Buffy Sainte-Marie beats Drake and Mac DeMarco to win Canada’s Polaris Music Prize

74 year-old's 'Power in the Blood' chosen as best Canadian album of the past year

Canadian folk singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie has won this year’s Polaris Music Prize.

The annual accolade honours the best Canadian album of the past twelve months, with 74 year-old Sainte-Marie beating the likes of Drake, Mac DeMarco, Caribou and Alvvays. The singer picked up a $30,000 cash prize for her album ‘Power in the Blood’, which was released in May.

Accepting her award, Sainte-Marie said, “I’ve got an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, a couple of Junos and a Gemini Award — this is the only one I ever heard that gives the artist money. It’s real important, it’s becoming almost impossible for an artist to tour with a band and with instruments”.

Advertisement

She added, “It is a fact that it’s getting so hard to travel now… I’m asking the music community to please put your heads into that and figure out a way so that not only the arts, but also sports, can be supported, so we can afford to go on the road and bring our music to you.”

NMEPress

Last year’s award was won by throat singer Tanya Tagaq, while previous recipients include Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Feist, Fucked Up, Arcade Fire and more.

The 2015 Polaris Prize shortlist was:

BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah – ‘Sour Soul’
Braids – ‘Deep In The Iris’
Caribou – ‘Our Love’
Alvvays – ‘Alvvays’
Jennifer Castle – ‘Pink City’
Drake – ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’
Tobias Jesso Jr – ‘Goon’
The New Pornographers – ‘Brill Bruisers’
Buffy Sainte-Marie – ‘Power In The Blood’
Viet Cong – ‘Viet Cong’

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories