustard Tyger is your friendly neighborhood grunge band. Former advertising colleagues, the band released their EP “Lovely” in September as a fun, nostalgic nod to simpler times. Sometimes political, other times just plain ol’ rock n roll, it’s got a whole lot of heart. Listen to: Temperature Rising, bonus: their cover of “Freakin’ Out” by Detroit proto-punk band Legend [Author’s note: in full transparency, this is my band]. Odario Creative jack-of-all-trades, Odario truly is one of a kind. Based in Toronto by way of Winnipeg and Guyana, Odario is a songwriter, rapper, producer, actor, poet, journalist, and teacher. Damn. The energy so far on his forthcoming album Good Morning Hunter is exciting, beautiful, and a whole entire vibe. Keep your eyes on this guy! Listen to: Peace BAMBII Bambii is the epitome of the Toronto underground sound. When we could still congregate in large groups, Bambii was the DJ you wanted to hear spin in the city. Eclectic, smart, and with killer instincts, she’s bringing back the art of DJ-ing. Influenced by her Jamaican heritage, and the QPOC community, Bambii says she serves up “the Toronto they don’t show you.” I’ll take two, please! Listen to: NITEVISION Iskwē Drawing on the power and creativity of her Cree & Métis ancestry, and dipped in electro-pop, industrial, and alt-rock glitter, Iskwē is a powerhouse. Experimental, beautiful, and truly unique, her work evokes Björk, FKA Twigs, and a little bit of Portishead. Digging into her 2019 release Acākosīk is as much an adventure as it is a treat. Listen to: Breaking Down Caveboy It’s hard to categorize Caveboy…are they pop-infused alt-rock, or are they a full-blown dance trio? The band captures that familiar feeling of wanting to loudly sing and dance at the same time, the way one might when they’re home alone. It’s playful, free, and a little melancholy. Perhaps it’s simply the lovely sound of Montreal’s queer community, but whatever it is…it’s fantastic. Listen to: Hide Your Love

By: Gemma Mastroianni Toronto based rock band Sweet Tooth is back with another high energy single ‘Let It Shine’, with a bit of a psychedelic twist this time. This track is high energy and has its psychedelic elements hidden in the background, but still there enough to give me Dark Side of The Moon vibes. With all that being said, there is some edginess to the song (yeah, I DID just say edgy.) It’s the perfect song to vibe out to out on a run, or perhaps sitting in your backyard in the evening staring at the stars- it is versatile. I especially love the classic rock guitar solo at the end, that helps you complete this soul-searching journey of a song. ‘Let It Shine’ serves as a reminder to slow it down, and do your best to stay grounded. The band referred to it as ‘a train of reflection ready to leave the station, where will you let it take you?’ Honestly, I think now more than ever is the perfect time for a song like this. Follow Sweet Tooth on Instagram and Facebook.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Well here we are again, most of us are stuck at home. This is our current reality and honestly, I haven’t done any Fall shopping. I’ve grabbed a couple of comfy sweaters off of Depop, but that’s about it. I work from home and don’t have anywhere to go so as tempted as I find myself to be, I use my willpower and remember that most of the time I’m just hanging out in sweats. With that being said, it’s good to treat ourselves from time to time, and I’ve been thinking about buying a new sweatsuit. I bought this green one from Urban Outfitters at the beginning of quarantine in March. Below, find six different sweatsuits that I’ve been eyeing that you can rock at home. Garage 80’s Tie Dye Jogger Set – $79.90 If you’re still feeling the summer tie-dye trend (I certainly am), this one’s for you. You can buy one or the other, so you don’t actually need to grab the whole set. Buy the sweater. Buy the pants. Peace Collective Home is Toronto – $163 I’ve been wanting one of these sets for years but just haven’t brought myself to do it. With that said since I am home so much now, the odds are becoming greater that I buy in sooner rather than later. They have a TON of sweatsuit options but I personally loved this collared option. They also are offering 15% off of your first purchase, so get the deal while you can! Buy the sweater. Buy the pants. Iets frans… Overdyed Set – $143 So this is the same brand as the sweatsuit I attached a photo of myself in. I got mine on sale luckily, admittedly this is on the pricier side. With that said it is probably the most comfortable thing I own. Buy the pants. Buy the sweater. Roots Cloud Set – $152 I have a few pairs of the classic Roots sweatpants, and they’re truly timeless and are probably comfier than when I first bought them years ago. This is a new and re-imagined design that is minimalistic and cool. It is available in a variety of colours! Buy the sweater. Buy the pants. Tna CozyAF Boyfriend Set – $148 This set is really cool. I think that the mock neck and cargo pant style pockets are really stylish and really add something different to the comfy look. Buy the sweater. Buy the pants. Moral of the story: sweatsuits are not cheap however, something to keep in mind is the use you will get out of them. I wear my green iets frans… one on a weekly basis and it’s so worth it for me. It is really easy to stay in my pajamas all day when I work from home but honestly that always makes me feel bad and less productive. Wearing a quality sweatsuit not only gives me confidence from home, but encourages me to get out of my pj’s and wear something cozy. If you have any other sweatsuit recommendations send them my way as I would love to add them to this article, and check them out for myself! Send them over to [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram.

By: Dakota Arsenault Polaris Prize 2020 is here, and here are The Soundtrack’s picks. I have had the pleasure of attending six Polaris Prize galas, three as a writer, and three as a photographer. It has become one of my favourite times of the year. Everyone who is anyone important in Canadian music gathers at The Carlu in Toronto as we get to witness up to ten performances from the most important Canadian acts of the year. I first learned of the Polaris Prize back in 2013 when Godspeed You! Black Emperor won and I watched the CBC live stream and haven’t looked back. In 2019, I covered the Polaris Prize for The Soundtrack and am excited to do it again this year from home due to COVID19. In the past I ran mock juries and decided to revive the concept this year. I asked nine other Soundtrack contributors (and myself) to listen to all ten nominated albums and then rank them in a preferential ballot from first to tenth as if they were an actual jury member. Now, this isn’t how the Polaris Prize is actually handed out (they eliminate albums on a round by round basis until they have a winner), but it is still a very fun experiment. I now present to you: 2020 The Soundtrack Polaris Prize Winner! For each album, I received a quote from a jury member who rated that album very highly about what makes that record so special. Special thanks to Gemma Mastroianni, Alex Rodobolski, Amanda McMillan, Tye Hardy, Erica Gellert, John Mendoza, Jayben Favila, Stephanie Prior, and Jared Burke for participating and making this happen. Make sure you check out this awesome playlist from the nominated albums on Spotify. Unfortunately, Backxwash isn’t on Spotify at the moment, but you can see the top tracks when that record is discussed below. Each voter was asked to rank the albums from one through ten, a first-place vote received 1 point, a second-place vote got 2 points all the way up to tenth where they got 10 points. Similar to golf, the album with the lowest score appears at the top of our list. 10. Pantayo – Pantayo Pantayo is a four-piece Filipino-Canadian group that brings their heritage into modern indie rock. They team up with Alaska B from their long time colleagues Yamantaka // Sonic Titan (who previously have been nominated twice for the Polaris themselves). The result was bringing the Kulintang, an ancient way of composing music that has many gongs and drums affixed together to make a percussive melody that would make Neil Peart re-evaluate his set up. This is Pantayo’s first nomination. “Pantayo’s eponymous album deconstructs genre and cultural identity, with each song standing out as sonically unique from one another. Armed with the traditional Kulintang metallophone drums of the Philippines, this queer Filipina band carefully crafts refreshing takes on American R&B, contemporary punk, and electronic pop.” – John Mendoza Top tracks: V V V (They Lie), Heto Na Total Points: 64 Number ones: 0 Highest Ranking: 3 Lowest Ranking: 9 9. Witch Prophet – DNA Activation Etmet Musa who is Ethiopian and Eritrean brings both of her cultures to make some groovy and out of the world RnB as she sings in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. The album feels like a warm blanket, comforting the listener even if the meanings of the songs might not be noticeable on first listens. This is Witch Prophet’s first nomination. “This album is an eclectic masterpiece from front to back. With so many different genres incorporated and a flawless flow with no filler tracks, this is one of the smoothest and exciting listens I’ve heard in 2020”. – Alex Rodobolski Top tracks: Makda, Tesfay Total Points: 61 Number ones: 0 Highest Ranking: 2 Lowest Ranking: 9 8. Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia Lido Pimienta returns with her follow up record to 2017’s Polaris Prize winner La Papessa. That album was more stripped down and allowed her voice to be the star, here she also lets her music flourish as high as her vocals. Pimienta is a favourite of the Canadian industry and of the three previous winners in this year’s crop, she likely stands the best chance of making history. “A break up album in a non-traditional sense, Lido Pimienta fuses multiple cultural styles to create a dream-like yet danceable listen.” – Stephanie Prior Top tracks: Te Queria, Nada Total Points: 61 Number ones: 0 Highest Ranking: 2 Lowest Ranking: 10 7. Backxwash – God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It Backxwash only came onto the scene two years ago with her debut EP, but the Zambian rapper didn’t waste any time getting noticed. She now resides in Montreal after coming to Quebec for university. Her political frustrations are on full display as she samples such unorthodox artists as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. She is a part of a new vanguard of new hip-hop artists body checking the genre into new directions. This is Backxwash’s first nomination. “Backxwash’s new album brings rap to a whole new level with dark ambience and aggressive vocals. There is no holding back on this release, and is full throttle from beginning to end.” -Tye Hardy Top tracks: Into The Void, Black Magic Total Points: 57 Number ones: 2 (John, Alex) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 10 6. Junia-T – Studio Monk Junia-T made a name for himself as the tour DJ for fellow nominee Jessie Reyez, who of course makes an appearance on his lush and dense record that is perfect for either vibing out to or starting a dance party. Other high profile guests include River Tiber and Sean Leon along with a smattering of fellow Toronto acts like Adam Bomb and STORRY. This is Junia-T’s first nomination. “Junia-T’s Studio Monk had a mix of absolutely everything. Featuring slower jams that pack a punch, like “Know Better” and upbeat anthems like “Sad Face Emoji”- this album is sexy and has something for everyone.” – Erica Gellert Top tracks: Ooowee, Home Team Total Points: 54 Number ones: 0 Highest Ranking: 2 Lowest Ranking: 9 5. Jessie Reyez – Before Love Came to Kill Us This is Jessie Reyez second nomination in as many years and only her first full length album. Her second EP Being Human in Public, made the cut last year despite only being seven songs long. She’s back along with her long-standing working relationship with Eminem and brings on 6lack too. She is a worldwide superstar in the making and we likely haven’t seen her last Polaris nomination. “Jessie Reyez shows how the theme of romance and how heartbreak can lead to the death of us. Reyez’s versatility as an artist throughout the album starts off with her signature R&B roots leading into a modern pop sound that is powered by her signature voice.” – Jayben Favila Top tracks: COFFIN, BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US Total Points: 53 Number ones: 4 (Jayben, Tye, Stephanie, Erica) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 10 4. U.S. Girls – Heavy Light Meg Remy was born in the United States but married Canadian musician Slim Twig, so she is eligible to win the top Canadian album of the year. This is U.S. Girls third nomination in five years with 2016’s Half Free and 2018’s In a Poem Unlimited making the short list. Her music continues to get more personal with each subsequent record. Will this finally be the year she breaks through and wins though? “Meg Remy continues to expand her sound incorporating more jazz elements, while making her album even more deeply personal yet still cryptic enough to leave the listener to debate songs’ meaning. In between tearfully thinking about past mistakes made as a teen you’ll be dancing as her voice soars over the beats.” – Dakota Arsenault Top tracks: 4 American Dollars, Overtime Total Points: 52 Number ones: 1 (Dakota) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 10 3. Caribou – Suddenly Dan Snaith has previously been nominated three times, winning top honours back in 2008 with Andorra (Swim and Our Love were the other albums). He’s back with another funky record to make you dance in your home (since clubs aren’t really open). His sound has remained fairly consistent album to album so one wonders if he has done enough to separate himself from the pack and become the first two-time winner. “This album is an eclectic masterpiece from front to back. With so many different genres incorporated and a flawless flow with no filler tracks, this is one of the smoothest and exciting listens I’ve heard in 2020.” – Gemma Mastroianni Top tracks: You and I, Never Come Back Total Points: 47 Number ones: 1 (Gemma) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 9 2. Kaytranada – Bubba Kaytranada previously won the Polaris Prize back in 2015 for his album 99.9% becoming the first black artist to do so and the first winner to feature elements of hip-hop making his win very special and unique changing the course of Polaris history. He’s back with an even grander album with guest features from Mick Jenkins, Kali Uchis, Estelle, Charlotte Day Wilson, Pharrell, Tinashe and much more. “KAYTRANADA has captured the evolved sound of so-called Canada with every track on Bubba; worldly, creative, tense. Boasting brilliant collaborations, and a beat that never stops, Bubba is exactly the album we needed to get us through to the other side of just about anything. It is pure excellence.” -Amanda Top tracks: What You Need, Gray Area Total Points: 43 Number ones: 1 (Jared) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 7 1. Nêhiyawak – nipiy Nêhiyawak who previously put out two EP’s and then got noticed and signed to Arts & Crafts, the label run by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew. The band who’s name is another name for Cree People poured their history and culture of the modern indigenous people of Canada into their album and it shows as they received a Juno nomination as well. The band’s mixture of English and Plains Cree showcase their unique and vibrant voices. This is Nêhiyawak’s first nomination. “If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need to infuse beauty and nuance into the things that we have been taking for granted. We’ve been taking alt-rock for granted for years now, and Nêhiyawak has delicately reinfused beauty, and majesty, and an authentic heartbeat back into the genre with every track on nipiy. A treasure of an album, rich with meaning, intention, and a healthy dose of grit.” -Amanda Top tracks: Somnambulist, Copper Total Points: 41 Number ones: 1 (Amanda) Highest Ranking: 1 Lowest Ranking: 10 There you have it: who The Soundtrack jury thinks should win the 2020 Polaris Prize! We wish the nominees the best of luck and can’t wait to see who wins. The Polaris Prize digital ceramony will take place on Monday, October 19th and will be streamed on CBC’s website and YouTube. There will be more great Polaris content coming your way. Thanks again to everyone that participated. Who do you think deserves to win this year?