There’s no shortage of love for Canadians at The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards®, but there are a few incredibly talented Canuck musicians whose names you won’t find on the nomination list this year because they’re just hitting their stride. Here are three up-and-coming Canadian artists who could definitely get nods next year at Music’s Biggest Night® – keep an eye on these guys.
Shawn Mendes
At 15 years old, most of us were doing homework or hanging out at the mall. Not Shawn Mendes. In 2014, the Toronto-born teen, who cites John Mayer and Ed Sheeran as his top musical influences, became the youngest artist to make an appearance in the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 with a debut song. He opened for Taylor Swift’s tour last year and has begun winning all sorts of prestigious awards, like a Juno (Breakthrough Artist of the Year), as well as a People’s Choice nomination (Favourite Breakthrough Artist). A GRAMMY® can’t be far off.
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Alessia Cara
Some artists toil for years trying to get noticed. Not Brampton, Ont.’s Alessia Cara. After finishing high school, the singer-songwriter took a year off to devote herself to music, and at age 18 she signed a deal with Def Jam. Released last summer, her debut single “Here” has already received more than 50 million views on YouTube and was named the No. 1 Viral Track of 2015 on Spotify®. She’s even been compared to Norah Jones. The New York Times says her voice is “sweet but deceptive” and that it “bristles with nervy energy.” Others call her the next big thing in music. We hope the people behind GRAMMY Awards® think so, too.
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Francesco Yates
Kids aren’t typically known for their patience, but Francesco Yates likes to take his time. He was signed by Atlantic Records four years ago, but only released his first EP in late 2015, preferring to take a few years to figure out what kind of artist he wanted to be. Produced by Pharrell Williams, the first track, “Change the Channel,” features “a mix of rock with subtle retro hints of old-school R&B,” as Billboard puts it. The awards haven’t started piling up yet, but 2016 could potentially be Yates’s breakout year.
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These three might not have gotten GRAMMY nods yet, but don’t miss the awards ceremony this year. Music’s Biggest Night® is on City. It all kicks off with Entertainment City live at the red carpet show starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® on Monday, February 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
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