The Weeknd Leads The JUNO Nominations Pack

The Weeknd Leads The JUNO Nominations Pack

Feb 03, 2016 by Kerry Doole Comments

The nominations for the 2016 JUNO Awards are now in. Leading the pack this year are the three Canadian male artists who dominated the charts here and internationally in 2015. The Weeknd notched six nominations, followed by Drake and Justin Bieber, with five apiece. Two fast-rising young stars, Alessia Cara and Shawn Mendes were nominated in four categories each, while Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Walk Off The Earth, and Tobias Jesso Jr. scored three each.

As part of the press conference, more performers for the Awards show were announced. That star-studded list now comprises Bryan Adams, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes and Dean Brody, joining the previously announced Alessia Cara.

The JUNO announcements were made in Toronto yesterday morning, at a jam-packed press event attended by the movers and shakers of the Canadian music biz.

This year, the press conference was held at a new locale, The Phoenix Concert Theatre, a venue CARAS CEO Allan Reid correctly called one of Canada’s most famous (it turns 25 this year).

The blue-ribbon events in Calgary will run from March 28 to April 3, climaxing with the televised JUNO Awards show at The Calgary Saddledome on April 3. On hand to participate at the JUNOs will be the three winners of the inaugural Allan Slaight JUNO Masterclass, Fortunate Ones (nominated in the Contemporary Roots Album of the Year category), Slow Leaves, and Derrival.

At the press conference, Reid stated that “The city is really buzzing about hosting the JUNOS,” and he expressed excitement that the April 1 JUNO Welcome Reception will be held at the not yet open Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. “This building will blow your minds,” Reid predicted.

The press conference was the first one attended by the recently appointed CARAS chair, Mark Cohon. The former head of the CFL reflected on “the similarities between that sport and music: We both have passionate and emotionally connected fans, and we both have exciting and emerging rookies and new artists. For the Grey Cup, the country stops to celebrate Canadian football. At The JUNOs, the country stops to celebrate amazing Canadian talent.”

Cohon also drew a chuckle when he reminisced that “as a high school student I was thrown out of this club, back when it was called The Diamond.”

The nomination announcements were sandwiched between one-song sets by Calgary hiphop artist Transit and double nominee Scott Helman. Transit waved his provincial flag via “Alberta Anthem,” a track that managed to namecheck Jann Arden and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

The actual announcement of the nominations was raced through in record time, with just the artists in each category (and not the albums in question) being named. By far the funniest moment of the event came when the name of Heavy Metal Album nominees Fuck the Facts quickly segued into the Children’s Album of the Year list!

The speed of the delivery was such that no dissenters in the crowd had time to register disapproval of the sure-to-be-controversial nomination of Viet Cong in the Alternative Album of the year category.

At the event, FYI took the opportunity to ask some of the nominees present what getting the nod means to them. Toronto blues/r n b veterans Blackburn scored their first ever JUNO nomination in the Blues Album of the Year category. The family band’s mainman Brooke Blackburn explained that “the fact we’ve been doing this 37 years does make it sweeter.” He acknowledges they’ve moved more into the blues camp in recent years, saying “to be honest with you we’re more recognised in the blues world than in r ‘n b now. We’re hoping the nomination will bring us more exposure nationally and internationally, as we we want to tour more.”

Nominated in the same category and even more experienced is acclaimed singer/songwriter Harrison Kennedy. “I think this is my sixth JUNO nomination,” he tells us. “It is always good to be nominated. Whether I win or not it does help get me out into the public eye. That is all I’m trying to do, get my music out there. Awards are a good thing ‘cos they translate into jobs, and I like to have gigs.”

Kennedy has been making music for 63 years, and he reminds us that “I was the first black Canadian artist to have a million-selling record,” a reference to “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” the 1970 hit he had as the singer in soul greats the Chairmen Of The Board.

At the other end of the spectrum in terms of experience is Tara Kannangara, nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for her debut record, Some Version of the Truth. Beaming widely, she told us “the nomination is a huge but wonderful surprise. I’m really proud of the album, but I didn’t consider this to be possible, seeing it was my first album. I think the exposure this can bring is more than I can ever ask for.”

Another grizzled veteran, Tom Wilson (aka Lee Harvey Osmond) is no stranger to JUNO nominations and awards (via Blackie and the Rodeo Kings especially). LHO are nominated in the Contemporary Roots Album of the Year category for Beautiful Scars, and the irascible rogue told FYI that “It is good to win one, as you know you’ll never go broke. You can pawn them in, maybe score $500! You know what I really feel? I’d rather be nominated that not, and I’d rather kick someone in the nuts to grab one than not.”

A neat touch at the event was that all attendees scored a special 7-inch vinyl single featuring “Stand Tall” by Burton Cummings (this year’s Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee) and Bob Seger doing “Rosalie,” a song inspired by this year’s Walt Grealis Achievement award winner Rosalie Trombley. A nice way to promote the work of Calgary-based Canada Boy Vinyl.

Kudos also to Donnie Blais (Rancho Relaxo) for the tasty Mexican food.

And the nominees are:

JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD (PRESENTED BY TD)

Alessia Cara Island Def Jam*Universal

Carly Rae Jepsen 604*Universal

Cœur de pirate Dare To Care*Universal

Dean Brody Open Road*Universal

Drake Cash Money*Universal

Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal

Shawn Hook Kreative Soul*Universal

Shawn Mendes Island Def Jam*Universal

The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

Walk Off The EarthColumbia*Sony

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Here Alessia Cara Island Def Jam*Universal

Hotline Bling Drake Cash Money*Universal

What Do You Mean? Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal

Clothes Off Ria Mae Ria Mae Media*Sony

Can’t Feel My Face The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY IDLA ASSOCIATED LABEL DISTRIBUTION)

25 Adele XL*Select

Hozier Hozier Columbia*Sony

Title Meghan Trainor Epic*Sony

Four One Direction Columbia*Sony

Dream Your Life AwayVance Joy Atlantic*Warner

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUSIC CANADA)

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late Drake Cash Money*Universal

À Paradis City Jean Leloup Dare to Care*Select

Purpose Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal

Handwritten Shawn Mendes Island Def Jam*Universal

Beauty Behind the Madness The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

City and Colour Dine Alone*Universal

Drake Cash Money*Universal

Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal

Shawn Mendes Island Def Jam*Universal

The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Hedley Universal

Marianas Trench 604*Universal

Metric Metric Music International*Universal

Three Days Grace RCA*Sony

Walk Off The Earth Columbia*Sony

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS, AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)

Alessia Cara Island Def Jam*Universal

Coleman Hell 604*Universal

Francesco Yates 21 Entertainment*Warner

Scott Helman Warner

Tobias Jesso Jr. Arts & Crafts*Universal

BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS, AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)

Dear Rouge Universal

Half Moon Run Indica*Universal

Milk & Bone Bonsound*Select

The Elwins Hidden Pony*Universal

Young EmpiresPirates Blend*Sony

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SOCAN)

Abel Tesfaye

“Can’t Feel My Face” – co-songwriters Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, Ali Payami,

“In The Night” – co-songwriters Ahmad Balshe, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, Ali Payami, “The Hills” – co-songwriters Ahmad Balshe, Emmanuel Nickerson, Carlo Mantagnese

BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADESS – The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

Béatrice Martin

“Carry On”, “Crier tout bas”, “Oceans Brawl”

ROSES – Cœur de Pirate Dare to Care*Universal

Buffy Sainte-Marie

“Farm In The Middle Of Nowhere”, “Ke Sakihitin Awasis (I Love You Baby)”,“Love Charms (Mojo Bijoux)”

POWER IN THE BLOOD – Buffy Sainte-Marie True North*eOne

Dallas Green

“Blood”, “Lover Come Back”, “Wasted Love”

IF I SHOULD GO BEFORE YOU – City and Colour Dine Alone*Universal

Tobias Jesso Jr.

“When We Were Young” 25 – Adele XL*Sony

“Alive” Sia RCA*Sony

“Without You” GOON – Tobias Jesso Jr. Arts & Crafts*Universal

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Anchor Autumn Hill Wax*Universal

Pick Me Up Brett Kissel BAK2BAK*Warner

Gypsy Road Dean Brody Open Road*Universal

County Line High Valley Open Road*Universal

Frontier Paul Brandt Road Angel*Warner

ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ Daniel Romano New West*Warner

The Park Avenue Sobriety Test Joel Plaskett Pheromone*Fontana North

In My Dreams Mo Kenney Pheromone*Fontana North

Goon Tobias Jesso Jr. Arts & Crafts*Universal

Leave No Bridge Unburned Whitehorse Six Shooter*Universal

ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY LONG & MCQUADE)

Deep in the Iris BRAIDS Flemish Eye*Outside

Poison Season Destroyer Merge*F.A.B.

Are You Alone? Majical Cloudz Arts & Crafts*Universal

Half Free U.S. Girls 4AD*Select

Viet Cong Viet Cong Flemish Eye*Outside

POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR(SPONSORED BY TD)

Hello Hedley Universal

Purpose Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal

AugustaScott Helman Warner

Handwritten Shawn Mendes Island Def Jam*Universal

Sing It All Away Walk Off The Earth Columbia*Sony

ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Get Up Bryan Adams Badams*Universal

The Physical World Death From Above 1979 Last Gang* Universal

Chaotic Neutral Matthew Good Warner

No Fixed Address Nickelback Nickelback II Productions*Universal

Future Nostalgia The Sheepdogs Warner

VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR

New Alex Pangman Justin Time*Universal

Live from the Cellar Dan Brubeck Quartet Blue Forest

Clear Day Emilie-Claire Barlow Empress*eOne

This Bitter Earth Jaclyn Guillou Independent

Some Version of the Truth Tara Kannangara Independent

JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO

It's About Time Al Muirhead Chronograph*Outside

Dialectics Curtis Nowosad Cellar Live*Conveyor

Abeng Rich Brown Independent

Movin' Forward Robi Botos A440*Universal

Duets Tara Davidson Addo*Conveyor

JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP

Forest Grove Allison Au Quartet Independent

Over My Head Brad Turner Quartet Groundhog*Independent

What I Hear Now Jerry Granelli Trio Addo*Conveyor

Stealing From My Youth Mark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles Independent

Sheer Tyranny of Will Peripheral Vision Independent

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Spin Cycle Afiara Quartet and Skratch Bastid Centrediscs*Naxos

Never Were The Way She Was Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld Constellation*Outside

Orchestral Powwow Cris Derksen Tribal Spirit*Independent

Lost Voices Esmerine Constellation*Outside

Legacy Live Jens Lindemann and Tommy Banks Independent

FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

22h22 Ariane Moffatt Simone*Select

Zulu Galaxie La Meute*Select

À Paradis City Jean Leloup Dare to Care*Select

Les grandes artères Louis-Jean Cormier Simone*Select

Si l'aurore Marie-Pierre Arthur Simone*Select

CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Greatest Hits Big Block Singsong Razor & Tie

Dirty Feet Bobs & LoLo KidsWerk*Sony

Forest Friends’ Nature Club Album Ginalina Independent

Songs from the Boot Splash'N Boots Dockside*Independent

More Sheep, Less Sleep The Swinging Belles Independent

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Liszt: Piano Sonata & Sonnets Angela Hewitt Hyperion*HM

Chamber Works by Jerzy Fitelberg ARC Ensemble Chandos*Naxos

Mendelssohn: Op. 44 nos. 1, 2 Cecilia String Quartet Analekta*Select

Berlin Sonatas Elinor Frey Passacaille*Naxos

Franck & Strauss: Violin Sonatas James Ehnes Onyx*HM

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT

Vivaldi: Four Seasons James Ehnes with the Sydney Symphony Onyx*HM

Mahler 10 Orchestre Métropolitain ATMA*Naxos

Symphony and New Works for Organ and Orchestra OrchestreSymphonique de Montréal with Olivier Latry and Jean-Willy Kunz Analekta*Select

Tomasi, Desenclos, Jolivet: French Trumpet Concertos Paul Merkelo, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Analekta*Select

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 Stewart Goodyearwith the Czech National Symphony Steinway*Naxos

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE

Vivaldi: Sacred Music, Vol. 4Claire de Sévigné, Maria Soulis, and Aradia Ensemble Naxos

Sacred Reflections of Canada - A Canadian Mass Canadian Chamber Choir Independent

Peter-Anthony Togni: Responsio Jeff Reilly with Andrea Ludwig, Charles Daniels, John Potter, and Suzie Leblanc ATMA*Naxos

Las Ciudades de Oro L'Harmonie des Saisons ATMA*Naxos

Chansons Perpétuelles Marie-Nicole Lemieux Naïve*Naxos

CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR

Two Pop Songs on Antique Poems Dinuk Wijeratne Centrediscs*Naxos

Piano Quartet John Burge Centrediscs*Naxos

The Afar Jordan Pal Independent

Centennials Michael Oesterle Naxos

BookburnersNicole Lizée Centrediscs*Naxos

RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Sour Soul BADBADNOTGOOD& Ghostface Killah eOne

If You're Reading This It's Too Late Drake Cash Money*Universal

Kardi Gras Vol. 1: The Clash Kardinal Offishall Black Stone Colleagues*Universal

Can't Fly Without Gravity k-os Dine Alone*Universal

For The Town SonReal Black Box*Universal

DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY STINGRAY MUSIC)

We All Fall Down ft. Jamie Lidell A-Trak Last Gang*Universal

Badman (Torro Torro Remix)Autoerotique & Max Styler Dim Mak*ADA

At All Kaytranada HW&W*Sony

Save Me ft. Katy B Keys N Krates Dim Mak*BMG Chrysalis

Be Right There Sleepy Tom & Diplo Mad Decent

R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR

Four Pink Walls Alessia Cara Island Def Jam*Universal

The Fall Out August Rigo Summerchild*Foundation Media

Déjà Vu Dru Effortless*Fontana North

Butchy’s Son Patrick Lehman September Soul*Pheromone

Beauty Behind the Madness The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR

The French Sessions Dubmatix Renegade*Independent

Hello Mama Exco Levi Silly Walks*Independent

Nah Complain ft. Daddy U RoyKafinal Sing N Act*Independent

Sexy Gal ft. T.O.K. Kreesha Turner Lizopal*Universal

Escape from the Mongoose Gang Lyndon John X Independent

ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)

The One Armond Duck Chief Independent

Come and Get Your Love: The Tribe Session Black Bear Tribal Spirit*Powwow Trail/Tribal Spirit

Power In The Blood Buffy Sainte-Marie True North*eOne

Rumble Derek Miller Smithsonian

Refined Don Amero Independent

CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

So Let’s GoAlan Doyle Skinner’s Hill*Universal

Power In The Blood Buffy Sainte-Marie True North*eOne

The BlissFortunate Ones Old Farm Pony*Outside

Indian Ocean Frazey Ford Nettwerk*Sony

Beautiful Scars LeE HaRVeY OsMOND Latent*Warner

TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The ChanceJ.P. Cormier Independent*Fontana North

Jayme Stone’s Lomax ProjectJayme Stone Borealis*eOne

Domestic EccentricOld Man Luedecke True North*eOne

A Wanderer I’ll StayPharis and Jason Romero Borealis*eOne

Songs In The DarkThe Wainwright Sisters Maple Music*Fontana North

BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Faded But Not Gone Big Dave McLean Black Hen*eOne

Brothers In This World Blackburn Electro-Fi*Outside

Vicksburg Call David Gogo Cordova Bay*Fontana

This Is From Here Harrison Kennedy Electro-Fi*Outside

Sliding Delta Michael Jerome Browne Borealis*eOne

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Brave New World Amanda Cook Bethel*David C. Cook

Where The Light Is Dan Bremnes Sparrow/Universal*David C. Cook

Saints & Sinners Matt Maher Provident/Sony*David C. Cook

We Are The City Harmonic Integrity Music

TREES - Chapter 2 Tim Neufeld Independent*David C. Cook

WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR(SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)

Healer Alex Cuba Caracol*Fontana North

Neo-Reconquista Boogat Maisonnette*Select

Revuelta Danza Party Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra Productions Girovago*Outside

Moorka Lemon Bucket Orkestra Independent

Resistance The Souljazz Orchestra Do Right*Outside

JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Bob Ezrin “Honey Honey”, “What Love Is All About” WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT – Johnny Reid Johnny Mac Entertainment*Universal

Dallas Green (co-producer Karl Bareham) “Lover Come Back”, “Wasted Love” IF I SHOULD GO BEFORE YOU – City and Colour Dine Alone*Universal

Henry "Cirkut" Walter “Locked Away ft. Adam Levine” (co-producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald) WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF – R. City Kemosabe/RCA*Sony | “Sugar” (co-producer Joshua ”Ammo” Coleman) V – Maroon 5 Interscope*Universal

Steve Webster & Emilie-Claire Barlow “La Llorona”, “On a Clear Day” CLEAR DAY – Emilie-Claire Barlow Empress*eOne

Thomas "Tawgs" Salter “Bungalow” AUGUSTA – Scott Helman Warner “Rule The World” (co-producer Gianni Luminati) SING IT ALL AWAY – Walk Off The Earth Columbia*Sony

RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ONTARIO INSTITUTE OF AUDIO RECORDING TECHNOLOGY [OIART])

Gus Van Go “Downtown”, “Sweet Disaster”LEAVE NO BRIDGE UNBURNED –Whitehorse Six Shooter*Universal

Liam O'Neil “Celebrate”, “The Governess”PAGANS IN VEGAS –Metric Metric Music International*Universal

Noah "40" Shebib “Jungle”, “Know Yourself” IF YOU’RE READING THIS IT’S TOO LATE – Drake Cash Money*Universal

Serban Ghenea “Can’t Feel My Face”, “In The Night” BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADNESS – The Weeknd The Weeknd XO*Universal

Shawn Everett“Don’t Wanna Fight”, “Gimme All Your Love” SOUND & COLOUR – Alabama Shakes Maple Music/ATO*Fontana North

RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR

Cam Dales (Art Director/Designer), Ben Clarkson (Art Director/Illustrator) CLUB MEDS –Dan Mangan + Blacksmith Arts & Crafts*Universal

Clyde Henry Productions: Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski(Art Directors/Designers/Illustrators/Photographers), Constellation: Ian Ilavsky (Designer) LOST VOICES – Esmerine Constellation*Outside

Duncan Major(Art Director/Designer),Joel Upshall (Photographer) ELEMENTS – Long Distance Runners LDR*Independent
Erik West Milette(Art Director) WEST TRAINZ – West Trainz L-Abe*Select

Sarah Marcotte-Boislard(Art Director) LES GRANDES ARTÈRES - Louis-Jean Cormier Simone*Select

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUCHFACT, EXCLUSIVELY FUNDED BY BELL MEDIA)

Virgins Eva Michon DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 Last Gang*Universal

Dark Days Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux and Chandler Levack PUP Royal Mountain*Universal

For the Town Peter Huang SONREAL Black Box*Universal

Avalanche Philip Sportel KALLE MATTSON Home Music*Sony

Hello Xavier Dolan ADELE XL*Select

ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A Life Well Lived AM Static Independent

Concubine Concubine Independent

The Midas Touch Discrete Savvy*Independent

Noontide Humans Hybridity*Select