SOCAN member Jeremy Dutcher won the 2024 edition of the $50,000 Polaris Prize for the best album in Canada, in a gala presentation held on Sept. 17, 2024, at Massey Hall in downtown Toronto.
This makes him the first artist in the 19-year history of the Prize to win the award a second time. Dutcher earned the honour in 2018 for his debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, and has now won again, for his sophomore follow-up, Motewolonuwok. If you’d like to read what Dutcher had to say about his current, winning album, you can access our story here.
Graciously and gratefully accepting the award onstage from last year’s winner, Debby Friday (who also hosted the event this year), Dutcher thanked everyone who’s supported him on his journey. “I have unending gratitude to this music community,” he said. “Not a single album on that list sounded like each other. That speaks to the breadth of music in this place… All the artists out there, don’t sacrifice your vision. People are going to tell you what to do, how to do it. You know. You know… I love you all. I can only do this ‘cause you’re here to listen, and that means so much to me… We’re here shining for you; now go shine for other people.”
The Gala featured brief but intense live performances from most of the nominees, and some alternate representations from those unable to attend in person.
Elisapie opened the show with a gentle but compelling performance that included a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” with only three other voices, a plucked violin, and a bass saxophone. The Beaches generously yielded their performing slot to teenage rock trio Thunder Queens, in front of whom Beaches singer Jordan Miller sang her own group’s songs. Charlotte Cardin fell ill and couldn’t attend, so a string section, Strings From Paris, played live to accompany a video of her singing a song. All-female band NOBRO followed that up with a high-energy, punk-rock blast of three very quick songs.
After an intermission, Allison Russell, who couldn’t attend, presented a video introduction of a ballet piece set to her song “Eve Was Black,” performed on the floor of the venue, not the stage. Rapper TOBi followed, backed by a live band, and showed his range, from hard rap to R&B crooning. Jeremy Dutcher played a passionate piece that went from a whisper to a shout, with a six-person chorale of singer/dancers in white sheets of fabric. Cindy Lee couldn’t attend, but provided the premiere of an animated video for “If You Hear Me Crying.” DijahSB, with a live band, played punchy excerpts from six songs in about seven minutes, including “Frontin’ Like Pharell,” “Five Dollars,” “I’m Blooming,” and “Outside.” And BAMBII played a short DJ set that featured a series of individual, spotlit dancers gyrating in front of a camera that broadcast them on a video screen behind the stage.
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, goes to the best Canadian album of the year, based on artistic merit, without regard to genre, sales history, or label affiliation. Each of the 2024 short-list nominees received a $3,000 prize.
The 2024 Polaris Short List is:
- BAMBII – INFINITY CLUB
- The Beaches – Blame My Ex
- Charlotte Cardin – 99 Nights
- DijahSB – The Flower That Knew
- Jeremy Dutcher – Motewolonuwok
- Elisapie – Inuktitut
- Cindy Lee – Diamond Jubilee
- NOBRO – Set Your Pussy Free
- Allison Russell – The Returner
- TOBi – Panic
SOCAN congratulates Jeremy Dutcher, and all of the 2024 short-list nominees, on these great career achievements!