Jeremy Dutcher has won this year’s Polaris Music Prize for Motewolonuwok, making history as the first two-time winner of the prize. Dutcher will take home the $50,000 prize, which goes to the best Canadian album of the year as chosen by a jury of journalists and broadcasters. The awards gala was held last night at Toronto’s Massey Hall and hosted by 2023 winner Debby Friday.
“I just wanna say I love you all, I can only do this cause you’re here to listen, and that means so much to me,” Dutcher said while receiving the award. “To bring forward art and music in this land, in our languages, with our aesthetics,” he continued, “all I have to say is we’re here shining for you — now go shine for other people.”
Motewolonuwok was chosen from a shortlist that included nine other albums: Cindy Lee’s Diamond Jubilee, NOBRO’s Set Your Pussy Free, TOBi’s Panic, DijahSB’s The Flower That Knew, Allison Russell’s The Returner, Bambii’s Infinity Club, Elisapie’s Inuktitut, The Beaches’ Blame My Ex, and Charlotte Cardin’s 99 Nights.
