One-time Vancouver local Mac DeMarco has made the esteemed Polaris Music Prize short list, announced earlier today in Toronto.
Mac DeMarco’s languid Salad Days will contend with industry heavyweights Arcade Fire and Drake at the Polaris Gala on Sept. 22 for the $30,000 grand prize.
DeMarco rose to prominence earlier this year after receiving critical praise for the album, including a Best New Music nod from Pitchfork. Check out his interview with Nardwuar below.
An 11-person grand jury, chosen from a larger jury pool of over 190 music journalists, broadcasters and music bloggers will convene the night of the gala to select the best Canadian album of the year released on an independent label.
Past winners have included Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Feist, Arcade Fire, Karkwa, Fucked Up, Caribou, Patrick Watson, and Final Fantasy (who now performs as Owen Pallett).
Here’s the full short list:
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Basia Bulat – Tall Tall Shadow
Mac DeMarco – Salad Days
Drake – Nothing Was The Same
Jessy Lanza – Pull My Hair Back
Owen Pallett – In Conflict
Shad – Flying Colours
Tanya Tagaq – Animism
Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams
YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN – UZU
