Jeremy Dutcher won the 2024 Polaris Music Prize Motewolonuwok, made history as the first two-time winner of the award.
Dutcher will receive the $50,000 prize, which goes to the best Canadian album of the year, as determined by a panel of experts and based solely on artistic merit. He first won the award in 2018, for Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa.
“I just want to say I love you all, I can only do this because you're here to listen, and that means so much to me,” said Dutcher, accepting the award. “To promote art and music in this country, in our languages, with our aesthetic,” he continued, “all I have to say is we're here shining for you — now go shine for other people.”
Dutcher was competing in a tough field against nine other albums on the list: Cindy Lee's; Diamond JubileeNOBRO's Release your pussyTOBI's Panic, DijahSB's The flower she knewby Alison Russell The ReturnerBambii's Infinity Clubof Elisapie Inuktitut, The Beaches I blame my ex and Charlotte Cardin's 99 Nights.
The award was presented at the Polaris Gala, held at Massey Hall in Toronto and hosted by 2023 winner Debby Friday.
Other previous winners include; Pierre Kwenders (2022), Cadence Weapon (2021), Backxwash (2020), Haviah Mighty (2019), Lido Pimienta (2017) and Caitranada (2016).
This article originally appeared on Billboard Canada.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/jeremy-dutcher-wins-2024-polaris-music-prize-motewolonuwok-1235774665/
