Music

Polaris Music Prize announces 2016 Long List nominations

by Jesse Locke

Traveling all the way to Whitehorse, Yukon for an event at the northern capital’s Transportation Museum, the Polaris Music Prize announced its 2016 Long List today. The event was also streamed live on the Polaris Facebook page.

CBC Calgary host and Polaris Jury Foreperson Katherine Duncan announced the list alongside The Honourable Stacey Hassard (Yukon Economic Development Minister), Ben Rayner (Toronto Star), Sandra Sperounes (Postmedia’s Edmonton Journal) and Teslin, Yukon performing artist Melaina Sheldon. Pianist and 2016 Long List nominee Jean-Michel Blais also made a special guest performance.

See the full Long List below, with 40 titles selected from 183 suggestions made by the 192 member jury:

Art Bergmann – The Apostate
Justin Bieber – Purpose
Black Mountain – IV
Jean-Michel Blais – II
Basia Bulat – Good Advice
Daniel Caesar – Pilgrim’s Paradise
Tanika Charles – Soul Run
City and Colour – If I Should Go Before You
Cœur de pirate – Roses
Dead Obies – Gesamtkunstwerk
Destroyer – Poison Season
Dilly Dally – Sore
Drake – VIEWS
Essaie pas – Demain est une autre nuit
Fred Fortin – Ultramarr
FOXTROTT – A Taller Us
Grimes – Art Angels
Half Moon Run – Sun Leads Me On
Veda Hille – Love Waves
Jazz Cartier – Hotel Paranoia
Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
Junior Boys – Big Black Coat
Kaytranada – 99.9%
Jessy Lanza – Oh No
Majid Jordan – Majid Jordan
Michelle McAdorey – Into Her Future
Nap Eyes – Thought Rock Fish Scale
Safia Nolin – Limoilou
Operators – Blue Wave
Peaches – Rub
PUP – The Dream Is Over
Daniel Romano – Mosey
Andy Shauf – The Party
The Strumbellas – Hope
Suuns – Hold/Still
U.S. Girls – Half Free
Un Blonde – Good Will Come To You
The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
White Lung – Paradise
Donovan Woods – Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled

The Short List of 10 finalists will be revealed on July 14th at The Carlu in Toronto. The winner of the $50,000 prize will then be announced at the Polaris Music Prize Gala, also at The Carlu on September 19th. AUX will stream the gala live alongside CBC Music.

The previous Polaris Music Prize winners are 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).