Alysha Brilla, nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year, has one of the 37 Canadian independent releases in this year’s Juno Awards – photo Lisa MacIntosh
The 2014 Juno Award Nominees have been announced, and this year’s list includes many independent Canadian artists and labels.
Arcade Fire lead the nominees overall, and grabbed the headlines with 6 nominations in total for their eponymous 2013 album. Serena Ryder and Michael Buble each have five nominations, while Tegan and Sara, Drake, Celine Dion and Hedley have four.
The nominations for major label artists like Arcade Fire, Drake, and Buble for the big gongs are predictable, but a closer look at the 2014 Juno nominees reveals a strong showing for Canadian independent music. Canadian indie artists including Alysha Brilla, Helen Austin and Lemon Bucket Orkestra equal Justin Bieber with one 2014 Juno nomination each.
In total, there are 37 independent releases (I counted them!) represented in the nominee list this year. Emerging artists were featured strongly among the nominees, with both the Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Group of the Year categories being almost entirely composed of artists signed to independent labels.
“If you look at the acts who have been nominated for the breakthrough categories; for the alternative categories; for categories like jazz, roots and blues, you’ll see that most have been developed and promoted by one of Canada’s independent music labels,” said Stuart Johnston, President of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). “This year’s nominees are a true testament to the strength of the Canadian music industry. CIMA congratulates all the artists nominated. We look forward to a true celebration of the strength and diversity of Canadian music in March.”
This year’s Juno Awards ceremony takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 24-30 March.
It is great to see a solid representation of Canadian indie music at this year’s Juno Awards. Independent music is thriving in Canada. Indie artists and labels are the backbone of Canadian music, and their representation at this year’s Juno Awards is fully merited. Let’s hope for an even larger representation at the Juno’s in the coming years.
© Brian Banks, Editor, Music Vice
The complete list of the 2014 Juno Award Nominees:
JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD (PRESENTED BY TD)
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Avril Lavigne Epic*Sony
Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Drake Cash Money*Universal
Hedley Universal
Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Reflektor Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Inner Ninja Classified ft. David Myles Half Life*Universal
It’s a Beautiful Day Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
What I Wouldn’t Do Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
Closer Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Unorthodox Jukebox Bruno Mars Atlantic*Warner
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 Eminem Interscope*Universal
Night Visions Imagine Dragons KIDinaKORNER*Universal
Take Me Home One Direction Simco*Sony
The Truth About Love P!nk RCA*Sony
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUSIC CANADA)
Reflektor Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Loved Me Back to Life Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Nothing Was the Same Drake Cash Money*Universal
To Be Loved Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Harmony Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Drake Cash Money*Universal
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Blue Rodeo Blue Rodeo Productions*Warner
Hedley Universal
Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
Brett Kissel BAK2BAK*Warner
Florence K Red Blues*Universal
Tim Hicks Open Road*Universal
Tyler Shaw Sony
Wake Owl Rezolute*Universal
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
A Tribe Called Red Tribal Spirit/Pirates Blend*Sony
Autumn Hill Wax*Universal
Born Ruffians Paper Bag*Fontana North
Courage My Love Homeskool Prom*Warner
July Talk Sleepless*Universal
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA)
Arcade Fire
“After Life”, “Here Comes the Night Time”, “Reflektor”,
REFLEKTOR – Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
“Roar” – co-songwriters Katy Perry, Luke Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee
PRISM – Katy Perry Capitol*Universal
“Timber” – co-songwriters Lee Oskar, Luke Gottwald, Kesha Sebert, Armando C. Pérez, Priscilla
Hamilton, Greg Errico, Jamie Sanderson, Breyan Stanley Isaac, Keri Oskar, Pebe Sebert
GLOBAL WARMING: MELTDOWN – Pitbull Mr. 305/Polo Grounds/RCA*Sony
“Wrecking Ball” – co-songwriters Luke Gottwald, Maureen Anne McDonald, Stephan Moccio, Sacha
Skarbek BANGERZ – Miley Cyrus RCA*Sony
Ron Sexsmith
“Deepens With Time”, “Nowhere to Go”, “Snake Road”
FOREVER ENDEAVOUR – Ron Sexsmith Warner
Serena Ryder
“Stompa”, “What I Wouldn’t Do”
HARMONY- Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
“When You Know ft. Serena Ryder” co-songwriter Matt Epp
LEARNING TO LOSE CONTROL – Matt Epp & The Amorian Ensemble Independent
Tegan and Sara Quin
“Closer”, “I Was a Fool”, “Now I’m All Messed Up”
HEARTTHROB – Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Started With a Song Brett Kissel BAK2BAK*Warner
Crop Circles Dean Brody Open Road*Universal
Country Junkie Gord Bamford Cache*Sony
Small Town Pistols Small Town Pistols 604*Universal
Throw Down Tim Hicks Open Road*Universal
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Shut Down the Streets A.C. Newman Last Gang*Universal
Tall Tall Shadow Basia Bulat Secret City*Universal
Us Alone Hayden Arts & Crafts*Universal
Forever Endeavour Ron Sexsmith Warner
Internal Sounds The Sadies Outside
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY LONG & MCQUADE)
Reflektor Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
The Poet’s Dead Rah Rah Hidden Pony*Universal
Today We’re Believers Royal Canoe Nevado*Fontana North
Warring The Darcys Arts & Crafts*Universal
Uzu Yamantaka//Sonic Titan Paper Bag*Fontana North
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY TD)
Wild Life Hedley Universal
To Be Loved Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Blurred Lines Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal
Heartthrob Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
R.E.V.O. Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUSICIANS’ RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CANADA)
Love + Fury Headstones Frostbyte*Universal
Coyote Matt Mays Sonic*Warner
Arrows of Desire Matthew Good Frostbyte*Universal
Furiosity Monster Truck Dine Alone*Universal
Transit of Venus Three Days Grace RCA*Sony
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Stealing Genius Amy McConnell & William Sperandei Independent
Courage, My Love Erin Propp with Larry Roy Independent
My Funny Valentine – The Chet Baker Songbook Matt Dusk eOne
Notes On Montréal ft. Sienna Dahlen Mike Rud Independent
Triades Sonia Johnson, Charles Biddle Jr. & Annie Poulain Effendi*Select
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gratitude Brandi Disterheft Justin Time*Universal
Habitat Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra Justin Time*Universal
Brooklyn Babylon Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society New Amsterdam*Naxos
Mirror of the Mind Earl MacDonald Death Defying*Independent
Le refuge Trifolia Independent*Select
TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Nine Carn Davidson 9 Addo
The Ian McDougall 12tet LIVE Ian McDougall 12-tet Barbarian*Independent
Our Second Set John MacLeod & His Rex Hotel Orchestra Exquisite
Ripple Effect Mike Downes Addo
Look for the Silver Lining Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson Triplet*Outside
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
New History Warfare Vol.3: To See More Light Colin Stetson Constellation*Outside
Dalmak Esmerine Constellation*Outside
Senna Mahogany Frog MoonJune*Planetworks
Down Home Petr Cancura RootsToBoot*Independent
Invitation The Peggy Lee Band Drip Audio*Fontana North
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR)
Himalaya mon amour Alex Nevsky Audiogram*Select
Omniprésent Damien Robitaille Audiogram*Select
Chic de ville Daniel Bélanger Audiogram*Select
Fox Karim Ouellet Abuzie*D.E.P.
Punkt Pierre Lapointe Audiogram*Select
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sing As We Go! Charlie Hope Little Maple Leaf*Challenge and Fun
What’s the Big Idea?!? Gary Rasberry Razzletone*Summit
Colour It Helen Austin Independent
Mon coffret à surprises Marie-Claude Independent
Coconuts Don’t Fall Far From the Tree Splash’N Boots Independent
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin James Ehnes Chandos*Naxos
Chopin: Études Op. 10 & 25 Jan Lisiecki Deutsche Grammophon*Universal
Mozart: Concertos Nos. 13 & 14 Janina Fialkowska / The Chamber Players of Canada ATMA*Naxos
Liszt at The Opera Louis Lortie Chandos*Naxos
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Stewart Goodyear Marquis*Universal
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH
LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 27 Angela Hewitt Hyperion*HM
Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti James Ehnes Onyx*HM
Canadian Concerto Project, Volume One Nadina Mackie Jackson and Guy Few with Group of 27
MSR*Independent
House of Dreams Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Tafelmusik Media*Naxos
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances & Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Independent
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Berlioz: Les nuits d’été – Palej : The Poet & the War – Rorate Coeli Group of 27, Eric Paetkau -
Conductor, Shannon Mercer – Soprano Centaur*Naxos
Ravel, Sayat-Nova & Kradjian: Troubadour & the Nightingale Isabel Bayrakdarian MCO*HM
Lettres de Madame Roy à sa fille Gabrielle Marie-Nicole Lemieux & André Gagnon Audiogram*Select
Handel: Orlando, HWV 31 Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Alexander Weimann, Owen Willets, Karina
Gauvin, Allyson McHardy, Amanda Forsythe, Nathan Berg ATMA*Naxos
A Quiet Place: Music for Healing III Vancouver Chamber Choir Grouse*Independent
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Field Notes Allan Gordon Bell GRAVITY AND GRACE Centrediscs*Naxos
Isomorphia for Orchestra and Electronics James O’Callaghan MAHLER SYMPHONY 9 Independent
Quatuors à cordes No. 12 R. Murray Schafer QUATUOR MOLINARI ATMA*Naxos
Magnificat Stephen Chatman MAGNIFICAT: SONGS OF REFLECTION Centrediscs*Naxos
Atacama: Symphonie No. 3 Tim Brady ATACAMA: Symphonie No. 3 ATMA*Naxos
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Classified Classified Half Life*Universal
Nothing Was the Same Drake Cash Money*Universal
In My Opinion Rich Kidd Independent
Flying Colours Shad Black Box*Universal
Everywhere We Go SonReal Black Box*Universal
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
This is What it Feels Like Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie Armada*Sony
>album title goes here< deadmau5 Ultra*Sony
Tsunami DVBBS & Borgeous Kanary*Universal
Locked Down Jacynthe Whammo*Universal
Heartbreaker Mia Martina CP*Universal
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Kaleidoscope Joanna Borromeo Independent
Can’t Choose JRDN ft. Kardinal Offishall Kuya*Fontana
There’s Only One Kim Davis Independent
Gone Melanie Durrant CanAudio*Independent
Kiss Land The Weeknd CP*Universal
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Mandela Akustix Independent
Baby It’s You Ammoye Flava McGregor
Love Collision Dru Effortless*Fontana
Rebel Massive Dubmatix Renegade*Fontana
Strive Exco Levi & Kabaka Pyramid Penthouse*VP
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)
Keep a Fire Amanda Rheaume Independent
Small Town Stories Desiree Dorion Independent
Surrender George Leach Independent
Burn Me Down Inez Jasper Independent
Road Renditions Nathan Cunningham New Leaf*Independent
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
Come Cry With Me Daniel Romano Normaltown*Universal
So Say We All David Francey Laker*Outside
Don’t Get Too Grand Donovan Woods Aporia*Outside
Valleyheart Justin Rutledge Outside
Tin Star Lindi Ortega Last Gang*Universal
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP (SPONSORED BY WINNIPEG FOLK
FESTIVAL)
The Folk Sinner Lee Harvey Osmond Latent*Fontana North
Bison Ranch Recording Sessions Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five Independent*Outside
Volume One The Devin Cuddy Band Cameron House*Warner
We Still Move On Dance Floors The Strumbellas Six Shooter*Warner
Island of Echoes The Wilderness of Manitoba Pheromone*Fontana North
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY GALAXIE, YOUR MUSICAL UNIVERSE)
Come on Down David Gogo Cordova Bay*Fontana North
Can You Hear the Music Downchild Linus*eOne
Soulscape Harrison Kennedy Electro-Fi*Outside
My Guitar’s My Only Friend James Buddy Rogers Blue Wave*Independent
All Frequencies MonkeyJunk Stony Plain*Warner
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Search the Heavens Fraser Campbell Independent*David C. Cook
Jordan Raycroft Jordan Raycroft Independent
Heart The City Harmonic Integrity*Provident
Lost & Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion The High Bar Gang True North*eOne
Trees Tim Neufeld Independent*David C. Cook
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Sabor A Café Adonis Puentes Tumba King*Warner
Lamentation of Swans – A Journey Towards Silence Azam Ali and Loga R.Torkian Terrestrial
Lane*Outside
Walk to the Sea David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana Tzadik*eOne
Jumbie in the Jukebox Kobo Town Cumbancha*eOne
Lume, Lume Lemon Bucket Orkestra Independent
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC)
Brian Howes and Jacob Hoggard “Anything”, “Crazy for You” WILD LIFE – Hedley Universal
Eric Ratz “Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck Dine Alone*Universal
Henry “Cirkut” Walter (co-producer Luke Gottwald) “Wrecking Ball” BANGERZ – Miley Cyrus
RCA*Sony | “Give It 2 U” BLURRED LINES – Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal – switch order
Ryan Guldemond and Ben Kaplan “Let’s Fall in Love”, “Bit by Bit” THE STICKS – Mother Mother Last
Gang*Universal
Thomas “Tawgs” Salter “This is the Best” ADVANCED BASICS – USS Coalition*Warner | “Red Hands”
(co-producer Gianni “Luminati” Nicassio) R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
David Travers-Smith “Dancing In the Dark” THESE WILDER THINGS – Ruth Moody True North*eOne
“Flabbergasp” (co-engineer Jaron Freeman-Fox) THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYTHING – Jaron Freeman-
Fox Independent
Eric Ratz “Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck Dine Alone*Universal
Howie Beck “Robotic” (co-engineer Graham Walsh) HANNAH GEORGAS – Hannah Georgas Dine
Alone*Universal | “Red Hands” R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
Kevin Churko (co-engineer Kane Churko) “The Wrong Side of Heaven” THE WRONG SIDE OF
HEAVEN AND THE RIGHTEOUS SIDE OF HELL, VOLUME 1 – Five Finger Death Punch Universal |
“Stardust” LUX – Gemini Syndrome Warner
Randy Staub “Hollow” THE DEVIL PUT DINOSAURS HERE – Alice in Chains Virgin*Universal | “Be My
Baby” TO BE LOVED – Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Ian Grais and Chris Staples (Art Directors), Sofia Pona, Kim Ridgewell, Lisa Nakamura
(Designers), Ben Tour (Illustrator) Bones BODHI JONES Independent
Jayme L. Spinks (Art Director/Designer), Janet Kimber (Photographer) Lullabies and Wake-Up Calls
DINAH THORPE Independent
Menno Versteeg (Art Director), Anne Douris (Designer), Annie Murphy (Photographer) White Paint
HOLLERADO Royal Mountain*Universal
Robyn Kotyk (Art Director/Designers/Illustrator), Petra Cuschieri, Justin Peroff (Designers) Arts &
Crafts: 2003-2013 ARTS & CRAFTS – VARIOUS ARTISTS Arts & Crafts*Universal
Vincent Lévesque and Alex Ortiz (Art Director/Designer/ Illustrator/Photographer) La Mort Pop Club
WE ARE WOLVES Dare to Care*DEP
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUCHFACT, EXCLUSIVELY FUNDED BY BELL MEDIA)
Je t’aime comme tu es Agathe Bray-Bourret DANIEL BÉLANGER Audiogramme*Select
Friend of Mine Briin ‘Briin?’ Bernstein & Daniel AM Rosenberg D-SISIVE Desolate*Independent
Anything John Poliquin HEDLEY Universal
King and Lionheart WeWereMonkeys OF MONSTERS AND MEN Republic*Universal
Feeling Good Matt Barnes THE SHEEPDOGS Atlantic*Warner
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ROLAND)
Nation II Nation A Tribe Called Red Tribal Spirit/Pirates Blend*Sony
Untogether Blue Hawaii Arbutus*F>A>B
Graze Graze New Kanada*ST Holdings/Hardwax
Third Culture Noah Pred Thoughtless*MN2S
Guilt Trips Ryan Hemsworth Last Gang*Universal
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Heart of Oak Anciients Season of Mist*Sony
Colored Sands Gorguts Season of Mist*Sony
Entrench KEN Mode New Damage*Universal
Volition Protest the Hero Protest*Sony
Dead Language The Flatliners New Damage*Universal
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
In My Head Alysha Brilla Sunny Jam*Independent
Loved Me Back To Life Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Dream Catcher Chloe Albert Independent
The Year He Drove Me Crazy Coral Egan Justin Time*Universal
A Christmas Gift To You Johnny Reid Johnny Mac*Universal
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