This week the 2016 Polaris Music Prize was presented to Kaytranada for his debut album, 99.9%. Last year’s winner, Buffy Sainte-Marie made the announcement at the Polaris Music Prize Gala at the Carlu in Toronto.
“For me, it’s crazy to get this award,” said Kaytranada. “It’s really, truly, a big honour. It’s amazing. Ceci est pour Montréal, tous mes Montréalais. Shout outs to all of y’all. I want to thank the judges and everybody for voting for me. It’s an honour man, I don’t know what to say.”
From the short list of 10 albums, the Polaris Jury of 11 members of Canada’s music media selected 99.9% to receive the $50,000 prize. The other 9 finalists; Black Mountain, Basia Bulat, GRIMES, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jessy Lanza, PUP, Andy Shauf, U.S. Girls and White Lung were each awarded $3,000.00, courtesy of Slaight Music.
The Gala, hosted by Amanda Parris, host of CBC Radio 2’s Marvin’s Room and CBC’s Exhibitionists, along with Polaris juristTom Power, new host of CBC Radio One’s q, included performances by Black Mountain, Basia Bulat, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jessy Lanza, Andy Shauf, U.S. Girls and White Lung. Visit cbcmusic.ca/polarisprize to watch the performances and highlights as well as testimonials from the likes of Finn Wolfhard of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Iggy Pop, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange, actor Amber Tamblyn, and Stanley Cup champion Boyd Devereaux
Kaytranada joins the previous decade of winners of The Polaris Music Prize – 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).
For more information on the Polaris Music Prize visit polarismusicprize.ca