The Polaris Music Prize, an annual award for Canada’s best album of the year, has announced its short list of nominees today. Destroyer, Charlotte Day Wilson, and Pierre Kwenders all made the cut, as did Ouri and Hubert Lenoir. For the first time since 2019, the winning album will be revealed live at the Polaris Gala in Toronto on September 19. The artist who wins will receive a $50,000 prize with the honor. See the full list of nominees below.
A 197-member jury consisting of writers, programmers, and broadcasters considered 223 albums for this year’s Polaris Music Prize. The previously announced 2022 long list of nominees spanned 40 albums in total, including records by Arcade Fire, the Weeknd, Destroyer, Tanya Tagaq, Orville Peck, PUP, Julie Doiron, and 2020 winner Backxwash. Last year, Cadence Weapon took home the award for Parallel World.
Polaris Music Prize Short List 2022:
Charlotte Day Wilson – Alpha
Destroyer – Labyrinthitis
Hubert Lenoir – Pictura de Ipse : Musique Directe
Kelly McMichael – WaveS
Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
Ombiigizi – Sewn Back Together
Ouri – Frame of a Fauna
Pierre Kwenders – José Louis and the Paradox Of Love
Ombiigizi – Sewn Back Together
Ouri – Frame of a Fauna
Shad – Tao
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Life After