Pierre Kwenders Won the 2022 Polaris Music Prize
Pierre Kwenders – This award was given for his album, José Louis And The Paradox Of Love. This moment was Pierre Kwenders’ first Polaris Music Prize win.
“This is crazy, I don’t even know what to think. This is for all the children from the diaspora, the African diaspora, who moved to Canada. Sometimes you feel like you don’t know what you’re dealing with, or what you’re dealing. But there is hope, there is a place to live and dream and be yourself. This album, in particular, is about being yourself and telling your own story. José Louis And The Paradox Of Love is there for you, you know if you feel like you can connect, connect! Let’s talk! Let’s have fun! Let’s be ourselves! Let’s love each other while we are still alive. Mute!” said Pierre Kwenders.
The prize, presented by CBC Music, ranks among the best Canadian albums of the year based on artistic merit regardless of genre, sales history, or label affiliation. The award was determined by a Grand Jury of 11 music media professionals drawn from the larger Polaris Music Prize jury pool of 197 writers, editors, broadcasters, DJs, and personalities from across the country. This is the 17th edition of the Polaris Music Prize.
Kwender’s win came with a $50,000 prize money with the other nine shortlist nominees receiving C$3,000 each from Slaight Music. In addition, Play MPE provides Kwenders with a global music promotion distribution package for a single release (single or album) worth up to 3,025 Canadian dollars. Play MPE will also award the remaining nine Shortlist artists with distribution packages worth up to C$1,000 each.
The Canadian musician’s album of Congolese descent beats a short list that includes Charlotte Day Wilson’s ALPHA, Destroyer’s LABYRINTHITIS, Hubert Lenoir’s Pictura De Ipse: Musique Directe, Kelly McMichael’s Waves, Lisa Leblanc’s Chiac Disco, Ombiigizi’s Sewn Back Together, Frame Of Ombiigizi’s A Fauna, TAO’s Shad, and Snotty Nose Rez Kids’ Life After. The winner gets a prize of 50,000 dollars.
Kwender’s name was revealed by Polaris 2021 winner, Cadence Weapon. Closing the night of musical performance at the Polaris Gala. The Gala, held at The Carlu in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, also featured the evening’s opening show from Cadence Weapon as well as sets from shortlisted nominees Pierre Kwenders, Lisa Leblanc, Hubert Lenoir, Kelly McMichael, Ombiigizi, Ouri, Shad, Snotty Nose Rez Kids. , and Charlotte Day Wilson. The Toronto Fresh Pepper act also interprets two songs from Destroyer’s LABYRINTHITIS album.
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award given annually to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label. The award began in 2006 with a cash prize of $20,000; the prize was increased to $30,000 for the 2011 award.
In May 2015, the Polaris Music Prize was increased to $50,000, an additional $20,000, sponsored by Slaight Music. In addition, the second-place prize for the other nine acts on the shortlist increased from $2,000 to $3,000. Polaris also announced The Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize is an award that “will annually honor five albums from the five decades before Polaris was released in 2006.” Details about the selection process for this prize have yet to be revealed.
The Polaris Music Prize was modeled after the UK/Ireland Mercury Prize and, in turn, inspired the Atlantis Music Prize/Borealis Music Prize for Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi. The singer who was born October 31, 1985, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a Canadian musician of Congolese blood.
After immigrating to Canada with his mother as a teenager, he first attracted widespread attention for his guest contributions to the 2012 album Radio Radio Havre de Grace.
His 2014 album, Le Dernier empereur bantou, was a shortlisted nominee for “World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards” at the 2015 Juno Awards. He is also a regular nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.
Pierre Kwenders, who sings and raps in English, French, Lingala, and Tshiluba, is also noted for his blending of African musical elements and western pop influences. Including hip-hop and modern electronic music into his style.
