For Release October 26, 2023

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The 2023 Saskatchewan Music Award Nominees

 

SaskMusic is pleased to reveal the 2023 Saskatchewan Music Award nominees. The sixth annual awards celebration will honour excellence and celebrate the achievements of those in the Saskatchewan music industry over the past year, with artistic and industry nominees being recognized in 21 different categories. Live performances will include Saskatchewan artists from an array of musical styles, with performers to be announced next week.

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The show will take place at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on Saturday, December 2, 2023.  Tickets are now on sale at https://broadwaytheatre.ca/events.

 

The public is invited to participate by voting on four SMA categories this year. Beginning October 27 through midnight November 6, voting links will be open via www.saskmusicawards.com for Album of the Year, Industry Achievement, Music Company of the Year, and Venue or Festival of the Year. One vote per verified email address will be accepted over the course of the voting period.

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SaskMusic Executive Director Lorena Kelly explains, “The Awards provide an opportunity for us to applaud the great music produced in our province, and gather together for a beautiful event. The live music industry is still struggling to recover from the setbacks of the pandemic, so it’s important that we take time to celebrate and acknowledge the many successes we’ve achieved. We look forward to celebrating with fellow music lovers on December 2!”

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Follow along for event updates and information here at www.saskmusicawards.com, and on SaskMusic’s social media.

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SaskMusic thanks Creative Saskatchewan and The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) for their support of our association and this event.

 

How were the nominees arrived at?

Artists and industry professionals were invited to make submissions for nominations through a call distributed to the SaskMusic subscriber list and promoted broadly on our social media channels.

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Submissions to all categories, with the exception of Single of the Year and the Indigenous Music Achievement Award, went to juries comprised of peers and music industry professionals located across Canada. Single of the Year nominees and winner are determined solely by industry data (streams and airplay), while the IMAA recipient has been selected by SaskMusic’s Indigenous Advisory.

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For the 2023 submission guidelines and details click here.

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For Frequently Asked Questions, click here.

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Hotel Bookings

Coming to Saskatoon for the SMAs? Reserve your room at the Park Town Hotel on Spadina using the “2312SASKMU_001" block by November 25 to receive our group rate ($129.00 standard queen, $139.00 double queen), https://www.parktownhotel.com/ .

 

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The 2023 Saskatchewan Music Award Nominees

• Download individual nominee graphics

• Nominee Sampler playlist on Spotify

• Nominee Sampler playlist on YouTube

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The SMA logo and graphic elements this year have been created by Gabrielle Giroux, Encore Graphics.

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ARTISTIC CATEGORIES

 

Afrobeats Artist of the Year

Adéola

Adeoluwa

Emanali

Jemo

Rooky

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Country Artist of the Year

Hunter Brothers

Jess Moskaluke

Jordyn Pollard

Katelyn Lehner

Shantaia

Teagan Littlechief

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Electronic Artist of the Year

Flatland Funk

FOOTWURK

Guidewire

Theo Noble

Tim Damage

Tyler Cater

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Hip Hop Artist of the Year

Factor Chandelier

Nige B

Pimpton

Rukky Erifeta

Skizza and AK Productions

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Inspirational or Spiritual Artist of the Year

Cyndi Aarrestad

Deeper Life

Elenee

Landon Jorgenson

Servant

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Instrumental or Ambient Artist of the Year

crookedfoot

Factor Eight

Jesse Brown

Peace Flag Ensemble

Sean Bougie Guitar

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Metal or Hard Rock Artist of the Year

Augurium

Flash Back

Grimelda

New Jacobin Club

Untimely Demise

Zayd

 

Pop Artist of the Year

Lova Lamp

Marissa Burwell

Merv xx Gotti

Raj Ramayya

Vikki Minor

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R&B Artist of the Year

Ariel

BTHEGHOST

Katie Tupper

Lyssa and the Try-Tones

People of the Sun

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Rock Artist of the Year

Autopilot

Dead Levee

GreenWing

NUTANA

The Radiant

The Steadies

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Roots or Folk Artist of the Year

Alexis Normand

Eliza Mary Doyle

Ellen Froese

Jake Vaadeland

Keiffer McLean & The Curiosity Club

Wolf Willow

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Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year This category is open to all genres.

Cupid's Heart

Falynn Baptiste

Nige B

Patrick Moon Bird

Teagan Littlechief

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Single of the Year - Spotify Playlist  YouTube Playlist       

"Burning Down The Barn," Hunter Brothers

"Forever," Kiinging

"Heartbreaker," Jess Moskaluke

"Hoarfrost," Jesse Brown

"Hung Over You," Shantaia

"Jacquemus," Tesher

"Know You," Shantaia

"Stardust," Raj Ramayya

"Symfonia," Ariel

"What Colour You Drive," Hunter Brothers

 

Music Video of the Year - YouTube Playlist                 

“Arrows,” Son Of Han - Prehistoric Productions

“George Thorogood,“ Grimelda - Blair Colwell (director), Dylan Evans (videographer), Jason Hamil (post-production)

“Heartbreaker,” Jess Moskaluke - Andrew Parry, Munz Media

“Hidden Valley,” Alexis Normand - Matt Braden Photography (director), Alexis Normand (producer)

“Losing Friends,” TOVA - Leke Esubiyi and Victor Oriola

“She Said,” Katie Tupper - Ryley Konechny (co-director), Molly Schikosky (co-director, producer), Katie Tupper (producer)

“Silent Story,” Zayd - Jeremy Ratzlaff and Matt Reeb

“The Other Side,” Softlung - S.J. Kardash (Producer, Director, Writer) & Josiah Maningas (Videographer and Editor)

“Tous les matins,” Alexis Normand - Directed, animated and edited by Lindsay Arnold

“Woman No,” Katie Tupper - Ryley Konechny (co-director), Katie Tupper (producer)

 

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INDUSTRY CATEGORIES

The recipient of this year’s Indigenous Music Achievement Award will be announced next week.

 

Producer of the Year (updated Nov 10/23)

Bart McKay

Chris Dimas

Glenn Ens, Sheldon Corbett, Paul Runalls, Chris Atkinson

Ross Nykiforuk

Ryan Andersen

S.J. Kardash

Walter Jeworski

 

Music Professional of the Year

Connor Stewart

Graham Tilsley

Jackie Kroczynski

Jesse Brown

Matthew Facca

Micheal Lander

 

The following categories open for public voting October 27:

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INDUSTRY

 

Industry Achievement
Recognizing excellence in the provision of skills and/or services and by those helping to build the community and music industry of the province. The winner will be determined by a combination of industry jury and public vote.

 

Community Arts Mentorship Program (C.A.M.P.)

Creative City Centre

GRR!

Regina Public Library's Digital Media Studio

Shannon Josdal

Trifecta Sound Co.

 

Venue or Festival of the Year

Recognizing live music venues and music festivals that strove to celebrate and present live music. The winner will be determined by a combination of industry jury and public vote.

 

Artesian

Mae Wilson Theatre

Ness Creek Music Festival

Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Festival

Regina Folk Festival

SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival

 

Music Company or Organization of the Year

Recognizing a music business/organization that has demonstrated excellence in services, sales, or craftsmanship in their offerings to the public and/or music industry. The winner will be determined by a combination of industry jury and public vote.

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Creative City Centre

GRR!

Nolita Studios

School of Rock Regina

Trifecta Sound Co.

Versa Films

 

ARTISTIC

Albums of the Year: The Long List
Long List Sampler on Spotify
Long List Sampler on YouTube

Recognizing an album-length project released by a Saskatchewan artist between September 15, 2022-September 25, 2023 in any genre. A jury of industry professionals and peers has helped to create this Long List. A combination of public vote and industry jury will now determine our Top Ten: the Album of the Year nominees for 2023. The following 36 albums will open to public voting October 27.

 

We will reveal the Top Ten through the week prior to the awards show. The top-placing album overall will receive the Saskatchewan Music Award for Album of the Year.

 

Aaron Karpinka, The Current

Adéola, Afrocology

Alexis Normand, Mementos

Brock Fehr, More Sense

Dan Cugnet, Badlands and Badlands II

Deeper Life, What We're After

Eliza Mary Doyle, Pretty Strange

Ellen Froese, For Each Flower Growing

Factor Eight, II

Falynn Baptiste, Home

GreenWing, Late Bloomer

Hunter Brothers, Burning Down The Barn

Jake and the Kid, Baby Bro - EP

Jesse Brown, 20023

Kara Golemba, Keep These Stories Safe

Lova Lamp, everything U feel

Nige B, U R What U R

NUTANA, NUTANA

Patrick Moon Bird, Away From the City

Peace Flag Ensemble, Astral Plains

People of the Sun, People of the Sun

Prasunuh, Always Timeless

Raj Ramayya, Spice Age Adventures

Richard O. Burdick, Found These: Three (19th century horn music)

Runway, Runway

Ryan Hicks, Experience

Shantaia, Exes and Friends

Shirley & The Pyramids, Maid of Time

Softlung, Second Chances

SON OF HAN, SON OF HAN

Surf Dads, Baby Blue

The Corner Hotel, Earth from the Moon

The New Jacobin Club, Empire of Dis

Theo Noble, Noble World

Untimely Demise, Maverick

Wishbook, Everything Fades